So THIS is what "Wait" REALLY means! :)

I've decided that right now, THIS season of wait, is the hardest one yet.

We have a little face we already love, a name that means so much to us, monthly updates to smile about, and even remarks from fellow adoptive parents that are visiting our agency's care center in Ethiopia.  This little one is REAL.

I read an article last week (See here ------> http://wondermentetc.com/2013/08/02/dear-friends-of-waiting-adoptive-moms-some-things-to-know-also-were-sorry/)  that seemed to so perfectly explain what it's like to be a waiting momma, when your child is on the other side of the world.  It's like half of my heart is on the other side of the world too.  Just waiting and aching to hold him, smell him, snuggle him, and cover him in kisses. (And those cheeks are looking pretty kissable too!)

Johnathan and Tenleigh "beam" when they're asked about their baby brother.  They love to talk about him and every day they ask to see his pictures again.

But until the day when we finally do get to hold him, we just wait.

Right now we're waiting for the staff in Ethiopia to complete our adoption contract and gather all of Baby A's paperwork.  Even though the courts in Ethiopia will be closing soon for rainy season, all paperwork can continue to be gathered and processed.  I'm praying, praying, PRAYING that we will be able to get a court date soon after the courts re-open in October.  That would be amazing! But I kind of tell myself to hope for before the New Year instead, so that our hearts aren't too disappointed if it's not sooner.

I'm also finding (already), that it's so much harder to be patient when dealing with the works of a third-world country now.  Time in Africa is quite different than time here.  "Soon" to us may mean within the next few days.  "Soon" to them may mean within the next few months.  Things that are of high priority to us, may not be to them.  I've heard of several families recently whose paperwork was caught up from going to Embassy because THE ONE printer at the courthouse was broken.... for several weeks. Our dear friends are waiting for a tiny replacement piece for a medical machine to be passed through customs... possibly has been stuck there for several weeks too.  I also have had a little bit of a chuckle this week when we received Baby A's updated photo via email.... except we're not quite sure it's Baby A!? :)  I have a feeling that Baby A's name was tagged to the wrong picture.  But we are still waiting, 4 days later, for Ethiopia staff to confirm.

So you see, LOTS of waiting going on here!  But during the wait, we need to keep busy! So the kids and I are enjoying our last weeks together before school starts up again.  Lots of time has been spent outside, I've been enjoying my work-out routine, and we're all getting geared up for Grandma and Grandpa to move closer!  Such blessings for our anxious hearts!