30.5.08

USCIS

Another hallelu Yah! Today, in the mail, we got our pre-approval for our child's immigration! We now have the last paper that we need in order to send away for the state seals. This means that very soon we will submit our dossier. Once it's been submitted, then we start to wait... again. Rob and I will concentrate on reading more about Ethiopia and adoption and on buying a gift a month again. How fun!

More Ethiopian Faces

A few entries ago, I told you about a link to the right about Ethiopian books. If you go to that site, click on Photo Albums off to the left. You'll be presented with a few collections of photos. If you click on the top one, and then go through the pictures, you'll see some more faces of Ethiopia. Precious.

28.5.08

Do you know what "hallelu Yah" means?

Hallelu Yah! Hallelu Yah! Hallelu Yah! Hallelu, hallelu, u, u, Yah! Yes, it's as if Jason Castro were singing it... that's why I've added the extra "u"s. Anyways...

Hallelu Yah! Ever since Rob and I switched our adoption from Albania to Ethiopia, we thought that the $4,500 that we had paid into our Albanian country fee was gone. We quickly got over it, looking at it as though it were a humanitarian contribution. But, the fact was that we needed to pay more than that amount again, but this time to Ethiopia. I began praying for $4,000. It was a lot, but I prayed. God is the God of so many miracles. Why not this one?

Today Rob spoke with our social worker. It turns out that the $4,500 from Albania was just transferred to our Ethiopian account! All of it! We had not expected any of it. God gave us $500 more than I had even dared to ask for! Hallelu Yah!

"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord..." (James 1:6-7).

An adoption story

Our cousin just sent us a link to the adoption stories of another family, who seems to share our heart. Enjoy the read!

27.5.08

Ethiopian Books

Off to the right, you'll find a new link to a site that features Ethiopian children's books. Check it out.

We need.

We need our immigration paper. Please pray that we get it tomorrow.

20.5.08

Ticket to Ethiopia!


Well... actually, just a game of Ticket to Ride, using red, yellow, and green (Ethiopian flag colors) trains. You can Ethiopianize just about anything. Auntie KK finally won a game, and by a lot. Props. Uncle Matty, you better practice up. And Auntie LACA, girl, do you have a ticket to Little Ethiopia?

19.5.08

On Wisconsin!



My sister's graduation from UW-Madison was this past Sunday. The family drove in from the north, east, and west and flew in from the Cali-coast... and all met up at the Kohl center for the ceremony. As Rob and I walked down the stadium stairs to meet up with the rest of the family, we saw K down on the floor, so we continued down to her. Then I saw the sweet surprise and of course started to cry. K had ordered an Ethiopian stole to wear over her gown in honor of our future child. A lot of the kids with African heritage do this, proudly wearing the colors of their past. My sister, instead, wore the colors of our future. The rest of the family knew that she had prepared this and had all kept it for a surprise for Rob and me. After the festivities, K gave the satin stole to us for our child's room... as a reminder of his/her home country and as a reminder of a future goal. Will I be a Badger parent? On Wisconsin!

12.5.08

Line up

We are waiting for one more paper. Once we have the immigration pre-approval, we can then send all of our papers to the state for ITS seal "of approval." We then make 4 copies of our dossier and hand three of them in to our Bethany office. They will send the master to the head office in Michigan, who will in turn send that packet to D.C. for our country's approval. Once it's approved on that level, they will send it back to Michigan. Then, and only then, will our papers be sent to Ethiopia, where they will be translated, scrutinized, and God-willing approved. How long will all of this take? I have no idea. My hopeful brother reminded me yesterday that by next Mothers' Day I should be able to celebrate. "God willing!" as the Jews say so often.

9.5.08

Beautiful

There is a link over to the right entitled "Another Ethiopian Adoption Agency." When you have a few minutes, click on it. Then, on the new page, there is a link off to the right called "Family Photo Album." Check out those precious kids! Of course, our child will be unique, but those photos give an idea of what our child may look like. So adorable!

7.5.08

Books!

I just spent the morning with a dear friend who is in the know about children's books. We took some time to go through Half Price Books and found some great reads to begin the Stensberg kid-library. A few are a bit too advanced for a little one, but either I couldn't resist or I was strongly encouraged to buy them by my friend.

We now have: Pancakes, Pancakes! (Which I like because it teaches about from where food comes. No, not the grocery store.), The Tiny Seed (for gardening), The Cheerios Play Book (Which may encourage playing with food, but it works on fine motor skills. Really!), The Velveteen Rabbit, Harry the Dirty Dog (Bathing is important!), Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little (I know, a bit advanced, but too important to pass up at $1 each.), and The Happy Hocky Family (Which made me cry from laughter.).

How fun. Thank you, friend!