Mark and I received an email from our Ethiopian Team today letting us know that the guardianship letter for the aunt was granted!! We are so excited about this! The birth family has a court date on March 5, 2012. We were suppose to be issued a court date also, but the Judge overlooked us- so we will have to wait until the court reopens at the end of February. So we should know then when our court date is. Mark and I really hope it will be during Summer's spring break. She will be traveling with us. I do not want her to miss much school, but I believe that her going with us will be a great experience for her.
Please keep us, Connor, and his birth family in your prayers. Please pray that we will be patient while we wait to go meet our little boy!!
Romans 8:25- " But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
We are one step closer.....
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The McDade Family
- The McDades
- Hi! Our names are Shannon, Mark and Summer McDade. We are a family of three wanting to expand our family through adoption. We were planning to adopt from Taiwan, but the wait has helped us change countries to Ethiopia. God has a purpose foreverything and we are going to stay faithful and follow Him.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Waiting Is Not Fun
Mark and I have been on a roller coaster ride of our lives for over the past two years. Yes, this roller coaster ride is called adoption. I am so glad we decided to get on this certain ride, but just wish it would soon end so we could get off of it! Sometimes, I wish the ride could be smoother and quicker instead of bumpy and LONG. There are so many ups and downs that it would make your head spin or just make you throw up. Today was one of those days where you think you are going to like part of this ride then you realize that something is around the corner that makes it so much harder-the uncertainty of adoption.
Mark and I received our referral on October 26, 2010 of a little 13 month old boy. We are so blessed to have pictures of him and even some videos. We get updates on our little boy once a month. I am so happy that we do get these, but I want him home. We have been submitted to court, but still no court date as of today. Our agency is trying to get a certain letter that would help us get a court date. Who really knows when this will happen? I was told last week that they thought they were getting the letter from the Judge. Not yet!! It has been three months since our referral and still no court date. Why does it have to be so hard for everybody to get their crap done so these kids can get adopted? Now our little boy is 16 months old and is growing everyday without us. I pray that we will soon get to "meet" our little boy. I love him so much that it makes my heart hurt to not have him with us, but one day he will be and we will be off this ride!!
I think the hardest thing about this ride of adoption is the unknown. The not knowing is so hard for someone like me who likes to have everything mapped or planned out ahead of time. I am so a schedule person. I freak out when we get off this schedule. So maybe adoption is harder for me than someone else who is going through it, but I don't think so. I think we all have certain expectations about how this roller coaster ride should be. Some people might like the bumpy parts and that may help to mold them into something they would not be if it wasn't for the rough parts. Then there are others who get a smooth ride with a quick finish and they look back on it and decide to do it all again. No matter what type of person you are adoption is one of the craziest roller coaster rides out there!!!!
Mark and I received our referral on October 26, 2010 of a little 13 month old boy. We are so blessed to have pictures of him and even some videos. We get updates on our little boy once a month. I am so happy that we do get these, but I want him home. We have been submitted to court, but still no court date as of today. Our agency is trying to get a certain letter that would help us get a court date. Who really knows when this will happen? I was told last week that they thought they were getting the letter from the Judge. Not yet!! It has been three months since our referral and still no court date. Why does it have to be so hard for everybody to get their crap done so these kids can get adopted? Now our little boy is 16 months old and is growing everyday without us. I pray that we will soon get to "meet" our little boy. I love him so much that it makes my heart hurt to not have him with us, but one day he will be and we will be off this ride!!
I think the hardest thing about this ride of adoption is the unknown. The not knowing is so hard for someone like me who likes to have everything mapped or planned out ahead of time. I am so a schedule person. I freak out when we get off this schedule. So maybe adoption is harder for me than someone else who is going through it, but I don't think so. I think we all have certain expectations about how this roller coaster ride should be. Some people might like the bumpy parts and that may help to mold them into something they would not be if it wasn't for the rough parts. Then there are others who get a smooth ride with a quick finish and they look back on it and decide to do it all again. No matter what type of person you are adoption is one of the craziest roller coaster rides out there!!!!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Christmas 2011
Mark and I have been so busy working at UPS during this Christmas season. We did manage to get a tree, decorate it and still saw Santa while we were working all these crazy hours. Here are a few pictures of us at the Enchanted Forest seeing Santa. Summer even had a list for Connor to get some things from Santa. So sweet!!!
Here are a few of us getting our tree and it being decorated for Christmas.
So wish Connor was here with us this Christmas. I know he will be here next Christmas and that makes me smile!!! I can't wait for my two kids come running down the stairs on Christmas morning and jumping in our beds to wake us up. That is going to be so much fun!!!
We had a great Christmas Eve Service at Hope Church then we came to make sugar cookies. Here are a few pictures of us on Christmas Eve making sugar cookies for Santa and the rest of the family.
I love making sugar cookies during Christmas. I love being together as a family especially during the Holidays. I love having the tree lit at night, drinking a little eggnog and watching Christmas shows!!
Here are a few pictures of Christmas morning - it was much fun and I can't wait for next year when Connor will be here too.
I am so happy that all of my family members got Connor something for Christmas except one. I was not excepting that Connor would get what he did since he is not home yet, but so blessed that he has some things too. He is still in an orphanage in Ethiopia. He is getting good care in the orphanage that he is in, but I want him home with us. I want to be his mommy. I want to be the one hugging him. I want to be the one kissing him when he falls down. I want to be the one praying with him before bedtime. I want to be the one tucking him in at night. I want to be the one he calls in the middle of the night. Just like I am with Summer I want to be his mommy now and always!!!!!
On December 26 it is my sister's birthday. Mark and I decided to celebrate her birthday this year by taking my side to an Ethiopian restaurant called Abyssinia. We thought it would help me too because Connor is not here yet, but by eating there it felt like we were a little closer to him. Weird huh? It worked though!! Abyssinia was so good. We are going to go once a month. I really liked it and it was a great experience for us. However, Summer did not like it too much, but she did try it. Here are a few pictures of the restaurant.
The food- so good!!!
My mom, Kathza, and Mark
Summer not really sure about this.
We had a great Christmas weekend!! I know next year will be filled with more blessings and I can not wait!!! We have fun with Santa, toys, and good food, but we do not need to forget that Jesus is the most important thing about Christmas and every day. We all need to have a personal relationship with Him. Without Jesus I am nothing!! With Jesus I can accomplish anything!! Thank you Lord for your Son, Happy Birthday Jesus!!!
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Here are a few of us getting our tree and it being decorated for Christmas.
So wish Connor was here with us this Christmas. I know he will be here next Christmas and that makes me smile!!! I can't wait for my two kids come running down the stairs on Christmas morning and jumping in our beds to wake us up. That is going to be so much fun!!!
We had a great Christmas Eve Service at Hope Church then we came to make sugar cookies. Here are a few pictures of us on Christmas Eve making sugar cookies for Santa and the rest of the family.
I love making sugar cookies during Christmas. I love being together as a family especially during the Holidays. I love having the tree lit at night, drinking a little eggnog and watching Christmas shows!!
Here are a few pictures of Christmas morning - it was much fun and I can't wait for next year when Connor will be here too.
I am so happy that all of my family members got Connor something for Christmas except one. I was not excepting that Connor would get what he did since he is not home yet, but so blessed that he has some things too. He is still in an orphanage in Ethiopia. He is getting good care in the orphanage that he is in, but I want him home with us. I want to be his mommy. I want to be the one hugging him. I want to be the one kissing him when he falls down. I want to be the one praying with him before bedtime. I want to be the one tucking him in at night. I want to be the one he calls in the middle of the night. Just like I am with Summer I want to be his mommy now and always!!!!!
On December 26 it is my sister's birthday. Mark and I decided to celebrate her birthday this year by taking my side to an Ethiopian restaurant called Abyssinia. We thought it would help me too because Connor is not here yet, but by eating there it felt like we were a little closer to him. Weird huh? It worked though!! Abyssinia was so good. We are going to go once a month. I really liked it and it was a great experience for us. However, Summer did not like it too much, but she did try it. Here are a few pictures of the restaurant.
The food- so good!!!
My mom, Kathza, and Mark
Summer not really sure about this.
We had a great Christmas weekend!! I know next year will be filled with more blessings and I can not wait!!! We have fun with Santa, toys, and good food, but we do not need to forget that Jesus is the most important thing about Christmas and every day. We all need to have a personal relationship with Him. Without Jesus I am nothing!! With Jesus I can accomplish anything!! Thank you Lord for your Son, Happy Birthday Jesus!!!
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Summer's 7th Birthday Party
We celebrated Summer's 7th birthday party last week at Pump It Up. Many of her classmates came. We all had so much fun!! I can not believe that Summer is already seven years old. Where has the time gone? I am so blessed to be her mommy. I love her so much!! Happy birthday to my sweet girl! Here are a few pictures of her party.
Well, no news on a court date yet. Mark and I were hoping that our son would be home by the time Summer turned seven years old. That did not happen. All we can do is put our trust in God and wait for His timing. I am so thankful to have a picture of our little guy.( I wish I could share the pictures, but I can not until we pass court ). I hope we hear something soon. Please keep us in your prayers while we wait. Please pray for our son, his birth family, and for us to be prepared for anything that could stand in our way. Mark and I have had many things try to keep us down, but then God lifts us up again!!!
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Well, no news on a court date yet. Mark and I were hoping that our son would be home by the time Summer turned seven years old. That did not happen. All we can do is put our trust in God and wait for His timing. I am so thankful to have a picture of our little guy.( I wish I could share the pictures, but I can not until we pass court ). I hope we hear something soon. Please keep us in your prayers while we wait. Please pray for our son, his birth family, and for us to be prepared for anything that could stand in our way. Mark and I have had many things try to keep us down, but then God lifts us up again!!!
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
REFERRAL!!!!
I haven't written in our blog for some time now. I just felt it was better to wait on a referral before I wrote again. I was getting so frustrated that I just needed to step away for a bit. Guess what??
REFERRAL!!!!!!
Our social worker called me on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 for a 13 month old little boy!!! She asked, " What I was doing?" then she said "well, there is a little boy that is 13 months old." I was saying, "Yes, so?" then she said, "this is your referral." I just started crying!! I totally lost it with her on the phone. I was so happy, but still could not believe her that it was happening to US!!! Finally, it is happening to us. I dreamed of this day and it was SO much sweeter than I ever thought it would be.
We are so excited and in shock!! I have been so busy since the referral trying to make sure that he was healthy to adopt. Yes, he is. He is just really small, but he will gain the weight once he joins our family! Both sides of our family like to eat - so he will be fine. HAHA!!! I can't wait until I can post some pictures of Connor, but we have to pass court first.
Just when I could not go any long God showed up and gave us the referral of our little boy that we have been praying for SO long. God is SO good!!! I am so blessed to have a picture of his cute little face before the holidays. We will travel some where between 3-5 months. I am not going to rush this. I am just so happy to finally see what our son looks like!! He is so much better than I could have pictured!!
I can't wait to meet him and hold him for the first time!! What a great day that will be!!!
Maybe by the summertime we will be a family of FOUR!!!
Please keep praying for us while we wait to travel. Thanks
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REFERRAL!!!!!!
Our social worker called me on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 for a 13 month old little boy!!! She asked, " What I was doing?" then she said "well, there is a little boy that is 13 months old." I was saying, "Yes, so?" then she said, "this is your referral." I just started crying!! I totally lost it with her on the phone. I was so happy, but still could not believe her that it was happening to US!!! Finally, it is happening to us. I dreamed of this day and it was SO much sweeter than I ever thought it would be.
We are so excited and in shock!! I have been so busy since the referral trying to make sure that he was healthy to adopt. Yes, he is. He is just really small, but he will gain the weight once he joins our family! Both sides of our family like to eat - so he will be fine. HAHA!!! I can't wait until I can post some pictures of Connor, but we have to pass court first.
Just when I could not go any long God showed up and gave us the referral of our little boy that we have been praying for SO long. God is SO good!!! I am so blessed to have a picture of his cute little face before the holidays. We will travel some where between 3-5 months. I am not going to rush this. I am just so happy to finally see what our son looks like!! He is so much better than I could have pictured!!
I can't wait to meet him and hold him for the first time!! What a great day that will be!!!
Maybe by the summertime we will be a family of FOUR!!!
Please keep praying for us while we wait to travel. Thanks
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Thursday, September 1, 2011
Got our I-171H Approval Letter
Today Mark and I received our I-171H approval letter in the mail. I did not think we would get it this fast. We were just finger printed on Monday to get them renewed. I am so happy that we got the letter today. Tomorrow I am going to take it by Bethany's office and get them to fax it to the Ethiopian team.
Tomorrow we will be waiting six months since our dossier was sent to Ethiopia. I am not going to give up on this adoption. At times you just want to throw in the towel. Then there are other times where you get SO excited that you want to go to one of the biggest mountains and yell the good news to everyone!!! Today was one of those days. Maybe, later on I will be yelling we have a picture of our little prince!
Please keep praying for us while we wait for his picture.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above"- James 1:17
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Tomorrow we will be waiting six months since our dossier was sent to Ethiopia. I am not going to give up on this adoption. At times you just want to throw in the towel. Then there are other times where you get SO excited that you want to go to one of the biggest mountains and yell the good news to everyone!!! Today was one of those days. Maybe, later on I will be yelling we have a picture of our little prince!
Please keep praying for us while we wait for his picture.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above"- James 1:17
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