The good, the bad and a horse stuck in a swamp

As soon as I think the wait list movement is going to ramp up again...it stalls out. I feel up with good news, and then knocked down again by "new news".

First the good new -

Early last week my best friend, Kevala, took time off work so that we could cruise down to Centennial and check out the offices for our adoption agency. I have never been in there before and I thought it would be a good opportunity to get my eyes on "the board" (wait list). We also have a new adoption coordinator that I thought would be nice to meet face to face.

Seeing the board in person was fun. I quickly tried to memorize every detail and analyze where movement would happen, how many people are duplicates on multiple lists, etc. Analysis done in search of some kind of answer of how and when this list will ever move. Of course this was all done with me trying to act very casual, like "hmmm....I just happen to be standing near this board and casually looking at it, and Oh, did you just ask me a question? Yes I'm totally listening" (You know, just trying to cover up my crazy a little bit). So that was the fun part. Also our new coordinator is really sweet and doesn't treat me like an adoption version of bridezilla when I ask her questions so that is good news as well.

And then the "new news" -

I don't know if it is bad news necessarily - but definitely not what I was expecting. After our agency reported that they had made connections with two additional orphanages and that they hoped to be finding families for the children in the next few weeks, I assumed they meant over the next 3-6 weeks they would be referring children to families. Well when I was down at the agency my coordinator told me that the partnerships with the two new orphanages would not be official/final until after approval by the Ethiopian government and that they doubt that will happen until after the election. Then the time frame of end of June, beginning of July was thrown out there for when they would be matching children with families. This is significantly longer than "in the next few weeks"! I would say that qualifies more as the "next few (3!) months". I have to imagine that the agency is feeling pressure to begin referring again. I read today that the baby girl list is up to 44!!! There have been new families added every week and only 2 referrals from the wait list in the last 7 weeks.

Then the silver lining -

When Mike and I planned out our spring, we wanted to make sure we had some romantic getaways on the calendar, because we had no idea how long the referral process would take. We knew it was probably going to be a while but we wanted to get them planned, just in case things happened more quickly than expected (ridiculously optimistic in retrospect). We have one getaway planned per month for March, April, and May. I had no idea when we planned them what a great breath of fresh air they would be during this process.

It has been so nice to have dates to look forward to and plans to make that we can count on in this time of uncertainty. Plus is has been a blessing to have a few days each month to not think about the adoption and the wait list. And to just get lost in the the present rather than fretting about the future.

This last month we went to Scottsdale, AZ for my cousin's wedding and had an amazing time with our family and our two boys. Next month Mike and I are off to Napa Valley, CA - just the two of us. I am really looking forward to it, and I am hoping it will help this month pass quickly so we can get the Ethiopian Election over with. I will be praying for a fair, democratic, and non-violent election. I will also be praying that this "nothingness" of our wait list will not overtake my resolve.

Just like Atreyu told Artax (his horse) in the swamp.....

Atreyu:
Fight against the sadness Artax. Artax, please. You're letting the sadness of the swamps get to you. You have to try, you have to care. For me, I'm your friend, I love you.

(Artax doesn't move and Atreyu slaps the puddle sending water flying toward the horse. He yells at him again.)

Artax, you're sinking! Come on, turn around, you have to, now! Come on! Artax! Fight against the sadness, Artax. Artax, please, you're letting the sadness of the swamps get to you. You have to try. You have to care, for me, you're my friend, and I love you. Artax! Stupid horse! You've gotta move or you'll die! Move, please! I won't give up! Don't quit! Artax! Please!

(then he pleads with him.)

Move please. I won't give up! Jump quick! Artax please!

(Yes my kids have recently discovered "The Neverending Story". This should bring back some strong memories for those of you born between 1970 and 1990. I guess in the context of this analogy I would be the stupid horse...but whatever) **Thanks to Google and a public Facebook account managed by a nerdy Scotsman and dedicated to Artax the horse for the dialog.