Are We There Yet?

I wish you could hear Tiger's squeaky voice chiming daily in excitement, "Mom, are we there yet? Are we to our adoption and my family coming home?"  Sadly, friends, no...we aren't. BUT we are closer each day. 

We still await Embassy.  The following is a boring but basic overview of our next step toward the trio:

Gladney, our adoption agency, collects the trio's documents for Embassy, things like letters from MOWA, background info on the trio's relinquishment, court papers, birth certificates (which must be issued), passports, Embassy medical reports... (We have been told this step is currently taking an average of 4-8 weeks.) The adoption agency will then submit our completed file on the first possible Thursday, the only day the Embassy allows them to advance files. Embassy will review our case, and we HOPE they will give clearance for our family to receive an immigrant visa interview. (The typical first response from Embassy is within 2 weeks.) There is a possibility that at this point the Embassy can request addition information, which would mean recollecting and resubmitting documents and new reviews and new visa appointments. (I KNOW, right???) Once we do receive clearance for a visa appointment, we will FINALLY be able to schedule our return trip to Ethiopia to Be a FAMILY OF 9! 

I feel a lot like Tiger. I am like a 5 year old girl again in the back of my parents big suburban traveling to the beach and looking hard for the coast line. But this time I know waiting makes arrival all the sweeter. Aren't we there yet?