We have a court date!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WooHoo!! We finally got one! Lots of laughing and happy tears in the Hulshof House. We will be traveling to Ethiopia for our court date on October 17th. The courts will close from approximately 8/6-10/16 for the rainy season as they do every year. We are bummed that we have to wait longer on the girls but still so thrilled that we finally have a time frame.

Once we pass court, it takes 3-4 days to get an adoption deed. From that point, our case can be sent to the Embassy and we hope to have a follow up date 4-6 weeks after our court date, to go and bring the girls home FOREVER!

The process in Ethiopia has slowed down so much this year so it's difficult to know what to expect but our hope and prayer is that they might possibly be home by Thanksgiving.

We did learn that our agency director will be going to Ethiopia in August and she will be visiting with them again. We have already given her more presents and pictures to share with the girls. We are so glad that she will get to see them again soon and hopefully we'll have more great pictures to share with all of you.

Please continue to pray specifically for these things:
1. There are many families in our agency who still don't know where their children are due to the mass orphanage closings. Pray that God will calm their fears during this time and that these adoptions will still be able to proceed soon.
2. There are many other families who do know where their kids are but they are still waiting on a court date and the waiting can be SO hard. Please pray they get a court date before the courts close 8/6.
3. Please pray for our safe travel and that our necessary forms and paperwork are all there on 10/17 so that we can pass court the first time.
4. Please pray for a swift Embassy date so we can bring our daughters home soon.
5. Please pray that God will continue to do a work in our family as we prepare to change our family dynamic. We are SO excited about our adoption but we know that it will come with challenges so pray that God removes some of those stumbling blocks.

Thank you for your support and for praying for us and our girls. We feel these prayers - Can't tell you how much it means to us.

Blessings,
Valerie & Chris