YAY FOR JOCELYN AND PACEY!!!

My dear friend Jocelyn got the referral for her very beautiful daughter...Pacey Lomi Brody!!! YAY, I am sure that her heart is full tonight! Thank you God for this wonderful miracle!!!

1 week

One week from about this time exactly, we will land in Ethiopia, go to the Hilton and prepare for a sleepless night before we meet Ian Clevinger for the first time. Due to the court date issues of last week our travel dates have been moved up a few weeks. I am so sad that so many very anxious families will not be traveling during that week but it is in God's plan for us to do it this way. Gladney gave us the option to be hosted the week of Dec 16th thru Dec 24th so we have decided to not extend our stay so that we can be home for Christmas with some very eager family members (most of all Jamie my sis)!!! We are so sad that Renee and Geert will not be there with us but please know that we will be kissing those sweet little faces for you and telling them how you will be there soon!!!! We were looking forward to a vacation in Ethiopia but because we have the opportunity to be home on Christmas Day we are going to take it and forgo the down time=( This weekend has been kind of crazy because we moved some stuff into the new house preparing for the real move in when we return. I work tomorrow and don't have another day off until we leave so I am thankful that I have spent the past month preparing for this trip! We will try to post again before we leave but no promises!! Hopefully my sister will be able to post for us while it Ethiopia since most people say they can't access blogspot while there. In just a week we will be there...at the end of a very emotion journey.


(The most beautiful smile I have ever seen!)

The Day of Court

As you all know our court date went as planned and Ian is our baby officially. We are very excited because after all this is the day we have waited for. Waiting 7 long weeks for our home study to be written. Waiting impatiently 2 months for CIS approval, waiting 12 weeks for a referral for the most precious baby in the world, waiting 2 weeks for news of a court date. Then we waited, 4 weeks for the court date. Now we will wait 10 days to hold our son. Waiting is what makes this so hard. Uncertain waiting is what makes it nearly impossible. Throw in wanting, longing, crying, and hoping and you have some of the longest months of any person's life. That is why I know that while 13 days is a very short time to wait for anything I also know that in their mommy's eyes it may as well be an eternity. I am so sorry Renee and Geert that court was not a victory for you today. We are praying for you over here and hoping that God will give you peace during the next 13 days.

IAN IS OURS!!!!!!

This is Jamie, Lindsey's sister, she wanted me to let everyone know that COURT WAS A SUCCESS!!!! Ian Parker Surafel Clevinger is officially adopted in Ethiopia! Lindsey is hysterical, lol . I'm sure she'll add to this when she gets her hands on a computer with internet connection. Thanks (from me) for all the prayers and support you've shown my baby sister.
Lots of love,
Jamie
aka Ian's Sissy
(A title I've wanted my whole life)

BTW, Lindsey.... "Happy Birthday Mommy"

Be my..be my little baby

Please pray for us all tomorrow as many of us Gladney families have court dates. I will be working 8a-8p tomorrow but as soon as we hear something my sister will be posting. When I read Renee's post I was reduced to tears because I know that longing all too well...as many of us do. There is a yahoo group for Gladney families and one of the women talked about how we shouldn't claim these children as our own until court happens and how we shouldn't have any expectations because legally they aren't ours. She also talked about how we shouldn't name them and how she wasn't even going to share the news of her referral with anyone until court. Well, as an educated woman I understand that until tomorrow passes, legally baby Surafel is not a Clevinger. However, the day we received that call he was born in my heart and I began celebrating his life. Through months of prayer and long talks to his picture I have allowed my love for this child to grow. I have longed for his cries and hung on every word of every update anyone sends us. I have looked at his pictures 10 million times and my stomach flips every time I scroll through my emails and see the one that says, "Introducing...Surafel". When I hold him in my arms he will surely know my love but when he is older and we talk about this whole adoption thing...then he will know I loved him always.
Pray...please.

Maddness at the Clevinger house!

Congrats to Keva, Trevor and Micah Atwood on their baby boy referral!!! He is beautiful!

Ahh as the time dwindles down and court rapidly approaches we are still trying to get the ground to steady under our feet! The house is nearing completion and so many things have to be picked out and picked up. I am working long days so that I can take time off from work for the trip and the time after the trip! Cortney has recovered from the appendectomy and we are trying so hard to get caught up before we leave. I am so hopeful that court goes well next week and Ian will be officially ours without a hitch. We are packing for so many different reasons that I can't find anything and maybe never will! All bags headed to Ethiopia are packed except the one for our clothes. We have 7 suitcases brimming over with donations and gifts. I agree with Renee that it isn't the space that has hindered us as much as the weight. We have lots of extra things to take since we will be in Ethiopia for 23 days. The diapers/formula/wipes alone take up 2 pieces of luggage! Needless to say we will be re-wearing many things while in Ethiopia!

I am trying to wrap my mind around the notion that (unless there is a disaster with the court date) I will be holding Ian in just a little over two weeks! Holding him, in my arms..kissing his sweet cheeks!! I am a little sad that we won't be with our families for Christmas and that they will not be spending Christmas with Ian. I wish that we could have all been home by then but my only comfort in this time of complete chaos is knowing that I will be snuggling him before I know it.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Only 10 more days of work before we leave for Africa!!!!!

Travel Plans

The past few weeks, heck the past few months have been so hectic that we hardly know if we are coming or going. I have worked an insane schedule and with my type A personality and lackadaisical contractor I have quickly become the project manager of my house!!! Poor Cortney has worked so hard too and tried to keep me happy during each little catastrophe! All that being said our trip to Ethiopia will serve as our much needed vacation. Our court date is December 6th (prayers please that all things go as planned) and our travel dates are Jan 1st thru Jan 8th. We have decided that we will travel to Ethiopia on December 16th and remain in country until Jan 8th. We are so thankful that Ryan, Abby and Belay gave us permission to come early! So, we will be spending 22 nights in Addis!!! We are looking forward to the time we have alone with Ian to begin our very special bond with him. I am very excited that I will have 3 weeks away from anything to do with the house and work!!!

If meeting my son for the first time isn't enough...we will also be having Christmas with the Loeffens!!! I am so excited to meet Renee, Geert, Maryn and Keller in person!!!