Variables

So we are in month 9 of our wait. Nine months was the original forecast of when we would receive our referral. Kind of a surreal thing to think that we are at that point already. But then again, there are a lot of factors that have changed that have made our adoption process much more lengthy. I don't think at 9 months we are even half-way done waiting at this point. There is a lot to this so I'll explain the best news as to why we have delays and then I'll list out the others.

The best and most exciting reason for delays in our referral :), is that we have changed our request to two children instead of just one. We talked and prayed through this crazy thought quite a bit and given factors such as age and unpredictability of international adoption these days, we want to get two while we can and then be finished (as far as we know ;)

That is the good news for the delay. Likely, we will need to wait for at least 6-8 additional months for 2 children.

The bad news for the delays are really out of our control and some of them I don't even fully understand. But here they are:
1. if our gov't can't agree on the budget, then various government offices will shut down. This includes the embassy which processes adoption immigration paperwork. If this closes down then there will be a backlog of cases.

2. The Ethiopian government is slowing things down. one reason is because of lack of staffing to keep up with the volume. The second reason is that because of the volume they are concerned with the oversights that happen when things move to fast. They want to make sure they are placing their children with the best families and that the children's paperwork is in order.

3. The U.S. immigration is requiring additional or more detailed paperwork in regards to the relinquishment of the child.

4. Our agency has been working through an investigation and while they are in the clear (as they assumed) and nothing was found that caused alarm, it still caused delays and a backlog of cases.

These are the jists of the delays (though there are many details with each of these). This is a lot! And it we will feel the time lengthen. Likely we will not bring our children home this year even. But we know this is all in God's hands. We remember God's dealings with our family in the past and we know He is faithful and has the best in store for us!