Up-dating Our Paperwork

Has it already been a year since we began this journey to adopt? Well, it has been according to our social worker. Because. . . . it is time to begin up-dating some of our paperwork. Uugh! However, I don't foresee this being quite as tedious as it was the first time through, thankfully.

So what does need up-dated and completed?

• Our fingerprints for USCIS (US citizenship and immigration services) need to be up-dated. They expire on 12/24/09, but you have to start the process early. We will actually be getting a free fingerprint renewal this time around.
• We are also applying for a grant from Lifesong for Orphans to help with some of our travel costs (approx. $15,000). This requires each of us (Eric and I) to fill out a lengthy application form. It takes quite an extensive look into family finances and our personal walks of Christian faith. We are hoping for success this time around. When we applied for Shohannah's Hope we made it to the final four possible recipients (They pick one family per month.)- but weren't chosen. So that made us slow to apply elsewhere.

This is all that I am aware of at the moment. But I have a feeling that there will be more to come as we wait. It seems that referrals have slowed down for the time being, and Eric and I are stuck at the "half-way" mark "in line"(according to the Bethany forum web page). We were hopeful for a referral, face, gender, etc. by Christmas time, but right now it looks like it could be some time after that till we would know anything. Patience. . . . patience. . . patience.

Boston or Bust

Eric and I decided that our BIG summer vacation this year, our last one as DINKS (duel income, no kids), would be to Historic Boston. Niether of us had been to the New England area north of New York. We traveled up to our hotel on Wednesday and enjoyed a delicious Thai meal for our supper. Then Thursday we spent in down town Boston. It started out as a sunny day, but as the day progresssed it became overcast, cold and drizzly.

Our first adventure (besides the subway and train system) was a Whale Watch tour with the Boston New England Aquarium. As you can see, the city sky line was masked with hovering clouds. (And the salt water and humidity made my hair a bit frizzy.) Thanks to Dramamine neither of us experienced what deep sea fisherman experience, even though there were 2-4 foot swells.

We did see two humpback whales, a mother and her calf. The baby did most of the acrobatics for us to ooh and ahhh over. It was worth the hour and a half boat ride out to the feeding grounds of Stellwagen Bank to watch and see!

Friday was a rain day. We spent most of our day inside the hotel watching movies, swimming in the in-door pool, and napping.

Saturday was beautiful!! We drove to Plymoth (the town) and visited the Plimoth Plantation, museum, and Indian village. The plantation overlooked the bay. I wish Boston, MA were closer to home. I'd love to take my second graders for a field trip. It was very interesting to listen to the actors and actresses dressed up as reinactors of the day and time of the plantation, 1627.

Inside the Wampanoag Indian long house.

We also went to Plymoth bay to see the Mayflower II. It is a replica of the original Mayflower built in 1951. I couldn't believe that 102 passengers fit in that tiny boat. And. . . that it made it across the ocean from Europe!!

The final day was spent traveling back home (7 and a half hours with stops). It was a great, relaxing time away. But it always nice to come home again. . .

Rest and Relaxation

Camping is a favorite family past time on both sides of our family. This past weekend we traveled with Eric's family to Carlisle's Western Village RV Park for some R & R. It was a great time to bond as a family over meals, campfire, and conversation. There was plenty around to do, but all we prefered to do was the afore mentioned. Other activities were talked about, but not pressing enough to actually get up and go do them. Well, we did play frisbee and baseball with Bryce and Marah, and take a few strolls through the park. But other than that we spent most of our time snoozing, sitting and relaxing. Somehow getting away from the stress (and location of it) allows for more relaxed and deeper sleeping. Imagine that!
An example of Resting and Relaxing: Breakfast finished and dishes washed, cleared and packed away. Ahhh. . . sitting feels good.

Marah and Bryce found joy in playing in the discarded dishwater. What simple pleasures!

Uncle Eric playing "Cars" with Bryce and Marah. . . this is also their favorite movie at the moment.

Black Baby White Hands meets Facing the Giants

I have completed my first summer reading, which was a very eye opening and intriguing book. The author, Jaiya John, is an African American adoptee who was adopted into a white family in 1968, the same year Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. The book is his autobiography of a Black child growing up in a White family, neighborhood, country, and culture. He gives great insight into his personal struggles in forming his identity as a transracial adoptee.

And now my simplistic view of inter-racial adoption has forever been changed. At times the book left me feeling in over my head, too ambitious and juvenile in our decision, unprepared and inexperienced, and sometimes completely unfit. Now that my eyes are (more) wide open to the complexity of inter-racial adoption I find myself fearful and questioning my parenting abilities.

Love can cover a multitude of imperfections, but I now know that it will not cover everything, specifically my perceived laziness/indifference to my child’s ethnicity. I will have to step up and make conscious decisions and choices to become first a student and then a teacher of my child’s culture and heritage. It will need to become authentically part of my own culture. This is exciting and at the same times a bit daunting.

Eric and I enjoy learning about and experiencing other cultures. However, I look around and honestly reflect on: our community, our church, our group of friends, and our family, our day to day interactions and routines, and I see very little authentic interaction with African Americans, Ethiopian Americans, or people from other ethnicities or cultural groups. We subconsciously stick to what is comfortable: socio-economically, religiously (Anabaptist), culturally similar to our own. As a more introverted couple, thinking of forcing ourselves into the uncomfortable is frightening and feels like a lot of work.

HOWEVER: God reminded me last night of some very important truths that trump ALL of these “heavy” feelings. Eric and I went to see (for the first time) Facing the Giants at our church’s movie night. I was not expecting to find inspiration and motivation for adoption issues in a “sports” movie. Needless to say God used it and I was shocked to tears on several occasions. For example, one of these occasions was after the Eagles had won the state championship and Grant was moving from teammate to teammate and asking them individually “Is there anything God can’t do? Is there anything impossible for God?” It was like the question was asked directly to me, “April, is there anything I can’t do? Is inter-racial adoption and parenting bigger than Me?”

“No, God! Of course not! But it feels so much bigger than me.”

“And that is where I will receive all the glory.”

“Oh. . . . . . . . Oh!!”

God, may You be glorified in our triumphs and our failures as parents. May You shine through our weaknesses in spite of our fears. Help us to be the David’s that with Your help stand to face our Giants. Amen.

Date Night: Ethiopian Style!

Saturday night 6/26, after an early morning of church yard sale extravaganza (We'll be sure to post an up-date on the yard sale success soon.), we finally had our evening to experience Ethiopian food for the first time. It was very delicious and very unique to anything we had previously experienced. Eric remembered slight similarities in eating styles from Kenya, and April had eaten without utensils at a fish-head curry meal in Singapore, but this was different from either of these experiences.

We ate without utensils. Instead we used rolled up Ethiopian injera bread that we tore pieces from to pick up our food. This unique bread reminded us of a very thin pancake that had not been flipped. It had bubbled holes on the top and was flat on the bottom. All of our main and side dishes were "dumped" onto our large round plate of injera, with the sides dishes lining the outside. The main dishes were spicy-hot with meat, while the outside veggie salads were more tangy and sweet. This was a nice way to enjoy the hot and delicious spices of the main dishes, while having a different "cooling" side dish to sample in between. We also ate an appetizer called sambusa with was a spiced beef mixture fried in a pastry. All of it was very delicious!

After returning home, we googled Ethiopian bread and found this website with great pictures and a recipe for injera. Does anyone know where to find teff flour? If you do, please let us know and we'll give it a try. http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/bread/recipe-injera.html

Life Long Partners . . . Happy 4th Anniversary

Has it really been 4 years ago that we had our much anticipated wedding day!! How time has flown. Reflecting back, it has been a very full and abundant 4 years.

• September 19, 2005 – Our first (and only, at this point) nephew was born.
• October 21 – November 1, 2005 - We traveled to Cambodia to visit with missionaries and friends.
• 2005-2006 school year – April's first year teaching “just” 2nd grade instead of combination 1st and 2nd grades at Shalom.
• December 2005 – The red Cavalier died and we bought our first vehicle together, a Ford, Ranger.
• June 24, 2006 – Traveled to Luray Caverns for 1 year anniversary.
• August 12, 2006 - Sister Anya and "now" brother-in-law Ryan were married.
• 2006-2007 school year – Eric began his college education at Ship U. April was able to move into the Shalom school building – no more mobile trailer!
• January 2007 – Eric began to work as the Food Safety Manager at Lehman’s Egg, as well as taking on a few other new duties (with a full time class load!).
• March 25, 2007 – We bought our first home! After much researching and contemplation and prayer. . . becoming homeowners has been such a blessing and a true learning experience.
• May 12, 2007 – Moving day!
• July 3, 2007 – We became aunt and uncle once again! This time a niece.
• 2007-2008 school year – Struggles with infertility and wanting very much to become parents. Eric’s second year of taking classes and working full time, and my 5th year teaching at Shalom.
• December 2007 – April graduated with Masters of Education from Ship. U. Finally done!
• June 16, 2008 – We began the adoption process and the journey of parenthood.
• December 26, 2008 to January 2, 2009 – Visited Dietle Grandparents in Florida over Christmas break. This was a very relaxing and rewarding time after just completing Ethiopian dossier, which can be a daunting and overwhelming part of the adoption process.
• March 7, 2008 – 3rd positive pregnancy test, what would this journey entail? (Currently week 20, so far, so good!)
• June 6, 2009 - Brother Mike and "finally" sister-in-law Stacy were married.
• Yesterday – Marks the 5th month in the “waiting” phase of our adoption, maybe 5 to 8 more months to go until we have a little face and name to go with it???????
• Today – Praising God for ALL that HE has done in our lives!! He truly is AMAZING! (We also plan to have a new experience eating at an Ethiopian restaurant in Frederick, MD this evening.)

It is finished!

Wow! Roofing is A-L-O-T of work, especially in the hot and humid sun. Eric and I were very thankful for our families in completing this project. It definitely takes team work and many willing hands!

• Taking the roof off Friday night wasn't a problem. The rain the next morning did cause quite a dilemma. When it did stop raining, would it start up again and without warning? How safe was it to be up on the roof with it being wet?
• The decision was made to wait out the "band" of wet weather that radar was depicting. By 9:30 the roof was dried off using brooms and towels and the work had begun. (All in faith that the rain wouldn't return.)
• Around lunch time the clouds began to roll in. . . would it rain again? But after a rushed lunch break, the clouds and the work moved on.
• Unfortunately, after God's blessing our day with sunshine, wonderful help, and donated tools/equipment, we ran out of shingles. A bit frustrating, but the remaining work could be easily completed in an evening. We were grateful for the many blessings God HAD given during our day!! (No injuries for one!)
• Monday we picked up the shingles and nails we needed to finish the roof. Thanks to Dad Lehman and Eric, we can now call the roof a completed project. Hooray!!
• Yet to be completed are the gutters and finishing up the new front porch.

A huge THANK YOU! to all who helped: Dad Martin, Dad Lehman, brothers (Duane and Michael), and Sollenberger Construction (and Ladies, Bryce and Marah for keeping me company). We now have a very dry and attractive roof over our heads!