Bummer

Wow, there are a lot of changes going on in the Ethiopian court system right now.  A new director means we need to redo some of our dossier paperwork with the old directors name on it.  We need to get it retyped, recertified and redone at the sec of states office in Grand Rapids and then taken personally over to the GR Bethany office.  Also, the court system takes a break for a month and a half in August.  They have also changed some info on if the birth certificates can still be used as passport and that their birth parents sign papers before the child is released (never done before).  So, lots of changes that will just take more time unfortunately.

GoJo Ethiopian Restaurant

Kreg and I are going to eat at GoJo Ethiopian Restaurant tonight for our 6th year anniversary!  I can't wait.  Last time we went, the food and environment was awesome!

Do you love coffee?

We just became a "coffee roaster" from a company called, "Just Love Coffee."  It is an organization that uses the proceeds to help an Ethiopian orphanage and families adopting (that's us) not just from Ethiopia, but from anywhere in the world.  The guy that started the company is a father of four children, two are adopted from Ethiopia.  He took his love of the coffee industry and love of his children and orphans and started this new company.  The coffee is purchased from high quality, Fair Trade, specialty coffees from all over the world.  So, check out our new website:  www.justlovecoffee.com/TheSills

Visiting Little Ethiopia in California

We stopped in Little Ethiopia on our way to Brandi's graduation.  Everything was still closed but we got to take some pictures.  I was really excited when everyone agreed to go back Saturday night for dinner.  We stopped at "Mercato Ethiopian Restaurant-Market."  I got a bracelet and a flag to bring home.  We stopped at another store and I got Kendal a T-shirt that has the Ethiopian alphabet on it.  We then went to dinner at "Little Ethiopia" Restaurant.  The food was awesome and it was fun having everyone use their hands without utensils to eat (they don't give you any).  Everyone loved the food which made me feel good that I brought them here.  Well, soon we will be going to the REAL Ethiopia but it was fun and memorable to get a little taste of it on our trip.

Little Ethiopia

My mom, sis, and I are going to California on Wednesday to see Brandi graduate.  We are so excited and proud of her.  One of the many places we will visit in the short three days we will be there is "Little Ethiopia" in LA.  Apparently, it has the highest population of Ethiopians in the world outside of Ethiopia!  I can't wait.  Here is a paragraph about it:

Little Ethiopia is located in the heart of Los Angeles and yet sprawl it does not. Even Washington D.C.'s acclaimed Adam's Morgan, the unofficial seat of Ethiopian diasporadom, cannot boast of having the same number and variety of businesses on a street less than a fifth of a mile (0.8 km) long. Fourteen Ethiopian-owned businesses - six restaurants, two travel agencies, two markets, one hair salon, one insurance company, one café and one boutique - flank Fairfax Avenue between Olympic Boulevard and Whitworth Drive. Three other Ethiopian businesses on Pico Boulevard - a restaurant, a printer and a grocery store - add to the tally. - Branna Mag - 2002.

Wait Time is LOWER!!

This is such great news.  It is confirmed that our wait time is now lower.  It was 12-15 months for a referral and now it is 6-12 months.  How awesome is that??  I told Kreg we need to get moving on our shots and our funds!!  We are so thrilled and excited that we may get to see our kiddo (s) sooner than expected.  Great, great news!!!

Mother-To-Be

Just got an unexpected present in the mail yesterday.  My friend, Toby, who has also adopted, sent me a shirt that says, "mother-to-be" in amharic.  Such a cool and thoughtful gift.  I was so excited to get it.  I can't wait to wear it and show it off!  We also found out today that the wait time for us may be a little bit shorter than the anticipated 13 months average.  We will find out more soon.  We have a seminar tonight that we are going to called, "The Chosen Family."  I'm looking forward to learning more about how we can be there for our little one (s).