I just wanted to post this link to a video about orphans in Ethiopia. It is kinda long - 20 minutes, but I really thought it was good. Just a small glimpse of what is happening there.
The main character of the book that I just finished, "There is No Me Without You," by Melessa Fay Greene, is Haregewoin Teferra. She was in part of this video. I thought that was kinda neat. This book (have I said much about it before, I can't remember) is amazing and a true current day story of this woman and the orphans she has taken in. The book also tells stories of these children, which you just don't want to believe could be true. I will write more about this book another night.
Ethiopian orphans video
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Monday, January 22, 2007
weekend in Chicago
Hello, this is Jen. Just wanted to post a note, though there are no adoption updates for us. Children's Home Society and Family Services has forums or chat rooms on their website for the various countries they adopt from. The Ethiopia forum is by far the most active with over 10,000 posts and 1000 threads. It is actually hard to keep up on if you miss a day. But, it is so helpful, you find people who have the same question you do and lots of other people who know the answers.
Anyway, my point is, many families post updates on their adoption process. There is also someone who keeps track of families who are in different stages of the process, if they want her to. I think they guesstimate that about half of the families adopting from Ethiopia provide updates for this. During December there were 23 children referred to families, 14 of those between Dec 19-22. In January, there has only been 1, so I expect a big flurry of referrals any day now. It won't be us for a few more months, but I am still excitedly waiting for the families who are next.
We spent the weekend in Chicago. It was my sister Sarah's birthday on Saturday and we wanted to celebrate her big 3-0 with her. My niece, Maggie, turned the big 3 on Sunday, so even more to celebrate. Very nice, yet quick, weekend. All 4 sisters were together with the 7 kids and 2 of the hubbies. We went to the Shedd Aquarium on Saturday and to the Du Page Children's Museum in Naperville on Sunday.
Did I mention that all four of us are expecting???? Elizabeth is due (eek, can't remember) April 20-something. Sarah is due June 5th. And Laura is due June 4th. And my due date (minus the growing belly) is alittle more up-in-the-air. My parents will go from 7 grandkids to 11 in a few months.
So, maybe if I can sweet talk my guy, we will post a couple pics of Chicago or all the snow we got while we were gone. :) Take care.
Anyway, my point is, many families post updates on their adoption process. There is also someone who keeps track of families who are in different stages of the process, if they want her to. I think they guesstimate that about half of the families adopting from Ethiopia provide updates for this. During December there were 23 children referred to families, 14 of those between Dec 19-22. In January, there has only been 1, so I expect a big flurry of referrals any day now. It won't be us for a few more months, but I am still excitedly waiting for the families who are next.
We spent the weekend in Chicago. It was my sister Sarah's birthday on Saturday and we wanted to celebrate her big 3-0 with her. My niece, Maggie, turned the big 3 on Sunday, so even more to celebrate. Very nice, yet quick, weekend. All 4 sisters were together with the 7 kids and 2 of the hubbies. We went to the Shedd Aquarium on Saturday and to the Du Page Children's Museum in Naperville on Sunday.
Did I mention that all four of us are expecting???? Elizabeth is due (eek, can't remember) April 20-something. Sarah is due June 5th. And Laura is due June 4th. And my due date (minus the growing belly) is alittle more up-in-the-air. My parents will go from 7 grandkids to 11 in a few months.
So, maybe if I can sweet talk my guy, we will post a couple pics of Chicago or all the snow we got while we were gone. :) Take care.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Ethiopian Calendar
Ethiopia gears up for millennium party
© afrol News / UNWTOafrol News, 15 January -
Ethiopia is still living in the year 1999, according to its own calendar, meaning that Ethiopians can look forward to yet another millennium party later this year. And authorities are planning a magnificent celebration for citizens and the many expected foreign visitors; launching projects worth birr 290 million (euro 26 million).
The Ethiopian calendar is unique in the world, developed by the indigenous Coptic church leaning on ancient Egyptian astronomic calculations, the Jewish calendar and the Julian calendar - adopted under Julius Caesar and the root of all Christian date calculators. Europe in 1582 shifted to the Gregorian calendar, now putting most of us in January 2007.
According to the Ethiopian calendar, we are in mid-1999. Here, "the year is divided into 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of 5 days and 6 days in leap year," the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture explains. The Ethiopian calendar is 7 and a half year behind the Gregorian calendar, also having 365 days in a normal year and 366 days in each leap year, so the distance remains almost constant.
According to Harvard University Professor Ephraim Isaac, most scholars that have studied Biblical times agree that the Ethiopian calendar is much closer than the Gregorian to start its calculations of time around the birth of Jesus Christ. Some put this event in the year 0 of the Ethiopian calendar, while most historians hold the founder of Christianity was born in year 3 of the same calendar - or year 5 in the Gregorian.
To read the rest of the article:
http://www.afrol.com/articles/23759
© afrol News / UNWTOafrol News, 15 January -
Ethiopia is still living in the year 1999, according to its own calendar, meaning that Ethiopians can look forward to yet another millennium party later this year. And authorities are planning a magnificent celebration for citizens and the many expected foreign visitors; launching projects worth birr 290 million (euro 26 million).
The Ethiopian calendar is unique in the world, developed by the indigenous Coptic church leaning on ancient Egyptian astronomic calculations, the Jewish calendar and the Julian calendar - adopted under Julius Caesar and the root of all Christian date calculators. Europe in 1582 shifted to the Gregorian calendar, now putting most of us in January 2007.
According to the Ethiopian calendar, we are in mid-1999. Here, "the year is divided into 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of 5 days and 6 days in leap year," the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture explains. The Ethiopian calendar is 7 and a half year behind the Gregorian calendar, also having 365 days in a normal year and 366 days in each leap year, so the distance remains almost constant.
According to Harvard University Professor Ephraim Isaac, most scholars that have studied Biblical times agree that the Ethiopian calendar is much closer than the Gregorian to start its calculations of time around the birth of Jesus Christ. Some put this event in the year 0 of the Ethiopian calendar, while most historians hold the founder of Christianity was born in year 3 of the same calendar - or year 5 in the Gregorian.
To read the rest of the article:
http://www.afrol.com/articles/23759
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Officially "Waiting"
Well we received word on Thursday (1/11/07) from CHSFS that our dossier has been approved and we are officially "waiting for a referral." What this means is that clock has started ticking. Wait time for an infant boy is currently running 0-4 months. After we get our referral and accept we have to wait for an appointment date at the embassy in Addis Ababa. Travel time from when we accept our referral to when we actually leave can be up to 12 weeks. So let's do the math: we could get our referral anytime between now and May. Let's assume May, we could then expect to leave for Addis sometime between late June-August.
That's in a perfect world where dates don't change, the courts don't close in late July and world events don't play a factor (F.Y.I. Ethiopia and Somalia are not getting a long currently. So far this has not had an affect on international adoption, but we are keeping up-to-date with everything that is happening just in case.)
Since this isn't a perfect world, we don't really have a clue for sure about anything. So that is the long answer to the question we have already been getting "So when will you leave to get your new son?" The short answer we have been giving is a blank stare and a shrug of the shoulders. Now you know why.
Selam.
That's in a perfect world where dates don't change, the courts don't close in late July and world events don't play a factor (F.Y.I. Ethiopia and Somalia are not getting a long currently. So far this has not had an affect on international adoption, but we are keeping up-to-date with everything that is happening just in case.)
Since this isn't a perfect world, we don't really have a clue for sure about anything. So that is the long answer to the question we have already been getting "So when will you leave to get your new son?" The short answer we have been giving is a blank stare and a shrug of the shoulders. Now you know why.
Selam.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Busy times ahead
Hi - this is Jen. I don't have any big updates, but thought I should write a quick note.
We took down Christmas decorations this weekend. We always put up a fair amount - 2 trees, several wreaths, lots of garland and lights, a little village and train set, outdoor lights, etc, so it takes awhile to take back down. It is kinda sad, the house just doesn't feel so festive and fun. But, the house does feel cleaner. Less clutter. Katie asked what the next holiday is, I think she was alittle sad it was 'over'.
We also made trips to Lowes, Menards, and Home Depot this weekend. The kids were thrilled to say the least! NOT! They did find some excitement in trying out all the shower, bathtubs, and toilets we were looking at. At one point, the 3 kids and I were all squeezed into 1 shower stall with the clear glass door closed. We had a couple strange looks from fellow shoppers. I think the sight of toilets inspired Anna, so we visited the real restroom in every store. We are (we - whatever!, I meant Gary is) going to be working on building a bathroom in the basement over the next couple months. Gary's buddy Scott will be coming in 2 weeks, so we need to make some decisions on what we want to do. I had dreams of a really cool bathroom, but the price tags have brought me back to the reality that we really just need it to function.
We are getting ready to sign the kids up for softball and tee-ball. And swim lessons. But that is all! Last spring, we had t-ball, dance, swim lessons, soccer, and tae-kwon-do. We were busy every night of the week. The spring before, we had t-ball, soccer, swim lessons and a new baby born in the middle of everything. (I cannot imagine what things will be like when the kids are older and all 4 will be in activities.) For some reason, we always over do it and really run ourselves around like crazy. So this year we are just letting them do 2 things each.
Well, the point of this is that it should make the waiting time for the referral time of our little guy and then the wait to travel go alittle quicker. I hope.
Bye. :)
We took down Christmas decorations this weekend. We always put up a fair amount - 2 trees, several wreaths, lots of garland and lights, a little village and train set, outdoor lights, etc, so it takes awhile to take back down. It is kinda sad, the house just doesn't feel so festive and fun. But, the house does feel cleaner. Less clutter. Katie asked what the next holiday is, I think she was alittle sad it was 'over'.
We also made trips to Lowes, Menards, and Home Depot this weekend. The kids were thrilled to say the least! NOT! They did find some excitement in trying out all the shower, bathtubs, and toilets we were looking at. At one point, the 3 kids and I were all squeezed into 1 shower stall with the clear glass door closed. We had a couple strange looks from fellow shoppers. I think the sight of toilets inspired Anna, so we visited the real restroom in every store. We are (we - whatever!, I meant Gary is) going to be working on building a bathroom in the basement over the next couple months. Gary's buddy Scott will be coming in 2 weeks, so we need to make some decisions on what we want to do. I had dreams of a really cool bathroom, but the price tags have brought me back to the reality that we really just need it to function.
We are getting ready to sign the kids up for softball and tee-ball. And swim lessons. But that is all! Last spring, we had t-ball, dance, swim lessons, soccer, and tae-kwon-do. We were busy every night of the week. The spring before, we had t-ball, soccer, swim lessons and a new baby born in the middle of everything. (I cannot imagine what things will be like when the kids are older and all 4 will be in activities.) For some reason, we always over do it and really run ourselves around like crazy. So this year we are just letting them do 2 things each.
Well, the point of this is that it should make the waiting time for the referral time of our little guy and then the wait to travel go alittle quicker. I hope.
Bye. :)
Friday, January 05, 2007
E-mail assault
Well it is possible some of you woke this morning to about 100 e-mails from us. (Actually it was not that many but it WILL seem like it) Jen wrote a brief e-mail to everyone we had in our address book mentioning this blog. When she went to send it she started getting multiple error messages. After a little digging she found the bad address and resent the message. In the meantime the e-mail kept trying to mail itself, hence the multiple copies you are seeing in your Inbox. Sorry about that. The moral of the story is that we need to look through out address book again and make sure there are any other problems before we try that again. Oh and if you are reading this and saying to yourself, "Hey we didn't get 1,000,000 e-mail messages from the Krob's this morning." That means we might not have your address or the one we have is old. Please send a comment below with your name, e-mail address and bank account numbers and we will update our list. Dehna hunu.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Article from eMediaWire
Adoption Agency Sees Surge in Applications for Ethiopia Program
Children's Home Society & Family Services celebrates 200th child from Ethiopia placed with an adoptive family in 2006.
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (PRWEB) December 23, 2006 -- On Saturday, December 23, 2006, a couple from Burnsville, Minnesota, will arrive home from Ethiopia with their adoptive daughter, marking the 200th adoption placement from that country in 2006 through St. Paul-based Children's Home Society & Family Services (CHSFS). This is the family's second adoption from Ethiopia.CHSFS' Ethiopia adoption program started in April 2004 and since then, 345 children have found stability and permanency through adoption and is the fastest growing adoption program in the 117 year history of Children's Home Society & Family Services.
CHSFS receives at least one adoption application each day from parents hoping to adopt from Ethiopia and averages 16 children placed into families each month. CHSFS is one of only a handful of US-based adoption agencies authorized by Ethiopia to provide adoption services and works with families across the country.
Some reasons for the increase in interest for adopting from Ethiopia are:
• The need is great. For years the media has shown images of the plight of children in Africa suffering from the effects of famine, disease, war and extreme poverty. Adoption provides a meaningful way to reach out to a child in need. There an estimated four million orphans in Ethiopia.
• The process is efficient. Once an adoption application has been approved, it only takes two to six months to get a referral from the country, a timeframe that is considerably shorter than other adoption programs. Also, the Ethiopian government has created an environment that is well-equipped to facilitate international adoptions.
• The cost is affordable compared to adopting from other international and domestic infant adoption programs.
Anyone interested in learning more about adopting from Ethiopia is encouraged to contact Children's Home Society & Family Services at 800-952-9302 or email.
About Children's Home Society & Family Services: Since 1889, Children's Home Society & Family Services (CHSFS) has met the needs of children and families through our adoption, child abuse and neglect prevention, early childhood education, and comprehensive family services. As a statewide non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, CHSFS is committed to help children thrive and to build, strengthen and sustain individual, family and community life. For more information please log on to www.chsfs.org or call 651-646-7771.
http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2006/12/emw493606.htm
Monday, January 01, 2007
Small World
Can you believe it is 2007??? When I really think about it, I just can't. I mean what happened to the 90's for goodness sakes? And now it is well over half way through this decade (I knew know what to call it). Time really does fly when you are having fun.
We (the very exciting couple that we are) rung in the New Year on the couch flipping between old Twilight Zone episodes and the various New Year celebrations. Had some mixed drinks and champagne and actually made it up to nearly 1:00AM. Earlier in the evening, we had cheese fondue and buffalo burgers and then chocolate fondue for dessert. The kids had sparkling cider in wine glasses and just thought that was the greatest. We played Battleship and had lots of family fun. I was in a super excellent mood because the work-work that I had thought might take all weekend was done by 2:00 on Saturday (after starting at 6:00AM).
We spent today trying to figure out where all the new games, toys, and other gifts from Christmas would fit. We have Katie and Jack's room very organized - hopefully it can stay that way for awhile! Annalise's room is all done, too. We will have to do some re-arranging in her room when our son comes home - but that will be several months.
Anyway, I had not intended to use this blog to bore you all will the daily tasks of our lives. I do have to post a really interesting little story.
The week before Christmas, Gary and I and the kiddos delivered little goodie bags to the neighbors on our cul-de-sac. We included a Christmas card and note to say hello and give the news of our adoption. The next day on the blog, we had 2 comments. It just so happens that our very next door neighbors, Brian and Stephanie, have a family member who is adopting from Ethiopia as well. What in heavens is the chance of that? And it sounds like Amy, who is Brian's sister, and her husband Josh are pretty close to being in the same parts of the process. That is really amazing and so exciting.
Part of the reason I think it is exciting is because it shows how adoptions and specifically Ethiopian adoptions are growing. I cannot remember the exact numbers/details, but Children's Home started doing Ethiopian adoptions in 2004 with less than 50 adoptions. In 2006, they placed more than 200 children. Children's Home adopts from about 10 international countries, and said that the Ethiopian numbers could be close to overtaking China in the next few years. Wow!
We (the very exciting couple that we are) rung in the New Year on the couch flipping between old Twilight Zone episodes and the various New Year celebrations. Had some mixed drinks and champagne and actually made it up to nearly 1:00AM. Earlier in the evening, we had cheese fondue and buffalo burgers and then chocolate fondue for dessert. The kids had sparkling cider in wine glasses and just thought that was the greatest. We played Battleship and had lots of family fun. I was in a super excellent mood because the work-work that I had thought might take all weekend was done by 2:00 on Saturday (after starting at 6:00AM).
We spent today trying to figure out where all the new games, toys, and other gifts from Christmas would fit. We have Katie and Jack's room very organized - hopefully it can stay that way for awhile! Annalise's room is all done, too. We will have to do some re-arranging in her room when our son comes home - but that will be several months.
Anyway, I had not intended to use this blog to bore you all will the daily tasks of our lives. I do have to post a really interesting little story.
The week before Christmas, Gary and I and the kiddos delivered little goodie bags to the neighbors on our cul-de-sac. We included a Christmas card and note to say hello and give the news of our adoption. The next day on the blog, we had 2 comments. It just so happens that our very next door neighbors, Brian and Stephanie, have a family member who is adopting from Ethiopia as well. What in heavens is the chance of that? And it sounds like Amy, who is Brian's sister, and her husband Josh are pretty close to being in the same parts of the process. That is really amazing and so exciting.
Part of the reason I think it is exciting is because it shows how adoptions and specifically Ethiopian adoptions are growing. I cannot remember the exact numbers/details, but Children's Home started doing Ethiopian adoptions in 2004 with less than 50 adoptions. In 2006, they placed more than 200 children. Children's Home adopts from about 10 international countries, and said that the Ethiopian numbers could be close to overtaking China in the next few years. Wow!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Off topic - Packers vs Vikings
"It was a damp, slightly cool evening at Lambeau Field when the Packers took the field..."
I was going to write a little bit about the football game, Jen says I can post something about it but only if I somehow include our adoption into the conversation. As it turns out we mailed our dossier to the agency yesterday so now we are officially waiting. After a hectic and fun holiday with all of our families, we are exhausted and need another vacation just to catch our breath. Getting the dossier in is a nice way to end 2006, waiting for our referral is going to be a nice way to start 2007. Now on to the game. The final score unfortunately tells most of the story. Not the prettiest game, but for my first trip to Green Bay to see one, a win is a win. Also any season when we beat Minnesota twice is a good one. We hope everyone has a great New Year's Eve. Jen's working all weekend so for us if we make it to midnight it will be just the two of us. Could be a lot worse ways to start the new year. Peace.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Why adopt?
This is Jen again. We had a really nice weekend. We spent Saturday at a family Christmas and saw my Grandma and many of my aunts and uncles and cousins. I think there were 8 or 9 of my mom's 12 siblings there, which is a pretty decent turnout. We spoke to several people about the adoption. I do have a hard time bringing it up - 'hi, how are you? good here, by the way, we are adopting.' For some reason, I feel weird saying it. My sister Sarah is pregnant (due June 6th, I think) and she said she kind of feels the same way.
The questions we of course get from many people - family and friends - is why did we decide to adopt and why did we choose Ethiopia. Those are really big questions and I figured I would try to give some answers here. But, I will say that it is hard for me to verbalize my answers, so writing them down will probably be less descriptive and informative.
Why did we decide to adopt?
Gary and I have talked about adopting for several years, and probably in the beginning, I didn't necessarily know that we would actually make the decision to do it.
Gary's youngest sister, Kara, is adopted. So, to begin with the concept is not foreign to us. Gary also has an aunt and uncle that have provided foster care and adopted several children. I have had a couple friends, Debra and Ann, from work who have adopted in the last couple years and then Gary's brother and sister-in-law, Jeff and April adopted Emma from China last year. As this all happened, we talked more and more about it. Early last summer (2006), we talked and Gary said, here are our 3 choices: no more kids, get pregnant, or adopt. I knew I wanted another child - so it was either to have one or adopt one. I also knew I would probably be done after number 4, so I thought this is our last chance to adopt - if that is what we want. And it just was.
So, it is kind of an easy answer, but not really.
How did we choose Ethiopia?
It just felt right. This may sound like a strange answer. I remember reading other people say that on the forums or in the chat rooms and thought it sounded fake or weird. But, it is true. For Gary too, it just feels right.
But, to give the long answer: we started researching adoption: adoption agencies, adoption options, and places we could adopt from. We looked past the United States because we knew we wanted a baby or at least a child younger than Annalise. Private adoption - we feel like - is for couples who are unable to conceive a baby. (I do not mean to offend and I cannot speak for others, so if I am off-base, please don't hold it against me.) Then the other option is children through foster care. I think being able to help these children would be a wonderful thing to do, but again - we wanted a baby. From what I see and understand, foster care has more older children that need homes. Babies would be accepted quickly in most cases, and I don't think there is an extreme need for people to adopt babies in the US.
So, we looked into international adoption. When you look at the different countries, they all have different criteria - things like years of marriage, number of children in the home currently, age of parents, income. Then they also have differences in the children that can be adopted - ages and sex - as well as waiting time. So taking many of these into consideration, led us to Ethiopia, as well as a few other countries. And from there Gary and I talked about what we wanted to do and ended up at Ethiopia.
Another question that we don't get asked quite as often, but I think is also important, is how we chose our adoption agency.
This was actually our toughest decision. We talked to the people we knew who had adopted. We went to an informational meeting at a local agency. We really like this agency, but they do not work with Ethiopia. We then spoke to another agency on the phone many times, and though we felt comfortable with them, we weren't so happy that they were in Washington. We ended up at Children's Home Society and Family Services. This agency is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. There is also an office in a town a couple hours away. They aren't quite local, but close enough that we can attend some events. We have had a great experience so far. Angela is our case worker and works in the CR office. She has been really great to work with. I think we have learned a lot from her.
So, there are some answers for the curious. And I am sure many of you are. I would be.
I can't tell you how excited we are, though I do have to admit, whether good or bad, we do not think about it every second of the day. The process has went quicker than we expected to this point - probably because it has been a super busy time of year for me at work and then once I get home, it feels like we are always busy. I am really looking forward to some calmer time in January and February where I can really spend some time keeping up with the forums and so I can finish some of my reading. I am in the middle of 2 books about adoption - one on Ethiopia specifically called, There is No Me without You.
Not sure I am supposed to say good bye at the end of these posts. But, I will. I need to go wrap some Christmas presents. So, goodbye!
The questions we of course get from many people - family and friends - is why did we decide to adopt and why did we choose Ethiopia. Those are really big questions and I figured I would try to give some answers here. But, I will say that it is hard for me to verbalize my answers, so writing them down will probably be less descriptive and informative.
Why did we decide to adopt?
Gary and I have talked about adopting for several years, and probably in the beginning, I didn't necessarily know that we would actually make the decision to do it.
Gary's youngest sister, Kara, is adopted. So, to begin with the concept is not foreign to us. Gary also has an aunt and uncle that have provided foster care and adopted several children. I have had a couple friends, Debra and Ann, from work who have adopted in the last couple years and then Gary's brother and sister-in-law, Jeff and April adopted Emma from China last year. As this all happened, we talked more and more about it. Early last summer (2006), we talked and Gary said, here are our 3 choices: no more kids, get pregnant, or adopt. I knew I wanted another child - so it was either to have one or adopt one. I also knew I would probably be done after number 4, so I thought this is our last chance to adopt - if that is what we want. And it just was.
So, it is kind of an easy answer, but not really.
How did we choose Ethiopia?
It just felt right. This may sound like a strange answer. I remember reading other people say that on the forums or in the chat rooms and thought it sounded fake or weird. But, it is true. For Gary too, it just feels right.
But, to give the long answer: we started researching adoption: adoption agencies, adoption options, and places we could adopt from. We looked past the United States because we knew we wanted a baby or at least a child younger than Annalise. Private adoption - we feel like - is for couples who are unable to conceive a baby. (I do not mean to offend and I cannot speak for others, so if I am off-base, please don't hold it against me.) Then the other option is children through foster care. I think being able to help these children would be a wonderful thing to do, but again - we wanted a baby. From what I see and understand, foster care has more older children that need homes. Babies would be accepted quickly in most cases, and I don't think there is an extreme need for people to adopt babies in the US.
So, we looked into international adoption. When you look at the different countries, they all have different criteria - things like years of marriage, number of children in the home currently, age of parents, income. Then they also have differences in the children that can be adopted - ages and sex - as well as waiting time. So taking many of these into consideration, led us to Ethiopia, as well as a few other countries. And from there Gary and I talked about what we wanted to do and ended up at Ethiopia.
Another question that we don't get asked quite as often, but I think is also important, is how we chose our adoption agency.
This was actually our toughest decision. We talked to the people we knew who had adopted. We went to an informational meeting at a local agency. We really like this agency, but they do not work with Ethiopia. We then spoke to another agency on the phone many times, and though we felt comfortable with them, we weren't so happy that they were in Washington. We ended up at Children's Home Society and Family Services. This agency is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. There is also an office in a town a couple hours away. They aren't quite local, but close enough that we can attend some events. We have had a great experience so far. Angela is our case worker and works in the CR office. She has been really great to work with. I think we have learned a lot from her.
So, there are some answers for the curious. And I am sure many of you are. I would be.
I can't tell you how excited we are, though I do have to admit, whether good or bad, we do not think about it every second of the day. The process has went quicker than we expected to this point - probably because it has been a super busy time of year for me at work and then once I get home, it feels like we are always busy. I am really looking forward to some calmer time in January and February where I can really spend some time keeping up with the forums and so I can finish some of my reading. I am in the middle of 2 books about adoption - one on Ethiopia specifically called, There is No Me without You.
Not sure I am supposed to say good bye at the end of these posts. But, I will. I need to go wrap some Christmas presents. So, goodbye!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Our introduction
Hello! This is the first post for our adoption blogging site. This is Jen typing and I am not terribly technical - despite the fact that I work at a computer all day - so don't laugh at my terminology above, as I am sure it is wrong.
Gary and I are starting this blog to track the adoption process we have begun. We hope it will help us to remember some of the details better, so that we can share it with our son as he grows up. We also hope it will help us to stay in touch with family and friends, since we are not so great at doing that sometimes.
First, though I am sure most of you who visit this site will already know us, I will go ahead and introduce the family. (Gary will cringe when he reads this - he always hates this type of thing for some reason.)
We are Gary and Jennifer. We have been married for 9 and 1/2 years. We met in Ames, Iowa while attending Iowa State University. After living in a 2 bedroom home in bit town midwest for about 3 years, we were quickly outgrowing as we were expecting our second child. We built a home in small town, midwest where we still live.
We have 3 children now. Katie is 7 and in 1st grade. Jackson is 5 years old and in Kindergarten. Annalise is 21 months. They are all wonderful children with their own unique characteristics.
Gary and I are starting this blog to track the adoption process we have begun. We hope it will help us to remember some of the details better, so that we can share it with our son as he grows up. We also hope it will help us to stay in touch with family and friends, since we are not so great at doing that sometimes.
First, though I am sure most of you who visit this site will already know us, I will go ahead and introduce the family. (Gary will cringe when he reads this - he always hates this type of thing for some reason.)
We are Gary and Jennifer. We have been married for 9 and 1/2 years. We met in Ames, Iowa while attending Iowa State University. After living in a 2 bedroom home in bit town midwest for about 3 years, we were quickly outgrowing as we were expecting our second child. We built a home in small town, midwest where we still live.
We have 3 children now. Katie is 7 and in 1st grade. Jackson is 5 years old and in Kindergarten. Annalise is 21 months. They are all wonderful children with their own unique characteristics.
- Katie is a very good reader and often climbs up into her bunkbed to read alone for awhile. She has been asked to join a special book club at school and really enjoys the extra learning that brings. She is also very social and has lots of friends. She loves animals, especially dogs and horses. This totally reminds me of myself as a child. She and Jackson play 'pet shop' all the time. She is also a very girlie-girl sometimes, very much enjoying pretty things and pink clothes - not like her momma so much there. Katie is a good little mommy to her little sister and loves to play with and read to Annalise.
- Jackson is really enjoying Kindergarten. He is a young 5 - turned 5 on August 1st and then started school a couple weeks later. So, we were very interested to see how it would go. He is turning out to be a very good student as well and was even named Character of the Month in October - voted on by his classmates and with an award presented in an assembly. We are so proud of him. Jackson loves to play games. He also really likes to play dinosaurs, superheros, and to do crafts - coloring, painting, cutting, gluing - he is quite creative and has always been a very good artist. He is also a really good snuggler. :)
- Annalise is just the apple of our eye. Nothing is better than walking in the door after a long stressful day at work and having her run across the kitchen screaming, "Momma!!!". What a good little baby, she really had made having 3 kids easy. She is easy going, friendly, cute as a button, and just plain fun! We spoil her - OK, I do. It is hard not to when she gives you that sweet little smile or sad little pout. She is approaching the terrible two's - but I am sure our little pumpkin will be just perfect. (I know, I know, I am going alittle over board now!)
Oh yes, and giving our Krobzoo name the complete affect - we have 2 dogs and 2 cats! I know, we are crazy, but 3 of those pets did come prior to the kids. Casey is our 10 1/2 year old English Springer Spaniel. Roxie is our 3 year old Boxer. Chloe and Zoe are sister cats from before I even met Gary (gift from old boyfriend-oops) -they are 12 years old I think!
I will have Gary - my little techie - add some pictures of us so you can see the fam.
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