IT'S OFFICIAL! WE'RE A WAITING FAMILY!!

Just got this email today from our adoption agency............ Yay!!

Dear Denise & Don Sullivan,

I just wanted to send you this quick email to let you know that your dossier has been sent back to our office from Washington D.C. You are now on the waiting list for a referral. We will be keeping your dossier in queue here in the St. Louis office until it is time to be expressed to Ethiopia. Congratulations on having this piece behind you!!!! You're now a waiting family!!!

After you have accepted a referral, the dossier will be translated and authenticated, and presented to the Ministry of Womens Affairs (MOWA), which is the first entity in Ethiopia to approve you to adopt the child.

Waiting for a referral can really be a difficult wait for most families. We suggest keeping busy and doing those things that you may not have a chance to do once your child comes home. You also will want to read as much as you can related to raising adopted children, bonding and attachment, transracial adoption, Ethiopia, etc. etc., and you may even want to start learning some phrases in Amharic.

This would also be a good time to look into the immunizations that you will need for your trip. Some immunizations are good for 3, 5 and even 10 years so it's not too early to start. Visitwww.cdc.gov/travel . Information is also noted in the CHI Ethiopia Travel Guide located on the CHIFamily.net website.

Please know that we are here to support you during your wait and answer any questions that you might have.

Congratulations again, you are one step closer to bringing your little one home!!!


Blessings,
Angie Thorn

Ethiopia Adoption Consultant