March Numbers

When we went on the wait list this time around, Bear wasn't quite 2. He was still too little to understand what was going on. Now here we are, almost 2 years later. He is 3, going on 4, and I realized it's time to include him more directly in the waiting. Not too long ago, he and I spent a really sweet afternoon making countdown chains. One for baby brother, and one for baby sister. We still need to make one for siblings but we ran out of time and energy. Made me really feel how much further we have to go on the lists. It took a long time to make the chains! All that cutting, taping, and stickering. It was good to use up a lot of old scrapbooking supplies. He was so focused, and really got into chain making and counting. Once the chains were done, we made a special trip to Target and he got to pick out his very first pair of scissors. QUITE exciting. He gets to cut a link from the chain each time we learn of a referral. I'm excited to get him excited about referral news and pray together for the family that was just matched. Here are the two chains, hanging on the mantel near the kitchen table.

Our new way of marking time. When we made the chains, we were #37 on the girls list, #28 on the boys list, and #13 on the siblings list. Below, Bear is attempting to show you that the chain is much longer than he is. With any luck, he'll keep growing and the chain will keep shrinking. I pray the chains shrink faster than he grows. He's growing way too fast by the way. His size 11 feet are looking huge.

Today we cut the first links from the chain. (No referrals today, we're just getting caught up.)

Getting scissors ready. It's all about the tools.

Cutting!

And new numbers are, drumroll please...

#35 girls

#27 boys

#12 siblings

For some perspective, my friend Molly remembered that when we went on the waitlist for Bear, in June of 2009, our first number was #12! (I love you Molly for remembering that!) I'm a little embarrassed to admit I was disappointed with our number back then. I had hoped we would be #8! Some nerve. :) We've been waiting almost 2 years to get to where we started the first time. Ethiopian adoption has changed, especially with our agency. But we've learned to trust in the timing. I have more to share on trust later.

Cold, windy, rainy Spring here. Can't wait to put winter coats away and see some flowers. Bring on Spring!