On getting closer and big changes

This week was so fun! We've been working on decorating our apartment like crazy, we bought a bed (like a real one with a frame and everything) and couches from craigslist, and we got a BUNCH of adoption stuff done too!!! I'm surprised to say that I've really enjoyed setting up our home. I feel like I'm finally learning my own likes and dislikes. I've been tackling it room by room and wall by wall, and it's so satisfying to be able to look at a wall and say "yeah, I really like that, I feel like it really captures my style!" Pictures of the whole apartment are coming soon for those of you who've requested them.

In other news, we heard this week that the Ethiopian government is making some changes to the way they process adoptions. There have been some reports recently that maybe not all of the children that have been adopted from Ethiopia were in fact orphans, and the Ethiopian government has responded swiftly and responsibly to address the issue. The changes, as I understand them, are as follows: every potential adoption will undergo an in-depth investigation to ensure that the child is indeed an orphan, AND prospective adoptive parents will now be required to travel twice to Ethiopia. Once to meet the child and attend a court hearing (which was previously attended by a representative for the parents), and a second time to pick up the child, receive the visa, and bring him or her home. All together this can add a few weeks to several months on to the process, and all right at the end, after the referral's been accepted. I have to say my only reaction right now, besides being relieved at the steps that are being taken in the name of ethical adoptions, is to say "Ok, we'll deal with it when we get there." It does represent an added expense, a logistical dilemma, and a potential emotional roller-coaster that we weren't planning on. I also know that God has been over-the-top faithful and encouraging to us in this whole adventure, and I'm finally learning what it feels like to just trust that He'll work it out just as it's supposed to be. And as my dad says, it won't just be A way for things to go, it'll be the BEST way! Oh, and by the way... did I mention I get to go to Ethiopia TWICE?!?!

As for this week's accomplishments (only read if you care to know every detail of my life!!!):

-Just yesterday we got our appointment to get fingerprinted for USCIS!!!! This is a milestone for me, cause I can remember reading on other people's blogs the day that they got that done, and it felt so far away in my mind, unreachable. Guess not, huh?!
-We each finished 8 out of the 10 hours of online training, and we're gonna do the other 2 tonight!
-We got back our FBI background check results (which was supposed to take like 11-13 weeks, but only took one!), well, one of us did anyway, my fingerprints had to be re-done, so I'm hoping for another one-week processing time!!!
-We sent off:
*our medical papers for our agency application and our foreign dossier
*Husband's new birth certificate
*passport-sized photos
*photocopies of our passports
*power of attorney papers
*proof of insurance
*AND most of our references are in!!! Thanks you guys!!!

We're getting more and more excited about our sweet sweet baby!!! Just in the daily stuff we do we have this ongoing conversation of how things will change; driving places, carrying groceries in, setting up the rooms in our apartment, and even just laying in our new bed talking. Everything's going to be different, more sweet. Can't wait to meet you babe, we miss you every day!!!

Here are some pictures of our fun picnic with friends!!!