Patience...

This morning there was a conference call with the Department of State regarding the announcement of the reduction in adoptions being processed.  I called to listen to the conference call, and like a lot of other families, the call was full so I could not participate.  I sent an email asking if the conference call was recorded and if we could listen to the call...I have not heard back.  Another adoptive family from our agency did get on the call and she took notes and posted them...this is what she wrote as a summary of the conference call:

~ The state dept. Says the reduction could add a year or more to the process. They said it was just a guess and shouldn't be quoted.

~The director of adoptions has been removed. They don't have any clue if this has anything to do with the reduction or not.
~USCIS says the reduction is a disproportionate number.
~USCIS also says that they are unclear if the reduction will take place or if it will really stand.
~The US govt and other nations are offering support to ET to continue ethical adoptions.
~The US embassy is meeting with MOWA on Monday.
~MOWA approves adoptions at 2 points: to approve referral and the final adoption decree. They are unsure at what point the reduction actually takes place.
~Currently there are 1,000 cases in process (starting with DTE).
DTE= Dossier to Ethiopia...we were DTE Sept 24, 2010

Our agency also posted this:
The Dept. of State has posted an alert regarding MOWA. In it, they indicate that starting 03/10/2011, MOWA will only review five cases per day, which would significantly lengthen the adoption process for children lacking permanency. We confirmed with Bethany Ethiopia staff that on 03/10/2011, MOWA reviewed only five cases that day, and that it stated on the door at MOWA that their new policy was to review only five cases per day. Bethany Christiain Services is diligently working through our staff in Ethiopia to address the current issue. The Network, which is a consortium of adoption agency Ethiopian representatives, of which Bethany is a part, are working to address the issue with MOWA.

If adoptive parents would like to participate in advocacy to respectfully request that MOWA reconsider their position, the Joint Council on International Children's Services (JCICS) has developed a petition. Please visit that petition here to let your voice be heard.

So, we continue to pray.  I still have great peace and joy today! I know that it is in God's hands and I just keep talking to him and being patient. (I really don't know where this patience is coming from...I am the NOW girl. Oh, yeah...it's not from me for sure...I know it's a GIFT from God).

E-man and I have been playing together today. He has a set of old keys on a key ring that he loves to play with. Out of the blue he puts on his slippers, grabs his keys and comes over to me, gives me a kiss and a hug and said, "bye bye mommy." I said, "where are you going?" "I'm going to Eeeeeopia, mommy.  I'm driving to Eeeeopia." I said, "oh really? But baby, you can't drive to Ethiopia. You have to fly to Ethiopia." He then said so quickly, "Ok mommy. I drive to airport, get airplane and go to Eeeopia."  

I indulged him. We went to the car, he sat in his car seat, and we went to Michaels. Not quite Ethiopia...but we got out of the house.  When Will got home and took Ethan upstairs when he changed out of work clothes, all E-man talked about was going to Ethiopia.  I guess you can tell what the topic of conversation is here at our house!

Would you PLEASE consider signing the petition in the link above?  Thank you so much!