Sunday, September 23, 2007

Meeting the Author

Well, I haven't posted in quite some time because there has been nothing new to say. We literally are in the waiting process. Once our dossier left our hands to go to Ethiopia, there has been nothing else for us to do except wait on the referral. The two families that were in line ahead of us for an infant have already traveled and come home, so it really will be coming any day now!

However, we did do something exciting this last week. On Thursday, Paul and I drove to Chicago to meet Melissa Fay Greene, author of There Is No Me Without You, the book at the top of every Ethiopian adoption reading list. She is currently on a book signing tour, as her book just came out in paperback, and she was at a Barnes and Noble in Evanston, Illinois. So, we found family to watch the kids and we headed up the road! She gave a great lecture, inserting readings from her book, and then she took some questions. It was very helpful to hear from someone who has adopted five children. She knows firsthand some of the trials and joys of this process, balanced with being informed as a journalist about the statistics of the current situation in Ethiopia. Afterward we had the opportunity to meet her personally and she was very approachable and gracious. We got home about 2:00 in the morning; but we had fun!

So, now I feel that I have officially entered the "nesting" stage of this paper pregnancy. I am painting the playroom, wallpapering my bathroom, making Paul take next weekend (after our church's fall conference) to finish the remodel on our back bathroom, and I am going to try to finish some of the miscellaneous things I've been wanting to do in the kids' bedrooms. For some reason, I am suddenly seeing every dusty fan and broken window blind and feeling the need to do some serious house cleaning, too! Next Saturday I am going with my sister to a mother of twins' resale day in hopes of finding some of the baby items I need (since I sold most of my things after Lela outgrew using them!)

So, again, here's to that referral coming soon, before I wear Paul out with his honey-do list!!!...

6 comments:

Coming to Amharica said...

Hi! I just stumbled upon your blog. My husband and I live in Springfield, IL....not too far from the St. Louis area. We are hoping to get a referral in the next few months. Maybe when our babies are home with us we'll meet with other Ethiopian adoption families in the area.

Dee Dee

Deedra Lynn said...

Hi! Do you know Jim and Jenni Rogal? They work in Springfield and have just returned home with their baby in August. We will definitely keep in touch!

Amy B. said...

So glad to see you are back. I've been wondering about your adoption process. We are officially in the waiting stage as well. I sure hope I will click on your blog one day very soon and hear of your referral. Best wishes, Amy

LISA said...

Hi Deedra & Paul, We are with CHI in Overland Park,KS. Hadn't checked your blof for awhile. We finally got our homestudy done today,hopefully things will speed up now.Wish our dossier were finished!Shawn& Lisa :)

LISA said...

OK and I need to preview from now on!*BLOG*

Karen said...

Glad to see a new post! I almost cut you off my blog list, for lack of new postings! :-) Hopefully your referral is just around the corner! Our dossier is in Washington, and we're hoping it won't take too long to get to Ethiopia...