Some Good News

Well, we received some good news at the end of last week. The first court case (the one we do not go for) has been scheduled for October 21^st. We need prayers that, on this date, the people who need to be present for court make it there. Also, there is a letter that needs to be there. If both of those things happen, typically, families travel for their first trip about a month after. This means we could be going in November to meet our baby girl!

As we have experienced several times during this journey, slowdowns occur without warning. We need prayers that everything works out and that things move forward as quickly as possible for the remainder of this process.

In the meantime, it was both our Ethiopian girl’s birthday and my (Jennie’s) birthday on Saturday. This weekend, we had a little birthday celebration for baby girl. We prayed for her, sang for her, and froze some cupcakes for us to celebrate as a family when she gets home. We all are so excited for that day!!

Thank you for your continued support and your prayers.

The Thomas Family

August Update

                                   

Just writing to give you a quick update. It has been 100 days since we received our first glimpse (picture) of our little girl. It has been 51 days since being submitted to court. It is just 2 days until our little girl turns one. In the beginning, I was hoping we would make it to Ethiopia before rainy season court closures in August. Well, courts close today and we are not there.

As a matter of fact, our case has been at a stand-still for a few weeks and I’m not sure why. There are two court cases that need to take place. The first one, we do not attend. The second one occurs during our first trip. In our case, the first court hearing has not even been scheduled yet and won’t even be able to be scheduled until courts reopen after rainy season closures. The tentative reopen date is October 15^th (though we have learned that, when it comes to Ethiopia, tentative definitely means tentative – and quite subject to change). That means, we will more than likely not be traveling for our first trip (our court date and to meet our girl) until possibly December. Our second trip (when we get to bring our girl home) is estimated to take place 3-4 months after the first (approximately March or April).

We have spent the past few days settling in to this information. I must admit, it has not been easy. There have been lots of tearful moments around here. Being away from our little girl whom we already love so much and having no end date in sight is tough. We are doing our best to enjoy these last few weeks of summer with our two biological kids before fall/school begins.

I will tell you our little girl turns one on August 17^th. I am trying to figure out the best way to “celebrate” her birthday – and I have gotten her one (yep, just one) present so far. We receive updates on her from time to time and I cherish being able to hear how well she is doing, given her present situation.

I will continue to keep you all updated as we hear, but at this point, I’m guessing it will be quite a while.

The good news is – Jaden’s album is completed! He is having his CD Release Party on September 7^th at 7:30 p.m. at The Roots Café (124 Wisconsin Avenue, Oconomowoc). Cd’s will be for sale at the event – proceeds to benefit our adoption travel expenses. We are so excited for this and are hoping to see many of you there! It’s going to be a cd release party and adoption fundraiser, so a great event to come to if you are able!

Thank you for your support and your prayers.

The Thomas Family

6 weeks

Tomorrow marks six weeks since we were submitted to court. The typical time from being submitted to the first court date (not ours) is supposed to be between 3-6 weeks. From what I know, it's not even on the books yet. It's discouraging - but I have not given up praying for what many may consider the impossible - a date on or before August 16th.

Be There!!

SO excited for this event!!

My husband rocks!!!!

No News is Not Always Good News

After my post yesterday, I decided to email our agency for an update on our case. Turns out no news is not always good new - sometimes it is NO news. :(  I don't want to get too specific about things on a public blog but I will share that, for some reason (not sure why) the event that needs to happen next for our case to move forward is not even on the books yet. This means, if it is not scheduled by Aug. 6th (when the Ethiopian courts close for 6-12 weeks due to rainy season) that it can't even be scheduled until they reopen. I was pretty devastated to get that news yesterday. This puts us back for both trips quite a bit. If courts reopen in October, I am guessing our first trip won't be until November or December. That means we won't get our girl home until February AT THE EARLIEST - I'm guessing, at this rate - probably even quite a bit later than that.

I am crushed that I won't be able to meet my girl before hers and my birthday. I am crushed that she is getting older and I am missing days upon days from her life. I am crushed that the older she gets, the more challenging the adjustment to her new forever family. I am crushed that my two biological children have to contain their excitement to get their baby sister home for even longer. 

This means that, unless we hear that this next step has been scheduled before August 6th, we will hear no other news until the courts reopen (6-12 weeks after August 6th). Please refrain from asking me "how the adoption is going" or "if we've heard any news" during the month of August and September. I will tell you all when I hear anything. We most certainly will NOT hear a thing for many, many weeks and my heart needs some time to get over this. I know people mean well, but I just can't take it for awhile. I know things could be worse and I know His plan and His timing prevails. I get that. But right now, I need to just sit in this yucky place.

Thanks.

Not Much

Not much is new here on the adoption front. I am pretty certain we will not be traveling to Ethiopia before the court closure on Aug. 6th. At this point, I am anticipating our first trip to be in late October or early November?

The kids and I are keeping quite busy this summer though! I'm enjoying as much time as possible having my boy home for summer!!!! I am not looking forward to him returning to school in just over a month. Here are my sweeties at Old World Wisconsin yesterday.

Submitted to Court!!

Yesterday, we were submitted to court in Ethiopia!! This is a huge step!! It means that we stand a chance (maybe a slim chance – but I’ll take it) of getting to Ethiopia to meet our little girl and pass court there before the court closures on Aug. 6^th. There is a TON that has to come together to make that happen, but we know that God can do a TON and we are praying for that!! If we don’t travel for court on/before Aug. 6^th, or if we don’t pass court by Aug. 6^th, we are looking at not getting there for our first trip until October or November (courts close for 6-12 weeks). The thought of that wait just breaks my heart, so I am praying for the best but expecting the worst, so as to try to protect my heart. In a few weeks, we should receive an update as to how the process in Ethiopia is going. I will update you all then.

As far as finances, I am totally BLOWN AWAY by people supporting us in this process. As you will see from the information below, we are ready!! We only have about $4000.00 left to save for this adoption to be 100% paid for. We can’t even begin to put in to words our appreciation for each of you and your support and encouragement over the past 2 and ½ years!!

Here are the fundraisers that are still going on:

FUNDRAISERS

Ordinary Hero: This is a non-profit organization that does mission trips and promotes orphan awareness. They have some awesome products for sale and we receive 40% of items purchased online. Check them out! They have lots of products for both men and women (some adoption-themed, some not). Shop here: http://www.ordinaryherostore.org/. Just be sure to choose “Thomas, Jennifer” as the Fundraising Affiliate at checkout.

Just Love Coffee: $5.00 to us for each bag of coffee sold www.justlovecoffee.com/TheThomas. The coffee is DELICIOUS!!

Adoption Bug T-Shirt Fundraiser: You can order t-shirts from this site: www.adoptionbug.com/thomasadoption. You can order and pay on-line and the t-shirt(s) will be shipped directly to you. We make anywhere from $5-$10 (depending on the t-shirt) per shirt sold toward our adoption. Check it out! They have some cool, high-quality shirts for sale!

TAX DEDUCTABLE GIVING: Lifesong for Orphans: Make a tax deductable donation. They will accept donations in our name up until we travel to bring home our child. Make checks payable to ‘Lifesong for Orphans’. In memo section: ‘THOMAS #1855 ADOPTION’. Send to Lifesong for Orphans  PO Box 40  Gridley, IL  61744.

PRAYER REQUESTS

-   First and foremost for our little baby girl! She is doing as well as can be expected since she is in the care center. And did I mention she is ADORABLE?? For her health and development in these next several months.

-        -   For our baby girl’s first family. We ask for prayers for their hearts.

-          -   Finances to continue to come through and successful fundraisers.

-          -  Patience and faith for both of us as we wait to travel.

-          -   Jaden is about to release his first album!! Stay tuned for details coming soon! And check out his website: www.jadenthomas.com and his facebook: search “Jaden Thomas Music.”

Thank you all so much! We are very blessed by each of you!

The Thomas Family

Step	Cost	Date Paid	Due Date
Application Fee – LSS	$420.00	10/25/10
Application Fee – Holt	$300.00	10/27/10
Home Study Fee – LSS	$2,780.00	1/14/11
USCIS	$890.00	2/2/11
Program Fee – LSS	$1750.00	5/20/11
Dossier Fee – Holt	$3,000.00	5/6/11
Dossier Update Fee – Holt	$255.00	6/28/12
Program Fee – Holt	$9,890.00	5/9/13
Post Placement Fee – LSS	$1,300.00	Ready	6/24/13
Trip 1 to Ethiopia	$7,000.00 (estimated) (this went up $1000 from last month because flights in July/August are SUPER expensive).	Ready	Upon Scheduled Travel Date $6000.00 grant from Show Hope
Trip 2 to Ethiopia	$7,000.00 (estimated)	NEED	Upon Scheduled Travel Date Have $2750.00 toward this total.