Finally..

I have prolonged this trip recollection from over one year ago for way to long. The last of it that I'd like to share is that the last day was sad. Sad to go to HH and say goodbye to the kids and caretakers. It was hard on everyone involved. After we left HH and went back to our hotel, we packed up. We waited and ate in the lobby, we tried to play outside and soak in as much as we could. It was the struggle of not wanting to jerk the girls from the home land and dying to see our 3 boys back here in the states. This was the longest they had been without us and we only called home twice while in ET...we were ready. The girls had wrote enough love letters to our boys to wallpaper our bathroom..they were ready too.
I love that I bought a journal to fill with my thoughts and the girls thoughts, doodles and pictures. If I hadn't taken that we wouldn't have had Bethlehem's name written in Amhariac to keep. It didn't take her long at all to forget that.
Once 4 o'clock pm rolled around we were all filing on the bus to take that trip to the airport. It was sad to say goodbye to our new friends and to that familiar land the girls have only known.
I remember shedding some tears as we got off the bus and hugged the other families, not knowing if we would see them once we got in the airport. Good thing we did because some did go their own way.
We were a little, a lot nervous about Jerusa M. being in a crowded environment where see could run like the wind at the drop of a hat. She could and would do that!! She is free spirit unlike any I have ever known.
After we weaved through the rope maze, made our ticket and bag check and made it to our gate I got the girls in p.j.'s and potty breaks. Then we were in line to board and Jerusa had a major meltdown. It was so sad and I thought my husband was going to loose his mind. There was no calming her down until she finally fell asleep.
We were on the plane that the girls thought was so cool and buckling in. I turned my face away so the girls couldn't see me(they didn't like it when I cried) and SOBBED. Here we were taking them from their family, their home, the food and smells and language and culture that they have always known. I really had an unexpected struggle with it. I didn't forsee it but here it was. So..the plane was taking off and we were flying them home.
God, thank you for walking with us while we sought to do what you gently spoke to our spirits. You made every provision as we obeyed. You are God and nothing is impossible with You.

Day Four - The Day of Answered Prayers

This day was a day that we have prayed for. And it was beautiful just as God had it planned from the beginning. Remember me praying to be able to meet the girls bmom. To see her and hold her hand and pray to our one true God together. Today was the day that our Father let it come to be.
We woke up and got showered and dressed to meet the girls mom in flesh. We knew this because our family had an appointment to meet them. That was if they could make it. We went into the lobby waiting and seeing The Luchts go and visit their family. We saw some come back from just going to HH to play. We waited until 10:30 when our meet was. I was so nervous to take that walk.
Finally the clock said it was time. Off we went. We went out the gate with camera's ready and I brought my journal to take notes. We turned left to go up the hilly, curvy road passed guys painting and kids playing. We were coming up the curve and Jersey B is holding my hand while daddy holds Jerusa M. Jersey's hand is squeezing me tighter and tighter. What on earth is she doing? Up ahead I see a familiar face that I have only seen in photos. I look and Jersey and she looks at me and then she is running toward them. Its Abebech(bmom), Gadise(gma) and two of her friends. Jersey is crying so hard as are they. Gadise's friends are screaming "Thank You Jesus!" "Hallelujah!" over and over. They can see the light of Jesus shining through us? Hopefully so. We hugged and kissed over and over! Answered prayer.
After we straightened ourselves out and snapped photos we marched to the red gates of HH. Just like a family brought together by the Lord. Justin and I and the girls went in first and we all ended up in Almaz's office so she could interpret.
I had many question to ask of the girls and their birthdad. Almaz answered them for me and I kept them safe in my journal. I gave her a scrapbook I had made and then we all prayed together. When the family friend prayed, Abebech took her position face down on the floor. It was a wonderful prayer the grew louder and louder where the Holy Ghost couldn't be held back. God was there!

Thank You God for Answered Prayers.

Day Three One Year Ago..

The girls showed us their bunk beds in the girls room at HH. Sharing with about 15 other girls.
Today was shopping day. We woke up and got ready. See, me being a white mama that I am I take my hair down and comb it and redo it. My girls saw me do this and took out their wonderful braids. They threw in clips galore and did their own hair. They also wouldn't let me wear mine up! Oh Lord, it's so long and it needed to be up:).
We met in the hotel lobby for breakfast with the other families. It was fun to see how all the babies were doing and how they got along through the night. The were soooo cute.
The plan for today was to walk to Hannah's Hope and actually leave our children for a few hours while us parents went downtown for a lunch and some souvenir shopping. It was a bittersweet moment. Actually if you know me very well, shopping isn't my favorite. I much rather would have stayed with Almaz and love on the kiddos there. But it was encouraged that we go buy mementos and gather more of the culture and people for one moment. It also gave the caretakers at HH another day with our kids. You see, they really do love them. They wanted them back for a day.
Once we got to HH, Jersey B walked in with her confident swagger and a kiss on the cheek. Jerusa M, not so much. I could tell she was going to cry so they fed them injera and whisked them off.

Once we walked in all the kids and staff oohhed and ahhed over the girls new clothes!
We rode the long bus ride to the downtown where many little shops were. We bought some clothes, some knives for our boys, some pictures, and took lots of videos of goats walking and people everywhere walking the dirt roads. There were butcher shops full of racks of meat in the heat of day and wide open. Yuck, makes my stomach turn. The produce looked great though!.
We ate at an Italian place(the Italians tried to colonize ET and so there is a rich Italian flavor throughout their menu). There we could buy some nice artwork to take home with us. I couldn't wait to get home..to my girls that is.
Coming back to HH, Jerusa was tear streaked getting her hair done by Gnet and Aster. She had been crying for her mommy!! Ahhhh...my heart!!! Come here my baby doll. I cried, mommy won't leave you again:)
We went back to the hotel for a shower and nap. For some play time and more coffee and a great pasta dinner or rice dinner. Of course all Jerusa wanted was Siga(meat). Almaz says no! haha

Day Two One Year Ago..Gotcha Day!

Awakened by the sound of barking dogs and Muslim prayers. By the time the sun gives any light, people are walking streets dressed and ready for the day. It was impossible to go back to sleep.
No power. Hydro electric is their source of power and the rainy season had just begun. The Blue Nile has very little water right now. Our hotel generator started and we took showers at 7 am. Went for breakfast buffet, serving ravioli, crepes, eggs, balls of butter kept cold in a dish of water but everything was tasty. Almaz and Johannes came at 9:30 am in the lobby with Julie S to meet with us anxious parents.
Almaz reviewed the schedule with us for the week and we filled out forms that took way too long!
Then was the infamous walk to HH. Video camera's were rolling as we talked and tried to believe this was happening. One little boy whispered to Justin "hey, gimme some birr". We have that on tape. haha
Before long the red AGCI gates were before us. We had the oldest children so we got to go first. The gates open and I see our girls holding hands, walking down the sidewalk to meet us. I cry, "I see them!" Justin and I hold hands and go in. The girls come to us and hug our necks and kiss us all over. We do too, so happy.
Cameras and cell phones are amazing to them.
Three boys come up and say "Kansas; Ohio;...silence" Oh God, I pray, please give him a state with a waiting family. Bethlehem says to me "state?" Illinois. She smiles. I forgot to put that info in her scrapbook. I wonder how long she had been wondering.
Mahder is on Daddy's hip.
We tour wonderful Hannah's Hope. It's great, just like I imagined. B points to M's hair and says for daddy to fix it. The she does it herself for M.
We said our goodbyes and came back to the hotel. I packed bags for the girls and we walked back. I had my sunglasses on my head and B loved them. Luckily I knew to pack some for the girls.
B was particularly ready to leave HH. She couldn't wait to get on the airplane. Hoping I could hold her off for a few more days.
Back at the hotel, we went through their toys I packed. A blow up beach ball was our best investment. We kicked it in and outside. They immediately wanted me to take my long hair down and play with it. They loved it!
We napped and ate and enjoyed this newness. Complete awe would sum up the emotions.

Day One in Ethiopia One Year Ago

(photo taken from a travelling family for us while we were waiting)

Immediately you see how precious, loving, serving the Ethiopians are. They know no rest.
Our hotel room is very clean. Things I miss already:
1. ink pens
2. paper towels
3. abundant electricity
4. bathrooms that smell good
Last night we each ate great meals. We met a missionary who bases discipleship and relationship first. Then we met Danny, the 12 year old across the street. So precious. He walked us to the gates of Hannah's Hope. It was dark at night and we were a little scared having no idea where we were or where we were going. The streets were packed with beautiful brown skin folks walking to and fro. Some were drunk and sitting along side the road. Some were using the bathroom in very unprivate places. But, we walked on. Danny said there are some crazy Ethiopian people.


It seems like we walked 4 blocks toward the main road, turned left on the main road, went one block, turned left again for 3 blocks. To the left was the infamous RED GATE. I bawled like a little baby in a crib. My husband told Danny that I'm a baby. Yep, pretty much. It was just too much. To see these gates I had seen in other blogs in real life, knowing my girls were just inside. We had worked so hard and waited so long to get here! It was night time but I could see some lit windows and a gatekeeper who made it a little uncomfortable to stay too long. I didn't want to be arrested or anything:)
We walked back to the hotel and it was hard to not love Danny too much. He was so sweet.
Sleeping was hard amist barking dogs and traffic and spicy, smoky scents. At four a.m., the Muslim prayers went over the city in loud speakers and they sent chills up my spine.
I never went back to sleep and I watched the sun come up over the mountains.
Many Ethiopian people had started their day cleaning, walking, and fetching water. Which by the way, the water I saw in pails looked like rust colored paint to me.

(copied from my handwritten journal I kept from this glorious trip)

One Year Ago Today..

I can remember it as clear as day. It was 9:46 at night just like it is right now. We were sitting in my husband youth pastor office. He was a youth pastor then. Our boys were sitting under a brown knit afghan playing their gameboys and ds's and wrestling and laughing and fighting and being rambunctious. We were online looking up our flights and verifying that our plans were correct. Yes, we are extremely last minute folks. I just felt sick already from the hard day of planning and packing and making sure I had EVERYTHING I could possibly need. I'm not the best planner. I admit it. We had only been to Mexico and Puerto Rico. My husband had been to Greece. This international travel was new and scary for me.

I remember my husband checking our flights and hotels and I was on the laptop checking this blog and my friends blogs. I remember hearing about Tera that wasn't going to get to fly and get her baby doll. Mahlet's mom, who I was hoping we would get to go together and that didn't happen. You see Mahlet and Mahder are best friends:) Thinking of Jenny and praying for their safe return. Wishing we could have went together too.

Praying that our vaccines had taken to us and we were to be immune from any sickness. Praying for God's protection over our bodies for that. Praying that our girls were good and healthy too.

And then the sadness of leaving our boys. Oh, only by God's goodness was I going to make it through. They are our heart. Our family is fractionalized without us all together. I can honestly say that the fractions are smaller today but the whole is greater and that statement still stands. When we are not all together, it just isn't the same.

So here we were, checking itenerary, packing clothes for two girls we never met, charging batteries, packing our entire medicine cabinet, packing for 3 boys that are going to live with their grandparents for one whole week. Emotions racing like crazy. Excitement. Fear. Shear sadness of departing. Questions galore. Trusting the Lord like never before. Feeling His hand so tight on us we were safe and He wasn't letting go. Prayers ever ceasing.

I remember this night one year ago.

We had a fuel surcharge in Rome. We decided that we would get off for a couple of days knowing that we couldn't see our girls until Monday and our agency wanted us there on Sunday. Rome was dirty and smelly but beautiful to the sight. Glad we did it but I was ready to get to ET.

OVERstating the obvious..

As I was at work today playing Postmaster, placing letters in Post Office boxes, a thought comes to mind. And these are so simple they are almost stupid. But, I will let you be the judge of that. Sometimes we overlook the obvious, complicating our lives. I think this way of thinking can be used to any situation. Try to look at yourself and the things bothering you, see if you can flip them into a simple statement. Simple enough that you can start doing it immediately.

If you want to be happy, frown less.
If you want to be thinner, eat less.
If you want to have more money, spend less.
If you want love, hate less.
If you ... what do you want?

Loving life right now and feeling simple is what I truly like a lot.