I had hoped I would have my agency update on Biset already, but it looks like I have to wait a couple of more days. The update should include her latest measurements, weight, daily activities, any milestones achieved, and best of all, new pictures!! I have heard that all the transition home children are doing great, so I'm not worried.
I can't wait to see how she has grown, if she has any more hair, how her features are developing; just to see her in new ways. It might be difficult to see her growing bigger away from me, but I would be more upset if she
wasn't growing, obviously. And while I want to bring my love to her, I know that in the meantime she is not alone. She is being well cared for and truly loved by her caregivers at the transition home. Still safe in the arms of her homeland. She will lose that physical connection to Ethiopia soon enough, so I try to be patient. As long as she is not lonely or scared, I can get through this.
It doesn't look like I have a court date yet. CAFAC hasn't confirmed that, but I'm not getting the vibe that a date is forthcoming. The GREAT NEWS is that the Ethiopian court is not closing this rainy season. I don't know why not. This means I may have a court date sooner than I had thought (I was thinking it would be October or worse, since court normally closes August through September). So this little nugget is keeping me happy.
I am also staying buoyant because of all the wonderful news of late. There were lots of referrals this week, families have finally been united in Ethiopia, others will be travelling in mere days. Even events with the families affected by the agency bankruptcy have been positive - there is new hope that the agency may be able to stay in business, meaning the families not yet matched will be able to continue their adoptions!!
Plus, here in town, a fellow SMBC friend of mine, Tisha, received her referral of a one-month baby girl on Friday morning. I was lucky enough to already have dinner plans with her for Friday night, so we toasted the good news with some fantastic sparkling wine and oysters on the half shell. Little Hayley will be playing with Biset next year!!
It hasn't been all great news for everybody, as I know there are people still waiting for referrals, court dates, court decisions, medical forms, and travel visas. But, I hope they are all holding on to the fact that their days will come. There IS a gorgeous light at the end of the tunnel for all of us.
I believe that the length of our wait has already been decided by the fates, so every day that goes by brings us one day closer to each other.
Before I received my referral, I remember wondering how much more of a wait I could handle. When I finally saw Biset, I was reminded that the wait was for a reason and that I had to give over my need to know and control everything and allow my child to come to me. I also knew we were working on 'Ethiopian Time' - things don't always work as efficiently as they do here. They don't have the same 24/7 access to information, the Internet, electricity, postal service, couriers, transport, etc etc that we have. Being a bit of a control freak, that was an important lesson to remember. I had to wait for the right child to be matched to me. And she was. So now my faith in the process is stronger than ever. I know I have to be patient for a few more months yet, but when the time is right, I will be holding my daughter in my arms and all the waiting will be worth it.
Despite dealing with a lot of challenges & heartbreaks in my life, I've always been a glass-half-full type of person. So other than a really, really low point at the beginning of the year, and numerous times when I worried that my status as a single woman would smite my adoption dream, I've been able to weather the wait pretty well. Right now, I am feeling a renewed sense of peace because of all the great things that have happened over the last few days. All signs that this side of my journey to motherhood will end and I will be able to just be a family with Biset. But mostly I feel peace simply from looking at my daughter's face. She is such a fighter. A child who has already been through so much tragedy and already beaten the odds. A child who needs me to be strong and ready to bring her home. I feel that strength. I feel stronger than I ever have, actually.
I look at Biset and sometimes I think she is telling me, "
Don't worry Mummy, I'll be here when you get here. We've got this one." God, I love this kid.
