30 days being a family of 4

Yesterday was May 18th, 30 days since Fetinet legally became our son and although this is exciting, it is also bittersweet because he is not home with us.  By the normal timelines it could be 30-36 more days before he will be home with us forever but we did get some exciting news that may mean he could be here closer to that 30 day mark.  We got an email saying they are hoping to get us submitted to embassy THIS coming Monday, May, 21st!  This means that if all goes well and no extra documents are needed then it may be a couple weeks and they will schedule the birth parent interview (yes, they have 2 now, one before court and one before embassy), then if that goes well, then we will soon after get an email saying we have been cleared and can choose 3 dates to travel.  They will then pick one of those dates for us and we will book our flights and go bring him home!  I have a gut feeling I will be in Ethiopia during the last week of June so please pray with me that it happens!

We do have a lot to do between now and then though, final education requirements, updated USCIS fingerprints and of course a few more dollars to raise, well more like $8,910 more dollars but who's counting?

We are awaiting to see if we will receive grants from a few places we recently applied but we are also starting a new and FINAL fundraiser...yes I cannot believe this is IT but it will be our last one!  We have been blessed by our previous fundraisers in so many ways, more than simply financially.  We have made forever friends, have opened others' eyes to adoption and have put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into them which has made this whole adoption extra special.  It has also made us realize how God works and has amazed us and others to see how good He is in a tangible way.  So from t-shirts and coffee sales, to a garage sale and puzzle piece fundraiser, to a BBQ benefit dinner and half marathon, we now bring you our Raffle to Bring Fetinet Home.

You can click on the link above or on the tab at the top of our home page or on the picture in the top right corner of tickets, and it will take you to the raffle.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us thus far, we have come a long way and love to think of each and every one of you who have helped get to where we are.  We can't wait to share the story of this journey with Fetinet when he gets older!