America's Super Nanny

Have you seen it yet?

Tonight's episode featured a mom who dresses her 7 and 8 year old while they are lying in bed. She also takes their breakfast to them in their beds. The nanny asked, "Why don't they eat at the table?" Mom replies, "They won't sit at the table."

THEY WON'T?

Whose the boss here?

My Literal Daughter

I don't see Raine as an artist or writer. She has a teeny tiny imagination. We gave her a doll for Christmas and she asked, "How do I play with it?" Don't assume she doesn't have any other dolls, she does. They rarely get any play, though. Only after watching "Toy Story 3" did Raine see all the fun a child can have with her toys.

A few days ago Raine informed her dad and me that kisses don't really make her boo-boos feel better. Come on girl, throw me a bone here!

AND

"Why don't days ever stop?" was her latest inquiry.

One More Step

We received permission from our government to adopt! This is the I-600 thing you may see referenced in our timeline. Each country is different. Ethiopia allows our dossier to be in country prior to receiving this notice. But it will now be sent to Ethiopia to join our "pile of papers."

Raine Says

While watching "Toy Story 3" for the millionth time, Raine says, "They turned Buzz back to English. That means regular talk."

Number 30

We received an email last week letting us know we are number 30 on the waiting list to adopt. That actually includes ALL families, not just families requesting a child under 2. It doesn't really mean anything different. It is still looking like a 6 month wait until we know who the child is (aka referral). But I have been having bittersweet feelings about the whole thing.

I know God has orchestrated this adoption before time began, though it is still sad to think that a child has to be orphaned or abandoned, that a mother has to decide to give up her child or die in order for us to bring him/her into our family. When I first read the number "30" in the email, it put a more realistic view of our wait. But then I can't rejoice 100% as we move up to 29, 28, 27.... because that means that THAT many more children are left without their birth families.

Now, I know God is sovereign and this is a part of His plan for our lives, for the child's life and everyone involved. It just would have been better if adoption wasn't needed and all children remained with their healthy, loving and capable parents. My only consolation is knowing he allows things like this to happen to draw us closer to him and do demonstrate his glory. And I am so excited to see how he will use our experience in Ethiopia and as adoptive parents to mold us into what he wants us to be.

Our Dossier

Our dossier is in Ethiopia!!! In 5-6 months hopefully we'll have a referral.

Our Fingerprinting for Immigration

Last Wednesday Jonathan and I had our fingerprints done for our immigration application. We were told by others who had gone before us that it is very serious. We were told that only those being fingerprinted could go inside. We were told that we would wait in a room until we were called to another room individually to be fingerprinted. No cameras are allowed, only us and our ID.

We made arrangements with the grandparents to keep our kids. When we arrived, I left my purse in my car, took only my wallet. We walked in and it looked a lot like the DMV. We signed in, were given a number and sat in the chairs and waited our turns. Room? There was no other room. We watched as each person was fingerprinted. I heard the fingerprinter lady talking to the people being fingerprinted.

"Are you Joe Blow?
"Yes."
"Is everything on the screen correct?"
"Yes."

Oh and there was even a couple there with a child. Only the wife was being fingerprinted. I should've taken my camera inside.