When you adopt from Ethiopia there is a chance that you will meet the birth family when you travel to Ethiopia. Since our girls were relinquished they tell you to prepare for this meeting. So, that is exactly what I am doing, preparing. Preparing emotionally, mentally and with a list of questions we really want to ask him if we get the chance. Another thing is that you have to write the birth family a letter and give them a small photo album filled with pictures of your family and the referral pictures.
I have sat down a few time to write this letter and I always stop at the word "Dear". The tears always start flowing. My brain can't even start to form words to write to their birth father. My heart hurts for this man. Where do I start? I need advice from families that have been there done that.
On a happy note...
WE ONLY HAVE FIVE MORE DAYS TILL COURT!!!!!!!
Since they are 7 hours ahead of us court will probably happen in the wee hours of the morning on Monday. Please remember us in prayer. I have gotten a lot of emails about how the process works in Ethiopia and I am sorry I am so vague about details. I am horrible at explaining myself.
We have a power of attorney in Addis Ababa (the capitol) that will go to court for us, so we do not have to be there. We will hear in a day or two that we did or did not pass court. If we do not pass court then we'll have to wait about a month for a new court date. If we do pass court then our girls, because they are over two, have to have TB test done before we can confirm travel plans. The results of this tests are taking about a week to get back to the families. If they come back negative then we'll book our plane tickets. If they come back positive we will not be able to travel until more tests are done. Of course we are praying that they are negative. We REALLY want to get there as soon as possible!!
7 comments:
That is the hardest letter to write ever. It took my husband and I about 20 drafts and over a week to finally get it done. The only way I got through it was to put myself in the birthparent's position and focus on how much a letter from my child's adoptive family would mean to me. What words of assurance would I want to hear in order to get me through that meeting? Putting myself in the birthparent's shoes was the only way we could get through it...but it certainly wasn't without a LOT of tears.
I can't even sit down and write Dear! I just keep putting it off and I haven't even mentioned it to Paul! It's not that I don't want to do it, I really do, but there is no way I can put down how I am feeling on paper right now!! ugh.
Yep, I stopped many, many times too. What do you say to the person who is giving you their world...that becomes your world? So hard!!! I finally had to do it, and then I cried the whole time Almaz read the letter to them in the birth family meeting. I tel you that meeting was sooo special and I wouldn't trade for anything!!!!! Be prepared for tears, and happiness all at once!
I can't help you on the letter, but I can pray for you. wow! Five days will be here before you know it! :)
I too was meeting the father- it was a different dynamic than a mother. I procrastinated on that letter so much! But that letter meant the world to him, I saw it give him peace which was the best gift in the world I could give him.
Good luck! I'll be thinking of your and hoping you pass court!
Am praying for the court date! Can't wait to hear about it.
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