Prayers Please...

Ok, we really need a lot of prayers you guys! I spoke to our social worker with our adoption agency today. They are unsure if we will be able to travel May 24 or not. We won't really know until the last minute. It is really hard to explain, especially to someone that is not familiar with the international adoption process, but I will try.

There are currently 14 families including us scheduled for court in Ethiopia for May 8th. (We do not have to appear in the Ethiopian court. Our agency rep will be there) Once we pass court Nathen is officially and legally our son. This is the largest group they have ever had at one time. Usually there are only 3-5 cases at a time. There are also several families that just passed court currently waiting to travel. They are trying to pack every one in before the courts close for the rainy season.

The next step after court is the Visa Appt at the US Embassy in Ethiopia. This appt clears Nathen to leave Ethiopia and enter the US and determines our travel dates. There is a lot of paperwork that must be completed between court and Visa appt. Well, the Visa appt schedule has JUST changed from every Thursday to every other Thursday. Plus they will now only schedule 10 appts at a time! Do the math, when you schedule 14 families for court the same day and only have 10 spots open for Visa appts there are 4 families NOT GOING. Plus there are several families that just passed court that will get first dibs on the May 28th visa date. Meaning even more from the May 8th group will have to wait. We are praying we will get the May 28th Visa appt but if we don't we will have to wait until the next appt day which is June 11th. Or worse the next which is June 25th! OMG I don't even want to think about that!

Ok, so some of you are thinking big deal right? Only 2 week difference. Well we have plane tickets on hold that must be booked or we loose our great price. Plus we have a guesthouse on hold and if we have to change our dates they may already be booked. Plus we are trying to make arrangements for people to take care of Austin and Olivia while we are gone and let our jobs know travel dates. UGGGGGG!

Also, there are 2 very special families with the same court date. (You know who you are) The 3 of us are determined we are traveling together to bring our boys home. If we get separated someone is going to have a nervous breakdown... We are like sisters and have been a huge support for each other. We stay up till late emailing each other travel plans, packing lists, fears, worries, excitement, encouragement, and baby tips. We look forward to the long plane ride together, getting that priceless picture of all 3 boys, shopping at the market, taking tours of the country, and just being there to support each other during this journey. :) We are a team! They just can't split us up...

I am so ready to meet Nathen, hold him, kiss him, see that big smile and introduce him to his very excited big brother and big sister. :)


So PLEASE pray for us and the other families. We MUST pass court next Friday, we REALLY need the May 28th Visa appt, and we JUST HAVE to travel together as a team.