7th Months Waiting!

This update is for you Aunt Susan. :)  I hope you're doing well!

Unfortunately we don't have much news other than we are holding steady at 29 on the "unofficial" list.  We have been waiting now for 7 months and have moved about 16 spots since then.  We are still hopeful to get a referral sometime next year but if you do the math for how many spots we've moved in 7 months...well, don't do the math! :)

On other news, Lupe has been a bad dog and has now tore up both bedroom's carpets.  Anyone looking for a crazy dog?  Just kidding, but she will now be punished to her kennel for awhile.  Makes me sad. :(

In the exciting life of Jason, he is now planning another trip back to Africa already.  I wish I was included in the plan :) (maybe next time) but they are working on a father/son trip...so that is pretty exciting!  Those kids are going to have a blast with multiple Clement men!  Ha. :)  I can't wait!

That's it for now.  I pray for some movement to get us moving on up the list!

Tonight's Skype

Tonight I skyped with Jason and he had a few young men along side. :)  It is so neat to be able to talk to the children there, technology really is incredible.  Jason was pretty tired from staying up late but he was planning to go back to sleep.  Yesterday they went on a boat ride at the opening of the Nile River.  I am excited to see his pictures when he returns.  Today I think they were planning to stay at the orphanage and play more soccer.  The only pictures I have received lately is the important pictures of comparing Lupe to her African cousins...see below. :)  She is definitely a dingo.

My Favorite Skype So Far

I'm pasting in my email to some family and friends from my skype with Jason two nights ago.  It's really more for my own memory than anything else. :)

I could hear kids in the background singing (it was 6am there).  Jason’s group is staying at an orphanage for the next two days.  When they were done with their morning prayers/singing they came and sat by Jason so I could see all the girls faces.  So pretty.  I felt pretty popular but I know it was just the Ipad they were amazed by.  J  Jason asked them what they were singing and they all started to sing ‘ Jesus Loves Me’.  Wow…it was awesome.  They were all smiling, I thought only a few were there, but when I asked them their names it was around 10.  They just crowded around Jason and looked at me on the screen. J  They spoke pretty good English which amazes me.  They have a dog at the orphanage, Jason said it was Lupe’s African cousin…apparently they look similar.  Jason told them we had a dog named Lupe…and they all started giggling.  J  And then when Jason and I would say ‘I love you’, they would chime in with ‘so much’ after.  Ahhh, broke my heart.  It was hard to go to sleep after that! 

More on Jason's Group in Africa

I might have to have Jason start updating this blog so I can get in his words his exciting moments, thoughts and memories each day in writing.  But until that happens, here are a few blogs that are being updated by people on the trip.  They are very exciting to read and have some pictures.  I hope whoever is reading this gets as excited as I do when I read them.  Man, I wish I was there!!
Side note: I just read the first blog listed and had to add it - wow, be ready to feel some emotion.

http://elderadventures.blogspot.com/ - Elder's African Adoption Adventure
http://anotherpiecetohispuzzle.blogspot.com/ - Another Piece to His Puzzle
http://hiltfam.wordpress.com/ - Adventures of the Orange Backpack

Day 1 - Jason in Uganda

Here are some pictures that Jason emailed today from their time spent with 300 plus kids at Return Ministries in Uganda.  I LOVE these pics!  The first pic is Jason getting ready to do some 'bucking bronco'...if you recall this from the Bill Cosby show when Rudy had a slumber party. :)  Kids love this!...and Jason is going to have a sore knee tomorrow.

Jason to Africa

Jason left today to Uganda and Ethiopia with a group of 35 or so people on a 'Visiting Orphans' mission trip.   Some things they are doing are playing and spending time with lots of orphans and helping fix up some families homes.  I know they are doing much more, I don't know exactly, but the links to some of the organizations they are working with are below.
We were at the airport by 4am this morning and Jason got checked in and made it to Charlotte and DC smoothly.  He is currently on his way to Addis Ababa (the capital of Ethiopia) then they take another flight to Entebbe (city in Uganda - maybe the capital?).  Addis Ababa is where we will be heading eventually to visit our son, once we have a referral.  So that is exciting for me as Jason gets to check out the city first.
I will keep updating as I hear from Jason (I hope Skype works).  Please pray for safety and life changing events for everyone.

http://www.visitingorphans.com/
http://www.sixtyfeet.org/

www.ourglimmerofhope.org/campaign/dig-deep

www.dudeperfect.com

http://www.toms.com/

Waiting times

We found out that it is going to take longer to get a referral than originally thought. We knew this based on what has been going on but our agency had never quantified those delays into revised wait times. Today we have been told that basis the latest referrals the revised wait time for an infant boy is 10-16 months. Because we were DTE 3/4 that would put us at getting a referral between Jan and July. I hope it will be sooner than later of course but God has a plan!