Woo Hoo, We have a referral...

I wanted to update you all with the adoption of our son. As you know, we started the process again in January. At the time we did not know for sure where our son would be and if we would use an agency again or what agency if we did. I wanted to keep my options open and see where my heart took us...

Through our agency, I heard of two boys and was able to see pictures of them from other families that have traveled to bring their children home. One boy was totally adorable. He looked big and healthy. And the other, well he appeared a little more malnourished. His head seemed kind of big for his body and he obviously had ringworm of the scalp. There was something about his eyes and the sweet way he always smiles with his mouth shut- I immediately fell in love with the second boy. On a side note, my friend who lives in a few minutes away just adopted a nine year old boy, Akwesi, who came home about a month ago. These boys and Akwesi were very good friends and played soccer together daily. Knowing this, we felt that we had to hurry and do every thing we could to adopt one of these boys. As it turned out, the second boy, Kwame was the one meant to be our son.

Over the past month have gotten lots of information about him and his personality. He is said to be a wonderful sweet boy who cares about and helps the younger children before rushing off to play soccer. He will be six years old in May and is an only child. He is three months younger than Cater who turned six on Friday.

Our homestudy was completed and we were considered referral ready last Thursday. That happened to be the very day that Kwame's reports and medicals were all done and he also was considered referral ready. So last Thursday and Friday we received the information on him and are excited to announce that we have accepted the referral of Kwame....

The next step is that documents are prepared by us and our agency so that they can go to court in Ghana and we will hopefully be granted the adoption. Coincidentally, we were referred Selina a year ago last Friday. For Selina we went to court in April and I went to Ghana in May. We anticipate this adoption to take a little longer and so we hope to travel in the summer or early fall. We are required to make two short trips to Ghana or one long trip. We plan to make two short trips. If finances allow, I plan to make the first trip for a week (during which I am required to report to the embassy in Ghana to file paperwork) and TR and Kman would go back when all the paperwork is done about a month or two later to bring Kwame home.

I will continue to provide updates on Kwame. I am not allowed to show pictures of him as he is not legally our son yet. Kwame has blossomed since arriving at our adoption center in September and is looking much healthier and happier than the quiet thin child that arrived. He is a very healthy, adorable and happy boy who is looking very forward to having a family.

We would appreciate if you kept Kwame in your prayers over the coming months that he will continue to do well in the adoption center and that God will watch over him.