Wednesday, August 17, 2011

15

Ethiopia Update

Today marks 15 months on the Ethiopia wait list. I know I said I probably wouldn't keep track anymore, but it's hard to not think about it. While I feel disconnected from the process, I'm not ready to abandon it entirely.

I spoke with my new (third) case manager yesterday and was pretty blunt in the way I've been feeling. About their increase, about my last case manager leaving and the manners of communication surrounding both.

I'm not sure what I expected from her, but at this point, short of saying, "the wait times has drastically been cut and we expect you to have a referral by the end of the year," I'm not sure there was much she could have said to snap me out of my present emotional state in regards to the international adoption process.

So with that...15 months on...seven to 13 months to go.

Domestic Adoption Update

My birth mother letter is written and designed. My website is written, designed and live. And as of today, I've ventured into the world of Facebook advertising.

They (the magical FB people) recommend that I do several versions of this ad, playing with different copy and images.

I'm buying dinner and groceries for my much more social-media savvy colleague (also a recent graduate, hence the groceries) next week. He's going to help me figure out Search Engine Optimization, Twitter, etc.

So maybe there will be another version of this ad. But for right now, I'm targeting 16 to 30-year-old singles (both male & female) anywhere in the US.

The next steps will be taking my 8-page birth mother letter down to one-page to have friends and family (or "your people" as my attorney refers to them) distribute them among their contacts, colleagues, friends, family, doctor's offices, etc.

4 comments:

  1. We're on our third case manager as well. The kicker is that the most recent one left on FAMILY LEAVE, because she has a new addition to the family. Totally not her fault, but still not fair!

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  2. Awww.. I always wanted to read your website, but I didn't want to ask... I love it! :-)

    You just gotta get that plane ticket to SC before the child turns two so he/she can ride on your lap and save money. :-)

    Oh, and l5 months is nothing to sniff at. :-) I feel like you are going to end up with an Ethiopian baby... just my feeling... waiting on the text. ;-)

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  3. Oh, and I forgot to tell you that Big A has your table runner on his dresser. I knew he would love the giraffes, and I forgot to mention it. :-)

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  4. Your child is so fortunate to have such a determined, creative, and resourceful mother. Good things await, I feel it. Thanks for sharing your journey. You encourage me.

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