DTE (Dossier to Ethiopia) 07-27-12

It's official we now have our DTE (Dossier To Ethiopia) date of 07-27-12. Our dossier left on it's trek to Africa on Friday. America World sent us the email that all families look forward to receiving once you have moved from the paper-chasing stage to the waiting stage.

 


We realize that with this step behind us comes the hardest part....waiting.  However, the Lord has a purpose in all things.

"Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work." - Peter Marshall

One Step Closer

It feels good to write this post. I am thrilled to say that we were able to send our Dossier off on Thursday afternoon and it was received at AWAA on Friday morning. It went through it's first staff check and was correct and in order. Bearing no foreseen issues it will be on its way to Africa with our official DTE date being July 27th, 2012. We are thrilled to be done with this monstrous step and know now the work that it takes to compile it all. Our official wait soon begins and we are excited. It brings us another step closer to our baby girl.

Getting weighed and ready to go

Owen had been my partner in our many trips to the post office while compiling our Dossier

His plan...not mine

I must admit that it has been a long process getting our documents together for our dossier. Not long in the scheme of things but long for me. I recall early in January saying to my assistant at work that my plan was to complete the paperwork for our dossier in about three months. I soon realized that this journey would not be about my plan and all about HIS plan. I have learned that this adoption journey has and will teach me about who really is in control. Those of you who know me personally know my story and understand why I am that way. However, that has been my crutch for years and I am slowly learning to release it. God has a plan and a purpose for everything and I believe that unconditionally. It has taken us a few months longer than the three months we planned for but we are finally ready to submit our dossier.  Praise God!!

Gathering documents for our Dossier

We needed more space for all the documents that we had to gather

In the state of North Carolina not only do you have to have all your documents notarized but also state authenticated by the Secretary of State. It has been a laborious process and one that I am glad to have done. I feel relatively sure of myself now when driving in downtown Raleigh and that in itself is a miracle since the offices of the Secretary of State is there. In truth we are thankful that we had the opportunity to be able to take our documents and drop them off. It reduced the time we had to wait since we could pick them up the next day. The perks of living in the Capital I guess.

Lucas, Rylee and Owen

We hope to send our dossier off to America World by Monday. It will be reviewed again to make sure there are no problems or issues that we need to correct and then it will be sent off to Ethiopia. It will be then that our wait truly begins and when we will be given our DTE (dossier to Ethiopia) date. We are thanking God tonight for his continued faithfulness and goodness.

I will climb my watchtower now, and wait to see what answer God will give to my complaint. But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day! ~ Habakkuk 2:1-3

Hot Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

When we decided to put together our Summer Fun list two items we chose were to have dinner for dessert and to get hot Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. It there really any other worth having! It seemed fitting to complete both items at the same time so off we went to Krispy Kreme. The boys thought it was great and said we should have dessert for dinner all the time. Turns out Drew's grandmother was in town and joined us in the fun. Memories in the making and ones I will cherish forever. Sometimes you just have to let go and live a little.

More Granny enjoying her doughnut

Drew enjoying himself and his doughnut too.

Happy 4th Of July!!

Happy Belated Birthday America! We had a fun day celebrating here at Kiawah Island. We relaxed at the pool and did what most Americans do well, we ate and munched all day. We finished the night off at the annual Kiawah Independence day shin-dig complete with more food,watermelon eating contests,and lots of other fun activities for the kids. The night was complete after we saw the fireworks.