It's a song now. I made it up. Ok, I stole it from Finding Nemo. Packing sucks your creativity from your brain.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
26 May 2009
Packing, packing, packing!
Just keep packing...just keep packing...packing, packing...
It's a song now. I made it up. Ok, I stole it from Finding Nemo. Packing sucks your creativity from your brain.
It's a song now. I made it up. Ok, I stole it from Finding Nemo. Packing sucks your creativity from your brain.
13 May 2009
Getting Ready! Long post- Info on donations in red
Today I was majorly nesting: organizing the laundry room, pulling out the high chair from storage and hosing it down in the shower :), bringing out the brand new Britax carseat (that I got for $60 no joke) for Dan to install this weekend, delivering three tubs of stuff to Goodwill and one bag to the consignment store. Ahh. Feels good!
Esias’ room is still full of stuff to donate while we are there. We are planning on taking as much as we can fit. There is a formula shortage in Ethiopia right now, so we are packing as much of that as we can. Babies there are being fed unpasteurized milk as a result of the shortage, and that is causing upset stomach. So far, I have about 4 cans to take (besides the can I plan to use for Esias while there). We also have:
-100 or so pairs of Crocs or other shoes
-approx. 20-30 items of kid’s clothing
-several items of baby clothing
-pencils, notebooks for the older kids
-Beautiful Feet CDs (oh yeah baby)
-a couple of inflatable beach balls to play with the big kids
-two infant crib mobiles (anything for a little stimulation!)
-40 cloth diapers (Chinese prefold type)
-infant toys for the transition home and Gelgela
I am sure there is more stuff too, I just can’t remember it right now! A couple of people donated money for extra baggage costs. It looks like we won’t be needing that, so I will use that money to buy extra formula or supplies while we are in country. If you would like to donate, just email me or leave a comment. Typically, families who go to pick up their children leave some sort of monetary gift or purchase an item while there. One family supplied a washer and dryer, while another recently bought a bike for the nannies to use to get into town. I know the orphanages with babies could use things like swings, exersaucers, bouncy seats, or bumbo seats. I am not sure how we would pack these items (and not sure if they are available in country?) but if you have one that folds or is a “travel” version and would be willing to donate, that would be appreciated. That way the kids can get out of their beds and work on strengthening those back and neck muscles.
As our trip draws closer, possibly even a couple of weeks away, my heart is just in a constant flutter. I have ached for this child for so long. Even during the time when we did not know who he was. And what is funny is that I did not expect that to happen. I had no question that I would take one look at him (whether in photo or in life) and be completely smitten, but I did not anticipate the aching for a child somewhere on the other side of the world not having any clue how his life was about to be turned on its side. Adoption is a miracle. Not because a child is “rescued” from a situation (I hate that word!) but because God uses it to teach us how He adopts us and loves us as His children. He yearns for us to be home with him and he waits patiently for us. Amazing!
Today was such an important day for me...it was the day where it really started to sink in that I am Esias’ mother. He will be here, and I will be the one caring for him, nurturing him, bonding with him--his momma--FOREVER. I can’t wait! And at the same time, all this excitement is coming with a bittersweetness. May 24 would be Jaren’s first birthday. I hope we are in Ethiopia over that week so we can visit his gravesite and let him know that his mommy and daddy love him and think of him all the time. Oh, sweet Jaren, how I still struggle to understand the whys of what happened. Our Father is in control, and Jaren Mikiyas understands that so clearly now. Though I never touched him, I loved him as completely as any mother could. And now, thinking of life without Esias, I can't imagine it.
Ok, getting heavy now. Gotta get ready for a date night with my sweetie. :)
Esias’ room is still full of stuff to donate while we are there. We are planning on taking as much as we can fit. There is a formula shortage in Ethiopia right now, so we are packing as much of that as we can. Babies there are being fed unpasteurized milk as a result of the shortage, and that is causing upset stomach. So far, I have about 4 cans to take (besides the can I plan to use for Esias while there). We also have:
-100 or so pairs of Crocs or other shoes
-approx. 20-30 items of kid’s clothing
-several items of baby clothing
-pencils, notebooks for the older kids
-Beautiful Feet CDs (oh yeah baby)
-a couple of inflatable beach balls to play with the big kids
-two infant crib mobiles (anything for a little stimulation!)
-40 cloth diapers (Chinese prefold type)
-infant toys for the transition home and Gelgela
I am sure there is more stuff too, I just can’t remember it right now! A couple of people donated money for extra baggage costs. It looks like we won’t be needing that, so I will use that money to buy extra formula or supplies while we are in country. If you would like to donate, just email me or leave a comment. Typically, families who go to pick up their children leave some sort of monetary gift or purchase an item while there. One family supplied a washer and dryer, while another recently bought a bike for the nannies to use to get into town. I know the orphanages with babies could use things like swings, exersaucers, bouncy seats, or bumbo seats. I am not sure how we would pack these items (and not sure if they are available in country?) but if you have one that folds or is a “travel” version and would be willing to donate, that would be appreciated. That way the kids can get out of their beds and work on strengthening those back and neck muscles.
As our trip draws closer, possibly even a couple of weeks away, my heart is just in a constant flutter. I have ached for this child for so long. Even during the time when we did not know who he was. And what is funny is that I did not expect that to happen. I had no question that I would take one look at him (whether in photo or in life) and be completely smitten, but I did not anticipate the aching for a child somewhere on the other side of the world not having any clue how his life was about to be turned on its side. Adoption is a miracle. Not because a child is “rescued” from a situation (I hate that word!) but because God uses it to teach us how He adopts us and loves us as His children. He yearns for us to be home with him and he waits patiently for us. Amazing!
Today was such an important day for me...it was the day where it really started to sink in that I am Esias’ mother. He will be here, and I will be the one caring for him, nurturing him, bonding with him--his momma--FOREVER. I can’t wait! And at the same time, all this excitement is coming with a bittersweetness. May 24 would be Jaren’s first birthday. I hope we are in Ethiopia over that week so we can visit his gravesite and let him know that his mommy and daddy love him and think of him all the time. Oh, sweet Jaren, how I still struggle to understand the whys of what happened. Our Father is in control, and Jaren Mikiyas understands that so clearly now. Though I never touched him, I loved him as completely as any mother could. And now, thinking of life without Esias, I can't imagine it.
Ok, getting heavy now. Gotta get ready for a date night with my sweetie. :)
14 December 2008
What's Next?
That's the magic number! 40 days til our "projected date" of travel...now this is not certain, but it gives me a good idea of how much time we're working with here.
Here are the steps we still have to go through before we can travel:
1. Court Date on December 24th. We have to pass court. Some do not pass, usually because of things beyond the control of the prospective parents. Most of the cases lately have been passing on the first try.
2. After we pass court, Esias is our son officially as far as Ethiopia is concerned! The Bethany staff over there will begin working to get us an appointment at the Embassy.
3. Once an Embassy appt. is made, we will be given a "travel call" - that's the magic day! Typically this call comes between 14-7 days before you are actually needed in Addis Ababa, so we will be frantically making travel plans!
4. The whole traveling process is going to take us about a whole day to get there. We will have to fly to DC first (hopefully from CR or Moline, but we might have to drive to Chicago). From DC we are hoping to take Ethiopia Airlines straight to Addis. I think we have to stop in Rome for fuel, but there are no layovers. Honestly, I am not sure what I would rather have- layovers and be able to stretch or get it out of the way. Dan wants to go with the get it out of the way approach.
5. Once in Addis, we will (as I understand it) be picked up by the Bethany staff and most likely taken to our guest home. Depending on what time of day it is, we will be able to go see Esias either that day or the following day. Esias will have to remain in Bethany's custody until our Embassy appt. which is on the Tuesday of that week. So we most likely we visit him in the orphanage or transition home every day until our appt. and then I think we will be able to take him back to the guest home with us after that.
6. I am hoping we can visit a few places such as Yezelalem Minch and the orphange Gelgela (where Esias is now). I would also like to shop a teeny bit and buy a few things for Esias and the girls so they have a bit of Ethiopia to keep in Iowa :)
7. Fly home! Wow, that sounds so easy when you type it out...I am not sure it is going to be so! New baby + strange parents + possible stomach bugs and parasites + multiple diaper changes and feedings + stinky travelers in the seat next to us...well, you get the idea. We are in for it. But I am excited to do it! Ethiopia, here we come!
11 November 2008
Court Date Explained
There seems to be a bit of confusion about what the court date actually does...we will not be traveling over Christmas. The court date is done in Ethiopia and a Bethany representative (an Ethiopian man named Milkiyas) goes to court on our behalf and accepts the parental custody of the child for us. That is, if everyone shows up and the court runs as it should. Just like in the States, sometimes government appointments don't always happen as scheduled for various reasons. So, December 24th Milkiyas will go to the court appointment for us and hopefully that day Esias will become Esias Grimes! After that, we wait again (I know, more waiting) for our appointment at the Embassy. Once we hear about that date, we can book our tickets and get ready to go. There is typically about a month or so between court date and Embassy date, though that is a rough estimate. Embassy appointments are always on a Tuesday. We will have a one or two week notice to travel. Clear as mud?
27 October 2008
Where are we with the adoption process...
Many of you have asked, so here are the answers.
We are waiting for our court date. Our Adoption Specialist in Pella will call us when she has word of our court date (this is what we were waiting for when we heard the news about Jaren). We anticipate the date will be anytime between Nov 15th and December 15th. There is no way to know for sure, but that is my guess. After that, we have to wait and hear if we "pass" court. There are lots of reasons that people do not pass court the first time and the reasons almost never have anything to do with the prospective parents. Usually just weird stuff like people don't show up, the courts don't get to your case, or there is paperwork missing, etc. Sometimes it takes a couple of court dates, sometimes the first one works. After we pass, ESIAS will be offcially a GRIMES! He will legally be our son in Ethiopia. Then, the hardworking Bethany staff in Addis will work on getting an appointment for us to meet with the Embassy there to get his Visa so he can come to America! When we hear of that date, we will know our travel dates. Embassy appts. are on Tuesdays so we will most likely leave a couple of days in advance of that, and be there total about 7-10 days God willing. When we go, we will stay in a guest house, which is a bed-and-breakfast-ish thing run by a local family. We will visit Esias at the orphanage (or wherever he is at that point) each day until we have his Embassy appt. then we can take him with us to the house. We will not do a bunch of touristy things while there, just because we will want to spend as much time as possible with the kids in the orphanage and traveling around to see where Esias and Jaren lived, learning about them through the ladies who cared for them, and visiting Jaren's gravesite at the chapel. I would love to go to the market one day at least to get somethings for our home and for the kids. We might shop a little for the transition house if they need any supplies (if you are interested in donating to them, please let me know). We have a good idea of how things will go based on how things went with other Bethany families, but this process has been a bit of unchartered water for us, so we're not really counting on anything! God is in control, and He will reveal to us what needs to be known when it is time to know it!
We are waiting for our court date. Our Adoption Specialist in Pella will call us when she has word of our court date (this is what we were waiting for when we heard the news about Jaren). We anticipate the date will be anytime between Nov 15th and December 15th. There is no way to know for sure, but that is my guess. After that, we have to wait and hear if we "pass" court. There are lots of reasons that people do not pass court the first time and the reasons almost never have anything to do with the prospective parents. Usually just weird stuff like people don't show up, the courts don't get to your case, or there is paperwork missing, etc. Sometimes it takes a couple of court dates, sometimes the first one works. After we pass, ESIAS will be offcially a GRIMES! He will legally be our son in Ethiopia. Then, the hardworking Bethany staff in Addis will work on getting an appointment for us to meet with the Embassy there to get his Visa so he can come to America! When we hear of that date, we will know our travel dates. Embassy appts. are on Tuesdays so we will most likely leave a couple of days in advance of that, and be there total about 7-10 days God willing. When we go, we will stay in a guest house, which is a bed-and-breakfast-ish thing run by a local family. We will visit Esias at the orphanage (or wherever he is at that point) each day until we have his Embassy appt. then we can take him with us to the house. We will not do a bunch of touristy things while there, just because we will want to spend as much time as possible with the kids in the orphanage and traveling around to see where Esias and Jaren lived, learning about them through the ladies who cared for them, and visiting Jaren's gravesite at the chapel. I would love to go to the market one day at least to get somethings for our home and for the kids. We might shop a little for the transition house if they need any supplies (if you are interested in donating to them, please let me know). We have a good idea of how things will go based on how things went with other Bethany families, but this process has been a bit of unchartered water for us, so we're not really counting on anything! God is in control, and He will reveal to us what needs to be known when it is time to know it!
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