I hope this will answer some questions we have received lately.
Where are we and how much longer?  
Where are we at?
Do we have a referral or know who are kids are?

Definitions 
Dossier - It is a french word and is the packet of documents that is needed by America and the adopting country.  The process usually takes 4-6 months for all the documents to be collected.
DTE date- The date the dossier is received in Ethiopia.  Ours is 10/07/2011
Referral- The moment we see our kids for the first time.  We will receive pictures and information on their health and back ground. 
Court Date- After the referral we will travel to Ethiopia to appear before the judge.



(We are right <<< at the bottom of the screen shot, but not the bottom of the list.  I left everyone's names off for privacy.  Blue is boy, pink is girl and yellow is either. )
 
The Agency ....
Every agency does their referrals differently.  Ours takes longer, but there is a very low rate of something going wrong.  The children go through an extensive background search.  Relatives are found and interviewed, legal matters are taken care of, safe guards are set up to insure they are true orphans, so that fraud is avoided.  Then a child receives medical testing.  After all of this is done they are referred to a family. 

Our part...
We are responsible for creating an extensive set of documents.  When those documents are completed and sent to Ethiopia the family receives a DTE, Dossier to Ethiopia, date.  This is the date that says where we are in line.


 

The list... 
 We are then put on an unofficial list made up by other adoptive parents and after our DTE date is given.   The list only gives us an idea of where we are at.  Those above us can change their minds and there may be other families that chose not to be on the list.  We do have priority above those people below us.

How much longer...
We have no idea.  Hopefully sooner than later, but there really is no way to know unless we were adopting only one infant and than we would have another 10 months or so.  Infants are available more often than older siblings.  I can tell you that God has given us a true peace that it will happen in His time.  The wait will certainly be worth it in the end!

Our request...
We are seeking two children under Gabbie's age.  We think they will be siblings, but are open to unrelated.  Most likely they will be 4-7 years old.   At this point we are 3rd in line for girls and 2nd in line for boys :)

Psalm 37:7a
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act. 

Ecclesiastes 8:6 ESV 
For there is a time and a way for everything, 
although man's trouble lies heavy on him.

 
Psalm 27:14 ESV 
Wait for the Lord; 
be strong, and let your heart take courage; 
wait for the Lord!

 
Galatians 6:9 ESV 
And let us not grow weary of doing good, 
for in due season we will reap, 
if we do not give up.