Zufan’s First Birthday
March 8, 2008 | Filed Under Celebratin', Family | Leave a Comment
March 7 was our baby’s first birthday! Rebecca made a cake, and hoped that Zufan might have some messy fun. She wasn’t into it though; most of what she took from her plate she wound up dropping from her hands to Kerbie and Otis.
Nicole and Her Cousins
March 1, 2008 | Filed Under Family | Leave a Comment
My youngest niece Nicole stopped by for a visit, and needed proof for her friends that she did indeed have new cousins from Ethiopia.
Swingin’!
February 23, 2008 | Filed Under Family, Recreatin' | Leave a Comment
Still just after quarantine, we went to the park again with Dovey, Kendra, and Lariella, and Debabu and Zufan took turns on the swings. Zufan took to them right away, but Debabu wasn’t sure. We tried him on the swings last time we were at the park with Auntie Bonnie, and he didn’t like them. But Zufan was having too much fun, so he gave them another try.
First Corndog
February 21, 2008 | Filed Under Eats, Family | Leave a Comment
Rebecca’s tired of begin cooped-up after several weeks in semi-quaratine (because of a possible exposure to mumps when we were in Ethiopia), and I have Rodeo off, so we spent the day running around town. Debabu got to enjoy his first corndog today, and he got to wear that cool-ass hat.
Settling In
February 9, 2008 | Filed Under Family | Leave a Comment
After a couple weeks home, several battles of will, and plenty of fits and tears, we’ve started to develop a rhythm and sink into routines. And Debabu now has a favorite hat.
First Visit to the Park
February 3, 2008 | Filed Under Family, Recreatin' | Leave a Comment
We went to the park today to feed the ducks and visit with Auntie Bonnie, my patchouli-enjoying, hippie sister. Only a couple of pictures of Debabu and Zufan’s first time at the park, none of the ducks, but I’ll keep practicing shooting. I’ll practice paying better attention.
In Addis Ababa
January 28, 2008 | Filed Under Adoption, Family | Leave a Comment
Within minutes of stepping out of the taxi that brought us from the airport (after traveling for more than 40 hours from Tucson to Addis Ababa, and 18 months of paperwork, meetings, phone calls and anxiety) we met our daughter, Zufan, at Horizon House. Words escaped us.
We’re Going to Ethiopia!
December 28, 2007 | Filed Under Adoption, Family | Leave a Comment
We just got word that we’re scheduled for an embassy appointment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday, January 21. That means in about three weeks Rebecca and I will be the proud Mom and Dad of the two children above, Zufan and her brother, Debabu. We’ll be leaving on January 17 and return shortly after with the new additions to our family.
We’ve Been Matched!
November 12, 2007 | Filed Under Adoption, Family | Leave a Comment
Actually, we’ve been matched for about a month, but I wanted to wait a bit before reporting just to be safe. These things are never certain until all the “i’s” are dotted and the “t’s” crossed.
On Tuesday, October 10, we received word from our the adoption agency we’ve been working with for the last year that a match request we put in a week or so before had been granted. We’ve been matched with a little boy, almost two, and his infant sister. And that’s about all we can say now, except that, if all goes well with the courts and immigration services and God has it in his mind to grant us this gift, we’ll travel to Ethiopia sometime in the beginning of the new year to meet and bring home our children.
We’ve got a lot to do around the house yet, but we’re on it. And I have to write that I’m grateful for my bride Rebecca’s energy and dedication; she’s been the driving force behind this adoption, and she couldn’t have done any better or any more than she has.
We’re on the List
June 30, 2007 | Filed Under Adoption, Family | Leave a Comment
The latest word from the adoption agency we’re working with is that our entire dossier has been received, reviewed, and accepted by the Ethiopia adoption program! The only thing we can do is wait and pray for a timely placement, and three to twelve‚Â weeks after we receive our referral (with photos of our children), Rebecca and I will travel to Addis Ababa to meet our new children and finalize the adoption process. We could wait up to a year for placement, but we’re hoping it’ll take less time than that. We’ll continue raise funds as long as we can, and if any readers would like to help us build our family find out how here.
One of our agency’s adoption caseworkers has posted several sets of photos from her experience working in Ethiopia with the nation’s children in need of parents.
Rebecca and I are looking forward to becoming Mom and Dad within the year. All prayers of support and patience are welcome.