One step closer

We are one step closer!!! We have a court date scheduled for November 12th!

Bobby and I have our tickets in hand and are traveling across the ocean next week! We will stand before the judge on Friday the 12th.

In the past few months, families were initially given two court dates and told to appear for the second date. Now, we are told that we can chose to appear for the earlier date and that will likely speed up the process. We are still a little unsure about how this works under the new requirements. I don't think many families have done it like this so it is a little hard to tell what will happen.

The bottom line is that we will not get to bring our little girl home until 6-9 weeks after we successfully pass court. That could be on November 12th or it could be at some date after that. Our agency says that we will be finished with our part before the judge on the 12th, regardless. If the judge is satisfied with all of our paperwork on that day, it could be finalized then. If the judge wants more clarification or more paperwork then the case would be postponed until those things are satisfactory to the judge.

Once we pass court she will legally be an Erickson from the Ethiopian government standpoint. Then we wait in line (not literally, thankfully: ) at the US embassy for her visa. Once we have a visa appointment, we get to go back and bring her home. (My guess is January.)

My parents are taking care of the boys while we are gone and Uncle Todd and Aunt Teri are going to help out as well. We did consider taking the older boys with us and although we would love for them to see Ethiopia, we are only going to be in the country for three days. The jet-lag would be brutal for them. It would also add a huge extra expense. I would rather spend that kind of money when the kids are older. Maybe we can all go back and stay longer.

Please pray for us as we travel next week and especially for our court appearance on the 12th. We would like to bring her home as soon as possible!