Court Date!

Prayer really works! Last night some friends got together to pray of me, for Kiera and our family. They prayed that we would get our court date. And here it is the next day (my birthday), and we receive notification that our court date is scheduled for September 28, 2010. 


Next week we should be getting more details about when we need to be there and travel and get all that set up. We are so excited and thank God for answered prayers (and for all the people praying for us).

God's Blessings!
Mandy

Kiera's Room

The Roller Coaster of Updates.

So, 2 days ago I was having a very impatient day, so I decided to talk to our representative at Holt to find out "what is taking so long."

She told me that no 2 trip families have received their court date yet (roller coaster down) ...

but they are still hoping for that soon (roller coaster up) ...

Later that night I received an email from a friend who is also in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. She had very encouraging words and prayer that we would get our date before the courts close (what? ... the courts close?.. how did I not know this?) It turns out that the courts close for about 2 months during August and September for the rainy season. So if we don't get our court date in July it will probably wait until October for our first trip (telecaster down again)...

That same night we got an official update from Ethiopia stating that many of the 1 trip families that had their trips planned for this week had been cancelled due to the US embassy in Ethiopia slowing down for the summer and only taking 10 appointments a month until further notice. There are 30 families waiting to go pick up their children, so this could take a while (roller coaster further downhill) ...

Then last night we received another email from our representative stating that they just got notice from the Ethiopia high court that all our documents are there and being processed and they will let us know the court date soon (roller coaster back up)..

Then another official update from Holt saying that they have heard the slow down at the embassy may not last as long as they first thought (roller coaster further up)

I am not sure if my heart can take much more of this up and down. I feel like I have been on edge for the past few days and my body does not know what emotion to expect next. Wow this is an different kind of adventure.

Please pray that our court date would be scheduled in July. And pray that my nerves and heart can get through these next few months.

Blessings!
Mandy

Adoption Benefit

June 13, 2010

Our women's group at church put on a wonderful benefit to help pay for our trips to get Kiera. It was a tea and silent auction. There were so many great items to bid on and a lot of people came. Joel and I are overwelmed by the support and prayers we have received from our church family. God's love shines through these people. Through the generosity of all of you, we have enough to pay for the first trip whenever they tell us we can go. We will keep you updated when we know more.

Thanks again everyone. God Bless!

Mandy

Updated Pictures

We just got back from a great relaxing vacation with friends up north and there is an email from our agency with updated pictures of Kiera.   

Looking at her still brings tears of joy to my eyes. I love her so much already, just from 5 pictures and a few medical details. I know it just does not seem possible. I guess this is what it is like to be pregnant.  

But I have better ultrasound pictures :)

Joel & Mandy

It's a girl!

We would like to introduce you to our daughter, Kiera Jo Negatua! Her birthday is April 8, 2010. She was admitted to the orphanage on April 23rd. As of that date (her first documented medical check) she was 4.3kg ~ 9.5 lbs and 56cm ~ 22”

Thank you all for your prayers and we will keep you posted with more information when it comes to us.

Blessings!

Joel & Mandy

Selam

Welcome everyone!


This is the first post on our adoption journey to Ethiopia. My Husband and I have been working for over a year on our adoption and are getting to the home stretch. Therefore we decided to start our blog to have a place to update those we love on our progress and our new family. We will probably not post often in the beginning, but please continue to check back as we will give updates when we have them.


We ask that you pray for our future child(ren) ... that they are well cared for, happy, and that they know they are loved.

God Bless!

Joel & Mandy