New Present

Since it will be a few more weeks before we see the boys, we decided to send them a present. We found some cute cards, they may scare them, but I think they will like them. We also sent along some pictures, and coloring pages. We are coming boys!

Not such good news

We got some disappointing news, we talked to Jenn today and she said there are no scheduled interviews for Sept 8th, and that there is 15-20 families waiting to travel end of Sept. and beginning of October. We are disappointed, but we can stop pressing the "refresh" button on our email every 5 seconds! So at the most, we travel a month later than we originally thought, and while sad, I can handle it ( Renee is a different story) Time to go unpack,so we have something to wear for the next month! We are so anxious to see our boys, but are praying this extra time will help them as they adjust to life without their Mom and prepare for a new life and family in the US and China.
Boys, we are coming soon. We love and miss more than we ever thought possible. Soon boys, soon!

The Smiling Brothers

We got a new email today from someone who just picked up their child from the transition center last week. It is as follows:

My wife told me you are the two adopting the "smiling" brothers from Addis. You have a true treasure coming to your house. Your youngest boy and I played with a broken wheel from a toy for over an hour. He never quit smiling. I hope you like to smile and have a great sense of humor. Congratulations!!!!!!!!

We love them so much, and are so ready to see their smiling faces, soon boys....

Present

We got a package today from a church we spoke at a few weeks ago. They had called asking for our address, because they had a present for us, and it was an amazing one. They gave us a lot of money to go buy kids clothes, and some gift card to McDonalds so we can "fatten them up! Thanks Bly Faith Assembly!

Preperation

We are constantly thinking about stuff that we do or don't need. One thing that kept coming to mind was a stroller. We travel a lot, and see people all the time who have huge strollers and are very rude concerning the space those strollers occupy; especially on planes. So we did not want to become one of those people. But as everyone says, when you become a parent things change. We finally gave in and found a double stroller that does not take up much room and was cheap!
So here it is, our first concession to parenting!

Toys for the Boys

Like before, we decided to send the boys a few things. We can only send stuff that can lay flat in an envelope, so Renee had the idea to send some paper bag puppets. We also sent each boy a picture of the teddy bear we will be bringing them. I know they may not even realize what they are, but thats okay. We want them t have something from us while we wait. We also sent a picture so they could see how to use the paper bag puppets.


Renee with Tegans bear

Josh modeling the paper bag puppets

Renee with Prestons bear

Passed Court, What Does This Mean?

This means, the process is almost done. At the court date, the Ethiopian Judge makes sure all of our paperwork is in order, and that the child has been officially released for adoption.

Now that the judge approved all of that, there are only a few steps left. As we speak, the MOWA, they control the adoptions, are getting Ethiopian passports for the boys, as well as their new birth certificates with our names on them!

After that happens, the paperwork is sent to the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, and they schedule an interview for us. We have to be in country for that, and at that interview, we tell the US government that we will take care of the boys, and all of that kind of stuff. They then issue a visa for the boys, we go back to the Embassy to pick that up. We then are free to bring them back to Oregon and to their new life with us. This will actually be happening soon.

Any questions, feel free to ask!

New Pictures

We got some new pictures, and both boys are smiling. We realize the girls will be chasing them and there is nothing we can do about it....Oh well. They look wonderful and so happy. We are so grateful for them! We are coming boys...

Passed!

WE PASSED. Just a moment ago, we found out that we passed court last Friday and are officially the parents of 2 amazing boys. We are waiting for our official travel date and Embassy interview date, but that should be soon. More details later....

More Wonderful Things

This is another update from a family who just got back. After reading it, we are a little scared but so excited! Hoping for amazing news tomorrow!

Josh and Renee,

I hope you're ready, these boys are a hand full. Don't let those sad faces in the pictures you have fool you. I think your boys are the happiest at the care center. Also VERY good eaters, they were putting it away. We sat and had lunch with them, and they were lots of fun.

We had so much fun with your boys. When we were at lunch, Tegan got a bigger plate than all of the other kids, and he finished it before everyone. He got a second helping and was trying to take more from Preston. So, Preston started shoving big handfuls of injera in his mouth so Tegan wouldn't eat it. It was hilarious. They have so much personality, and Preston loves to be tickled. Casey ( a person who traveled to get their child) was getting him good, and he kept coming back for more even though he could hardly breathe he was laughing so hard.

We love our boys so much...We cant wait to see them!