Beyond the mountains, more mountains. Dye mon, gen mon: December 2008

Monday, December 29, 2008

Mom's Birthday

Today our shipment was delivered to Imagine in Ethiopia, so I guess today would be the official day waiting begins. Oops I was just so happy it arrived safely, I didn't think about the fact that it still had to get to the office! I will adjust my ticker :)
But what a special day for a milestone afterall. It's my mom's birthday!
Happy Birthday Mom!

...December 29, 2008 07:42 Addis Ababa - Ethiopia With delivery courier

December 29, 2008 10:01 Addis Ababa - Ethiopia Shipment delivered

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Expecting from Ethiopia

Well, it finally happened...our Dossier arrived in Ethiopia today(much sooner than expected). We had hoped when we started this process on Aug.22nd that we would be officially waiting by the end of December but were told that goal was a bit too optimistic/unrealistic. But here we are, and I plan to hold onto my original goal of having our child home for next Christmas. Again, maybe a little too optimistic, but optimism is working for us so far.

We tracked our documents over this Christmas holiday, and it was more fun than tracking Santa. Below is the tracking record from the DHL website.

Air Waybill Number Origin Service Area Destination Service Area Status
Edmonton - Canada Addis Ababa - Ethiopia Arrived at DHL Facility as of: December 27, 2008 12:03

Detailed Report

Date Time Location Service Area Checkpoint Details
December 23, 2008 13:03 Edmonton - Canada Shipment picked up

December 23, 2008 17:45 Edmonton - Canada Departed from DHL facility in Edmonton - Canada

December 23, 2008 19:29 Calgary - Canada Departed from DHL facility in Calgary - Canada

December 24, 2008 02:37 DHL Wilmington Airpark, OH - USA Arrived at DHL facility in DHL Wilmington Airpark - USA

December 24, 2008 03:01 DHL Wilmington Airpark, OH - USA Transferred through DHL Wilmington Airpark - USA

December 24, 2008 07:25 DHL Wilmington Airpark, OH - USA Departed from DHL facility in DHL Wilmington Airpark - USA

December 24, 2008 08:37 New York City Gateway, NY - USA Arrived at DHL facility in New York City Gateway - USA

December 24, 2008 09:36 New York City Gateway, NY - USA Departed from DHL facility in New York City Gateway - USA

December 24, 2008 23:41 Leipzig - Germany Arrived at DHL facility in Leipzig - Germany

December 25, 2008 02:38 Leipzig - Germany Departed from DHL facility in Leipzig - Germany

December 26, 2008 02:02 Brussels - Belgium Departed from DHL facility in Brussels - Belgium

December 26, 2008 06:09 Frankfurt - Germany Arrived at DHL facility in Frankfurt - Germany

December 26, 2008 23:31 Frankfurt - Germany Departed from DHL facility in Frankfurt - Germany

December 27, 2008 11:59 Addis Ababa - Ethiopia Arrived at DHL facility in Addis Ababa - Ethiopia

December 27, 2008 12:03 Addis Ababa - Ethiopia Arrived at DHL Facility

There it is! I printed it for the baby book. Or rather, baby box. I keep all things for my kids that should go in a baby book in a baby box for when I get the time to sit down and actually create their albums. (I've actually started one of them...)

I hope this season had a great memory for you as well. Now we are looking forward to the time when we will have three excited, over-sugared, laughing, little people running around looking for cookie crumbs and signs of reindeer, in wonder at the magic that happened while they were sleeping.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Approved!

We received Government approval today! It is official, our Dossier is now final and on its way for translation and notarization, and then off to Ethiopia. So the end of this stage marks the beginning of another long journey of waiting. They are saying now the wait for a referral could be approximately 8 months, but it will be worth it. I can't wait to look back at all these important dates as I wonder where is my baby right now?
Are you born yet?
Are you with your first mother?
Or is she pregnant with you?
What were you doing today?
What will your Christmas be like this year?
So many questions and I may never know the answers. But I will keep anticipating your arrival and daydreaming about who you are. We are officially one step closer today on this journey to you.
See? We are creating milestones already, even though we are apart.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann c.1920

Adoption Timeline

June 8, 2012 - we are a forever family (gotcha day)
May 2012 exited MOI
Sept.14, 2011 - entered MOI
Aug.17, 2011 - passed court in Haiti!
Aug.8 , 2011 - exited IBESR
Jan.21, 2011 - entered IBESR
Aug.24, 2010 - we receive our proposal from Haiti - it's twins!
Mar.31, 2010 - We are given the green light to proceed with our adoption and our dossier is forwarded on to Haiti
Jan.13-Apr.2010 - all Haitian adoptions are unofficially 'on hold' indefinitely
Jan.13, 2010 - devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 strikes Haiti
Dec.3, 2009 - Dossier is sent to the Haitian Embassy
Nov.30, 2009 - Officially decided not to proceed with Imagine and Ethiopia
Nov.19, 2009 - Dossier back to provincal office to be sent out to Haitian embassy
Nov.10, 2009 - received Homestudy approval
Oct.21, 2009 - Homestudy complete and sent in for provincial approval
Sept.13, 2009 - Decision to proceed with an adoption from Haiti Children's home
August, 2009 - We are made aware of the children in Haiti Children's Home waiting for families
July 13, 2009 - Imagine adoption goes bankrupt
Dec.27/08 - our Dossier arrives in Addis Ababa, we are officially expecting
Dec.9/08 - home study approved by the Government of Alberta
Nov.3/08 - signed homestudy report arrives at Anne Scully's office awaiting provincial approval
Oct.12/08 (Thanksgiving Sunday) - signed our completed Homestudy report
Oct.8/08 - sent in all the required paperwork for our Dossier to Imagine adoption (except the Homestudy)
Sept.17/08 - application sent in to our Ethiopian adoption coordinator, Imagine adoption
Sept.13/08 - first visit by our social worker for our Homestudy
Sept.6/08 - attended International Adoption Seminar
Aug.22/08 - adoption application to C.A.S

Beyond the mountains, more mountains. Dye mon, gen mon