Dunlap Family Adoption » Bringing our little boy home from Ethiopia

{6 days}

July 24, 2010 – 7:25 PM

I feel like I’m so scatter-brained these days. There are about a hundred little details swirling in my head constantly and a long to-do list on my desk. We leave for Ethiopia in six days. SIX DAYS! I’m super excited about going, but it’s also a little nerve-wracking, too . . . especially the 15-hour plane ride part . . . ugh! (We’ll actually be on a plane for a total of 21 hours each way. Yikes!)

Our case manager called with some news yesterday that was a little disappointing. When we meet our little guy, he won’t be told that we’re his parents as originally planned. While we’re selfishly a little disappointed, we really do believe that it’s best for him. Basically it comes down to the fact that his little heart has been broken a lot recently, and he’s grieving everything (and everyone) he’s lost. The director at Hannah’s Hope made the decision, and we trust her judgment. She’s holding onto the photo album we made for him, and she’ll give it to him after we’ve officially passed court and are already back home. We truly want what’s best for him, so we’ll just go play with him and his little friends and make the most of our time together. Hopefully when we leave, he’ll miss the fun people that came to play with him for a few days and be excited when they tell him we’re his parents and that we’re coming back for him.

I’m going to miss Riley and Cole so much while we’re gone! We’ve traveled overseas without them before, and there’s just something about us both being in another country away from them that makes me a little uneasy. I guess that comes with the territory, though, and I know they’ll have a great time while we’re gone. I’ve made a little something for them to open each day so that they will hopefully feel as connected to us and what we’re up to as possible. We’ll also try to Skype with them while we’re away. Here’s part of what I’ve put together so far . . .

I hope you all are having a great weekend! Thanks to everyone who has sent donations for us to take to Hannah’s Hope! It’s been fun to get packages in the mail all week and add them to the collection!

By Katie | Posted in Adoption, Family | 5 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

summertime fun

July 21, 2010 – 4:23 PM

Yesterday some of the neighborhood kids (including our two) set up an impromptu lemonade stand. They made $11 in a matter of about an hour, so they each took away about $2. They were so proud of themselves! They were so cute that I had to take a few pictures right before they closed up shop . . .

It makes me a little sad that the boys will go back to school five days after we return from Ethiopia. The summer has FLOWN by, and I’m going to miss them and our laid-back schedule . . . {sniff, sniff}!

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court update!

July 19, 2010 – 11:42 AM

Our case manager called this morning and said that court went well last night while we were sleeping! I’m so grateful for those of you who prayed on our behalf and more importantly on behalf of our little guy and his birth mom. Thank you so much!

Eleven days and counting! . . .

By Katie | Posted in Adoption, News | 2 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

please pray

July 18, 2010 – 9:25 PM

It’s almost 5:30 AM in Ethiopia right now, and today is our first court date. This court appointment is for the birth family, and we’ve been praying this week that our little boy’s birth mother is able to make the trip down to Addis Ababa from her hometown. It’s also the day that several documents from various organizations should be submitted. If you see this post tonight, please join us in praying that all goes well and that we “pass” this part of the court process. The second court date will be the one that we attend on August 4th while in Ethiopia.

I don’t really have words to explain the emotions I’ve felt today thinking about his birth mother. We don’t really know very much about her, and I can only imagine the emotions that she’s felt over the past few months and that she must feel now. I have great respect and admiration for her, and I will always love her and pray for her. She’s been at the forefront of my mind all day today. As I stood in the back at church and worshiped this morning, tears streamed down my checks thinking about her and praying for her. I know that in many ways, our joy is her pain. I’m praying that we get to meet her when we’re back in Ethiopia for our second trip. We’re certainly hoping for good news in the morning when our case manager calls to give us a report, but we also trust in God’s timing and know that He loves this little guy far more than we’ll ever even be capable of. There’s great joy and comfort in knowing that He is in control. Thank you so much for your prayers and support!

By Katie | Posted in Adoption, News | 1 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

Moses

July 17, 2010 – 7:07 PM

Brad and I are blessed to know Travis & Maggie of Global Support Mission. I’m so thankful for the work God is doing through them in Uganda and other parts of Africa. I saw this video a couple of nights ago, and little Moses has been on my mind a lot since then. I’m praying BIG things for him today. This is an amazing story of hope, and I love these quotes from the video:

One of the things that makes me happy is to know that living HIV+ is not something that kills people….Most people give up on the kids….They give up and wait for the kid to die….One of the things that excites me very much is that this kid is given a chance to live…..A chance to be respected…..A chance to be treated like a human being……A chance to be fed and provided with medical care like any other human being….He has a future…..He’s living with dignity…..He has hope again…..What matters is that he has life.

There are entirely too many children across the world like little Moses. They’re neglected and basically left to die. I’m so thankful that he’s been given a second chance at life. I’m praying that God heals and strengthens his little body. I’m grateful for organizations like Global Support Mission who help give hope and life. If you’re not familiar with them, check out their website for lots of great information, some other videos, and to see how you can partner with them.

By Katie | Posted in Africa & Ethiopia, Links, Media | no comments No Comments | Add a Comment

two fun pictures

July 15, 2010 – 11:55 AM

I saw this picture on Facebook yesterday, and it made me smile! Christie went to high school with Brad & me, and she’s in Uganda right now. She took one of our shirts and gave it to her new friend there. I think it looks good on him!

This package arrived yesterday afternoon, and I was so excited to receive it! It was packed with donations for us to take to Hannah’s Hope. The thing that made it extra special is that I really don’t even know the people who sent it. Sarah went to school with my sister and recently heard about our adoption journey. She and her husband decided they wanted to help, so she emailed to get our mailing address. I know these things will be MUCH appreciated at Hannah’s Hope. Thank you so much Brian & Sarah! For anyone else interested in donating items, please make sure you have them to us by Wednesday, July 28th. Thanks!

Life around here feels a little crazy right now. We leave for Ethiopia two weeks from tomorrow, and it seems like my brain is in overdrive. In some ways it feels like July 30th will never get here, and in some ways it seems like time is flying by and it will be here before I know it. Yesterday marked one month since we got our referral and saw pictures of our little boy for the first time. A lot has happened since then, and it still seems surreal that we’ll get to meet him in 18 days!

By Katie | Posted in Africa & Ethiopia, You Can Help | 2 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

Only 21 Show Love T-Shirts left!

July 11, 2010 – 9:53 PM

If you’ve considered purchasing one before and haven’t, now’s your chance! Here’s what we have left:

Show Love Gray:
Kids Large – 3
Adult Small – 2
Adult Large – 2
Adult XL – 5

Show Love Ringer:
Adult Large – 4
Adult XL – 5

Click on the “T-Shirts” link above for more information & to place your order. Remember that all proceeds go directly toward our upcoming travel expenses!

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It’s just like God . . .

July 11, 2010 – 6:19 PM

. . . to put us on a street in south Nashville three doors down from an Eritrean family who speaks the same language as our son. The Tigray region in northern Ethiopia where he’s from borders the small country of Eritrea, and our neighbors speak Tigrinya fluently. It’s so comforting to know that there’s someone right down the street who can translate for us if needed. If he’s scared or feeling sad, we can speak words of peace and comfort to him through them. We can be friends with them and enjoy sharing a love for the Horn of Africa. I mean, what are the chances? And what are the chances that they have two boys in the same age range as our guys? Sometimes God is just way too good to us. Sometimes He gives us so much more than we even need. Sometimes He chooses to show His love for us in subtle, unexpected ways, and sometimes it seems like He screams it to us so loudly that it’s unmistakably from Him. Today I’m thanking God for our neighbors and that He knows what we need – even right down to our street number!

And on a side note, our airline tickets have been purchased, and we’ve already started gathering stuff to pack! Only 19 days until we leave & 22 days until we meet our little boy for the first time!!!

By Katie | Posted in Africa & Ethiopia, Family | 4 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

moving right along

July 9, 2010 – 7:28 PM

Brad and I got shots today. I got Hep-A, Hep-B & Tetanus. I also got Typhoid pills. Brad had already gotten a lot of stuff before he went to Haiti, so he just got his 2nd round of Hep-B. I’m a little behind the curve on getting these done because everything has happened so quickly, but I think we’ll be fine. My arms are sore, though – especially the Tetanus arm! I’m glad to have that behind us – one more thing crossed off the to-do list!

Three weeks from right now we’ll be on a plane traveling to Dubai and then on to Ethiopia . . . hard to believe! We mailed a photo album to our little boy today so he can start getting used to what his new family looks like. As I put it together I wondered what in the world he will think when he looks at it and his special mother explains who we are. How much will he understand at 3.5 years old? There are pictures of all of us, our house and even our cat.

Here we are sporting our bandaids (do you like my Bugs Bunny one?!) . . .

I’ll leave you with this video that’s been going around on Facebook and adoption blogs. Check it out if you haven’t seen it already. As a photographer, I especially appreciate the artistic talent of the creator, Paul Hassell. I absolutely cannot wait to be on Ethiopian soil experiencing the culture first hand!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

By Katie | Posted in Adoption, Media | 3 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

how YOU can help

July 8, 2010 – 9:38 AM

Our placing agency (AGCI) suggests that all traveling families consider including some donations for Hannah’s Hope (the transition home where our son lives now). Without these supplies, the staff there cannot provide the excellent care that they do. We would love to collect as many donations as possible to take to bless the staff there. We are so thankful for each person who works at Hannah’s Hope, and we’re confident that our little man is in very good hands while there.

If you’re interested in helping us gather some of these things, please leave a comment or email me and let me know. If you’re in the Nashville area, I’ll be happy to pick up the items. Feel free to be creative and enlist the help of co-workers, friends & family. James 1:27 says that we are responsible for looking after orphans and widows, and this is a great way to put that verse into action! Here’s a list of specific needs:

Diapers of all sizes (including preemie sizes)
Baby wipes (always needed)
Bibs
Hand sanitizer
Kleenex boxes
Infant and children’s vitamins
Formula (vegetable based Similac, soy based Similac as well as regular formula)
Children’s Clothing (new or like new)
- Toddler clothing & shoes (no infant clothing needed at this time)
- Light jackets or sweaters for all ages
- Boys clothing – ages 6-10 years old
- Girls clothing – ages 6-13 years old
Underwear for all ages
Shoes for all ages but especially older boys and girls (“Croc”-like shoes are great!)
Bottles (Avent for both 8-12 ounce feedings)
Diaper rash cream (Desitin is preferred)
Baby shampoos and baby oil
Shampoo, conditioner & lotion for older children
Age appropriate development toys for infants and toddlers
Blow up balls/outside toys
Sidewalk chalk
Bubbles
Children’s DVDs and CDs
Men and women’s deodorant
Good quality electric shaver
Rechargeable camping lanterns (for when electricity is out)
Twin sheets (mainly flat sheets) in the solid colors or children patterns of pink, purple, red, blue & green

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you!

By Katie | Posted in You Can Help | no comments No Comments | Add a Comment