Batter Up!

Saturday we got an email from AWAA telling us that we are "On Deck".  We are soooo excited!!!  Basically what on deck means is that AWAA anticipates we will get a referral in the next 1-3 months.  Doesn't sound that different from what we already know right?  Here's why it's exciting:  it means we are where we think we are on the list and that we are on AWAA's radar.  It's also the last time we will hear from them before our referral!!!!!

As of right now we are still number 8 on the infant boy list.  To clear up any confusion:  We are NOT waiting for an orphan to be born.  I realize it sounds that way but there is no shortage of orphans.  Basically we are waiting for it to be our turn to be processed.  Agencies, orphanages, and the Ethiopian govt. can only handle so many adoptions at one time.  Here's how the process works (roughly):  

Step 1:  A baby/child is found or dropped off at one of the many orphanages in Ethiopia.

Step 2:  An agency begins to gather paperwork that proves this child is truly an orphan according to Ethiopian law.

Step 3:  Agency feels confidant that child is a legal orphan and moves them into a transition home (TH)

Step 4:  Child is referred to a family.

Step 5:  Paperwork that agency gathered is submitted to the Ethiopian govt. and a court date is given (sometimes the next available court date is several months away)

Step 6:  Family passes court and the child is declared theirs according to the Ethiopian Govt.

Step 7:  All paperwork is submitted to the US embassy to determine that they feel the child is an orphan
Step 8:  Embassy determines everything is on the up and up and child goes home (if the Embassy is concerned they do an investigation which can take several months)

Step 9:  A bed/crib is open in the TH home and the process begins again.

So you see it is a long, involved process and THAT is what we wait for. 

Please keep praying!