We will soon be OUTNUMBERED. Our family is growing again -- this time possibly by three! *insert gasp here* No, no, we are not pregnant with triplets. We are pursuing another adoption from Ethiopia!
Sometime around October we felt God was tugging at our hearts to start another adoption. We always knew that we would adopt again from Ethiopia, but we weren't sure when would be the right time. We sought the counsel of friends and family and agreed that now is the time.
Over the past month or two we've applied to two adoption agencies, completed our home study and compiled all the documents needed for our dossier (international adoption application). We mailed our dossier to our agency, International Adoption Guides (IAG), on Monday. Now begins the waiting game. :)
For those of you who are curious, here are some additional details about our pending adoption:
- Since the adoption of Michael and Liliana, the agency we used to adopt them closed. We had to find a new agency for this adoption. We feel very blessed to have found such an amazing agency for this adoption. Because IAG is based in Georgia, we had to find a local agency in Minnesota to complete our homestudy (this is why we had to apply to two different adoption agencies). We chose Chosen Ones Adoption Agency and have been very happy with them as well. In fact, the social worker that did our first homestudy now works for Chosen Ones so she was able to do our current homestudy.
- We are approved to adopt up to three children under age 5. Our preference is to keep birth order, which would mean 2 or 3 children under age 3. Although this is our preference, we are trying to be open to whatever kids God wants to bless us with. We felt from the beginning of this adoption process that we should be open to adopting three children at once. However, that doesn't mean that we will. We are open to adopting one, two, or three children this time around.
- Michael and Liliana are super excited about adopting more kids. Michael has even told me that if we adopt a boy, he wants to name him Isaac (which just happens to be the name of his best friend). He told me if we adopt a girl, he wants to name her Tani (I am pretty sure he made that name up). Liliana wants a little sister named Olivia.
- Our last adoption was about 9 months from the time we were officially waiting to the day Michael and Liliana came home. We aren't really sure on a timeline for this adoption. Since adopting Michael and Liliana, the laws have changed in Ethiopia. This time we will have to travel twice (once for court and once for our embassy appointment). In addition to the change in travel rules, the US Embassy now does a more thorough investigation of each adoption case which has been adding to the wait time in getting your kiddos home. Our adoption agency has told us we shouldn't have to wait for more than 3 months to receive a referral (when they present us with children available to adopt), however in the world of adoption things are always changing. We are praying and believing that we will get the new additions home by the end of 2012.
So there you have it - our exciting Hawks Family update. We hope this letter finds you well and that you all have a very Merry Christmas. We pray that God would pour out on you many blessings during this holiday season and throughout the New Year.
All our love,
The Hawks
Matt, Becca, Michael, & Liliana Faye
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