More Exciting News

Just to tease you, MORE exciting news on my Ethiopian blog!

Some Exciting News

Hop on over to our Ethiopia blog for some exciting news.

The Journey Continues

Thanks a Bunch!

Well, the poll has closed, the voting has ended and we are not one bit closer to deciding on a name. I am lobbying for a couple of names that were not even on the poll.

Thanks to all that voted and gave me their opinion. Sorry for those of you that told me what you DIDN'T like, because when we name her that name, I will tell her that you don't like it. :) Okay, maybe I won't, maybe I will have forgotten by then.

Maybe.

I'm still taking suggestions, looking into a few names, and getting generally frustrated by the whole thing.

No, our I171H is STILL not here, believe me, you would have read it by now if it had came. It has been almost 5 months since I filed our original request. What is up with that? Don't get me started on that one.

BTW, I have our Ethiopia blog up and running and will now, formally switch any updates etc. to that blog. You can find it at the link on the side or you can click here and go there. It's still a work in progress, but I am working on getting all the information in my notebook transferred to her blog. Enjoy reading yet another blog. I'll be posting on that blog a name, IF, we ever decide on one. So, hop on over and check it out. I think it looks great.

Oh, and our friends and fellow FBC staff member and wife, Chris and Dawn, were added to the Ethiopia waiting list TODAY! Hooray! They are in the process of adopting our baby girl's husband. :) I think arranged marriages are a great idea! We are both using the same agency and we are so excited about walking this journey along side of them. Who knows, maybe we can travel together. I worried about our daughter not having a connection to her country because there was no one else in the church that had adopted from Ethiopia. Jadyn has such a strong connection as there are so many families with girls adopted from China and I prayed and prayed for this baby to have a connection also. The day we announced to the church that we are adopting from Ethiopia, Chris and Dawn pulled me aside and said that they were ready to start the process of adoption and that felt God was leading them to adopt from Ethiopia. Mmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm, ain't God good? There is our baby girls connection to her country and her culture. This is only the beginning of great things to come. I just know it. Congratulations Chris and Dawn, we are very excited for you.

Help!

Okay, so we can't seem to decide on a name, so, I'm taking a poll.

You can cast your vote above on your favorite name for our African princess, or make a suggestion in the comments. We will not publicly criticize you name ideas - we'll save that for the privacy of our own home! :)

Here is the thoughts behind the names - because you know we can't do anything randomly or just because.

Eliana (Hebrew-God has answered) Kate (just like the name)
Remember that Jadyn is Hebrew for "God has heard" Smart, huh?

Emmye (again, just like the name-no meaning) Elizabeth (Consecrated to God - did not want this baby to have a name that meant absolutely nothing, so we agreed on Elizabeth - which is a great feat these days)

If we name her Eliana Kate - we will call her Ellie Kate

If we name her Emmye Elizabeth - we have several options on what we will call her. Emmye Beth being one of them.

If we name her Elizabeth Kate - we will call her either Lizzie Kate or Eliza Kate (and Alison, that's kind of like Aliza )

So, what do you think. Go ahead, cast your vote, but don't be offended if we don't use your favorite, we're like that you know! And, for the record, we are certainly open to suggestions. If you can come up with a name that we LOVE and AGREE on, then I'll do something very special - like monogram your underwear or something.

Sorry if you have already voted, I added the other name to the poll and had to remove the other one. So, you can revote if you want.

How I Got My Grooves Back

Great news!
Today, Fed Ex delivered a wonderful surprise.  My completed FBI clearance, and it WENT THROUGH!  Woo Hoo!  No arrest record (no big shocker there) and everything is clear.  Now, just pray that I pass through the USCIS fingerprinting system without a hitch.  I go for my re-fingerprinting appointment on 5/27/08.  Stay tuned as the saga continues.

Working My Fingers To The Bone

Apparently, I am working way too hard.

So here's the deal.  I went on 5/9/08 to get fingerprinted for the USCIS.  While I was there, the lady doing the fingerprinting said "don't be surprised if you have to be re-fingerprinted, you have worn off your fingerprints."  WHAT??? I didn't know that you could do that.

So, I kind of blew it off.  There VERY next day, in the mail I received my fingerprint packet from the FBI (different set of fingerprints).  Pat's sailed through, mine, REJECTED!!!  Talk about an insult.  So, I went back to the Smyrna PD and had my fingerprints done AGAIN, overnighted them back to the FBI and I am waiting to hear back on the 2nd set.

On Saturday, I received an office letter from the Department of Homeland Security, looking suspiciously like a fingerprint notice.  When I opened it, it was a fingerprint appointment scheduled for 10/27/08 at 10:00 a.m. because my first set of USICIS fingerprints were REJECTED also.  So, what do I do?  I can't believe that I have worn my fingerprints off.  I've been using lots of lotion but my hands are very soft, if I do say so myself.  This is making me nuts.  Why is it always one thing right after another?  Some one encourage me, please!  Tell me to quit working so hard or some other wonderful words of wisdom.  Maybe I should hire a housekeeper, yeah, that's probably the answer.  Now, I just have to convince Pat.  

Anyway, pray that my fingerprints return, from where ever they have gone.  Pray that I have no big issues on Tuesday and that they are able to get this done this time.  

Thanks for reading,

Amy

(BTW, I am risking wearing off more of my fingerprints just by typing this post, now that's a committed blogger)

Yes, It's True!

My friend Terri is not cutting me any slack! It seems as though she has left a comment on Pat's blog that I am the only one that has not made the announcement of our exciting news on my blog! Boy, I've got some tough friends! :)

Yes, it's true.

Pat made the big announcement to the church on Sunday - the Hood's are yet again adding to their chaos. We have begun the paperwork to bring home our little girl that God has chosen for us in Ethiopia. But for now, she is residing in our hearts. Adoption is a tough journey. It is a journey of ups and downs. It, at times, can be gut wrenching. But, I will have to say that I would not change one thing about my life. Adoption is one of the sweetest things that I have ever experienced. One of the things you hear when couples are talking about beginning the adoption process is they don't know if they can love an adopted child like they love their own. It's a common question that you ask yourself. In trying to put it into words, I can only say it this way. We love our boys (Seth and Zac) with all our hearts. We've loved them since we found out that we were expecting. But loving Jadyn is just different. When you experience this kind of love, loving a child that is not yours biologically, it is a sweet love. The only way that I know to describe it is a supernatural love. It's a God placed love and one that I pray many, many more people can experience.

Why Ethiopia? I can simply say - because that is where our daughter is. The need is so great. It breaks my heart to think of all the children that are in need of loving homes and we are here in our contentment, living the good life. Is it easy? No. Is it cheap? No. Do I have the energy that I once had? No. But the last time I checked, God doesn't call us to do things that are easy. And of course, in full Hood fashion, there is a story behind this adoption - just like Jadyn's. God has again shown Himself and we simply put our trust in Him.

Pat asked me if I was ready for all the questions. Are you crazy? What are you thinking? But let me just be honest, I'm over what people think. People thought we were crazy when we began the adoption process 3 years ago. Now, we just confirmed it with them. :) But, I'd much rather be crazy and in the center of God's will, than outside of it. To say that we are THRILLED is an understatement. We have chosen our agency, filed our immigration paperwork, filled out multiple forms, etc. The fun is just now beginning. Pray for us (me) as I wade through the mounds of paperwork.

So, if you are up for the challenge and you want to begin yet another journey with the Hood's, buckle your seat belt, it could very well be a wild ride. You know how we are. We are honored that you check in on us and thanks Terri for getting my behind in gear. It' 2:45 a.m. anyway, what else do I have to do?

There is much more to come and I plan to get a new blog going that will be dedicated to this adoption. But, of course, it has to be just right. We love you all and would appreciate your prayers for this process, our family, and especially a little girl that God has predestined to be a Hood.

Stay tuned...

Amy

Coming soon: A little doll named Lydia and the place she holds in my heart!