More photos from Ethiopia ...

I can't get the captions to sync up with the photos, so here is a rambling of what is below:

Meeting at the CWA foster home (4) ~ Getting backpacks and toys (1) ~ Looking at family photos (1) ~ First swim (4) ~ Getting new braids (2) ~ Spiffed up for U.S. Embassy visa appointment (2) ~ Playing checkers (3) ~ Viewing video (1) ~ With our missionary friends (1) ~ Signing "I Love You" with favorite taxi driver, Kassahun (1) ~ Sacked out! (1) ~ First ice cream (1) ~ Posing on hotel room balcony (1) ~ Hair again! (1) ~ Picked up by CWA to go to airport (1) ~ IN AMERICA! going through immigration (1) ~ Airplane from Washington D.C. to Denver!!!!! (2)

Arriving home - Denver airport

WELCOME HOME!!!

Beautiful daughter, Naomi / Flower (Firaol)
Kathy ... my sister and travel companion extraordinaire
Cobey ... Kathy's grandson
Jim ... Kathy's hubby
Handsome son, Josiah / Naol
Nancy ... proud new mama!!!

Back from Ethiopia

We arrived back home from Ethiopia Monday evening, one day later than planned due to confusion on airline reservation -- thought to be for Saturday evening, but when called to confirm Saturday morning, found our tickets were for Friday evening!!!! The airline did not even fly to America on Saturday, but thank the Lord we were able to get a flight for Sunday evening instead. It did give us an opportunity to attend church with our missionary friends in Addis Ababa, so that was a treat.

The kids are amazing!!! More than I could ever have imagined. I feel so completely blessed. They are so smart and fun and loving! They are also manipulative and stubborn and headstrong -- especially Naol -- 110% boy! He is into everything! He gets angry at the drop of a hat and gives the little Ethiopian shoulder shrug of indifference, or is just completely sullen. Firaol -- who's nickname is Flower -- cries and whimpers to gain attention and sympathy, but will laugh when caught at her tricks ... at least sometimes! And everything has to be exactly even!!!! I can't even put a band-aid on one without doing so for the other. We've already had many an issue of perceived injustice.

While still in Ethiopia they wanted to go swimming so we went to one of the hotel pools in Addis Ababa. It was their first time!!! Naol was fearless pretty quickly but Firaol clung to me for quite awhile. They still had fun and we had to leave before they wanted to. They also had their first ice cream when we went to swim again at a hot springs "resort." We tried to tell them to keep the cones upright so it would not fall off, but sure enough, we were walking along and Flower's went "plop" onto the ground. Then the monkeys came and ate it! So I gave her mine; proof positive that I am a mom (that I would give up my ice cream for anyone!!!!).

They like their American names -- Josiah & Naomi, and are fine with not having a father here ... whew! And they love their mother!!! :-) I hear mama mama mama mama mama all day long. They love to smother me with kisses (Naol especially likes to do so when trying to get out of trouble!). We sleep as a human sandwhich. They are on either side pressed close with arms and legs wrapped around me. I can't move but it is wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!! -- my back and neck are killing me, but my over-full heart more than makes up for it.

I lost my camera en route to England so have no photographs -- though my sister took allot that I will get copies of -- but had a camcorder so have allot of great video. They are little hams and love it when I turn on the camera, and especially when I take video of them and play it back. They giggle the whole time. They are very happy, smiley children.

They are doing wonderful being here at home. We visited the school on Tuesday, and then participated in class for a couple of hours on Thursday. We will start going for longer periods next week and hopefully full days within a week or two. They are so serious while there, but back to laughing and chattering away as soon as we leave the building. They say they like it, and I know they are anxious to learn English and be able to communicate.

Yesterday was their first snow. They built a snowman with the neighbors and played snow soccer! They loved it!! LIFE IS GRAND!

Thank you Jesus for our abundance of blessings!!!!

Wedding Night Jitters

Well, in a few short hours I'll be leaving for the airport. I'm feeling a bit nervous ... wedding night jitters! But so excited to be home with the kids and start our new lives together. I appreciate all your love and support, prayers and blessings!

To God's Glory ...

In Him,

Nancy

And repacking ...

My Ethiopian friend, Abeba had asked a week or so ago if she could send a few things with me to Ethiopia. I asked how much and she thought only maybe 5 pounds. I asked how large and she thought about the size of a small backpack. I wondered how I would fit this in my already snug-as-a-bug suitcases, but agreed. Well! She brought a school size backpack stuffed full and another canvas gunny sack with about the same amount or more! Shoes, socks, jackets, sweaters, onesies, and so on. My eyes went big as saucers. But how often does she have a chance to get things taken to relatives there? Not often! And shipping it is so expensive. So I said I'd manage. I unpacked and repacked my biggest bag, leaving out one of my empty suitcases I had planned to take over, and my big bag is now stuffed full and I am only about 1-1/2 pounds under the weight limit. Hope my scale is accurate!!! I also need to call her relatives when I get to Ethiopia to arrange to get them the gifts. The adventure continues!

I've got birth certificates!

Exciting news for today: I received the children's birth certificates ~ they will turn 9 years old in June ~ and my official confirmation of my Embassy date on April 1st! I was so happy to get both!! I was dying of curiosity to see when their birth date would be set at, and I have been flying on FAITH with my travel plans. The news today is a total prayer praise for the supplications I was making last night! Now I can breathe easy (or easier) in these final few days before heading off on our trip. "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!"

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go

" 'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane ..."

I have my suitcases all packed ... one for the kids with another duffle bag packed inside to return with souvenirs, one for me, and one full of donations. (My sister is only taking one so we are still only at two per person). CWA shipped me a baby scale, five pairs of little shoes and a pile of socks to take; I found some flip flops at Walmart on clearance for 75 cents apiece so bought a pair for each of my kids (which might be their size) and six more pairs to donate. My sister works for a dentist so we have 150 toothbrushes to bring, and we also have about a dozen bars of bath soap, 6 jump ropes, 6 boomerangs (another 75 cent bargain!), 600 balloons, 100 packages of four color-crayons (like the restaurants give to the kids) and 10 packages of 20 colored markers. I would love to take more but ran out of space.

We leave one week from tomorrow on Monday March 24th! We'll arrive in London on Tuesday morning, stay with some friends for a few days for my final hurrah at a vacation for a long, long time and depart there on Saturday evening. We arrive in Addis Ababa early Sunday morning. My sister's church supports a missionary team with Christian Missionary Fellowship in Addis Ababa, and a lovely couple (whom we met several months ago when they were home to visit family) have graciously offered to meet us at the airport - even though an adoption agency representative will be there as well - and take us to church with them and then to lunch. What a nice welcome! Hopefully later that day I will be able to pick up the kids. Wow! It is so surreal to think that soon I will be the mother of two 8 year olds!

I am also completely thrilled to find out that one of the women whom I met last fall at an adoption training class in Washington state will be in Ethiopia at the same time we will be. We are making plans to meet and spend some time together. I just love her and her 14 year old daughter and am looking forward to spending some time with them as they pick up her new 12 year old son. Their being there at the same time is just one more sign that God has a perfect plan for all of our futures.

In addition, another new wonderful friend I met at an adoption class here in Colorado, is traveling to pick up her new 8 year old son from Rwanda and may be passing through Ethiopia when we are there as well. She is an amazing woman who who is the founder of He Knows My Name, a ministry which raises banners throughout Africa and the entire world proclaiming Jesus as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. The Holy Spirit uses her in a powerful way, meeting personally with political and military leaders to work towards peace. I count it as an honor to be included in her circle of friends. I encourage you to visit their website and pray for peace and this ministry.

"Don't know when I'll be back again ..."

Okay, yes I do ... we leave Ethiopia Saturday April 5th, and after a grueling 16 hour flight from Addis Ababa to Washington DC, and an 8 hour layover there, where I'm hoping we can all hop a tour bus to see some of nations historic sights, we will arrive home Sunday afternoon, April 6th.

Court is a thing of the PASSED

I got my call about 10:00 this morning ... I passed court. Yah! Bouncing off ceiling; have to come down to get to cloud nine!!!!

Based on the recent experience of others, our Embassy date should be about 3 weeks after court. My estimate is April 1st (kinda funny, huh?) as CWA has theirs on Tuesdays. I was told the firm notice is only about 10 days before the actual date. Since I want to travel to England on the way, I took a leap of faith and booked a flight leaving March 24th -- the day after Easter. I will probably only find out if that is indeed the day on the previous Friday. Why I want to put myself under even more stress, I do not know! But if I have to push it out a week, I'd rather pay the change fee than stress over not having a reservation (spring break already has flights getting scarce) or making something at a moments notice.

And now I can legally post photos of the kids on my blog! ... here are my angels ... 8 year old twins, Josiah & Naomi ...

A visit to Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Kidane Meheret Church

While I'm sitting here hyperventilating over my impending court date (only two days away, but who's counting?), I thought I'd share my experience visiting one of our local Ethiopian churches with my friend, Abeba, who emigrated to the U.S from Ethiopia 16 years ago.

According to Abeba, the service begins at 8:00 a.m. with two hours of prayer, followed by an hour of Bible study. So she told me to arrive at 10:00. The first time I went, I had no idea what to expect. I walked up to the door and could hear a kind of sing-song-chanting as the service was being performed in Amharic. I peeked in the door and saw a sea of white robes! Uh oh!

Getting up my courage I slipped through the door eliciting only a few stares. I noticed that the men were on one side of the room and the women on the other. There were also piles of shoes at the doorway where everyone had removed them prior to entering. As I was a few minutes early I hoped that my friend had yet to arrive, would come in through the door, find me and all would be grand. This did not happen. As I watched, I noticed that several people had gone out a side door and returned with the white head coverings. I thought perhaps there were "extras" out in a hallway so went to explore. No such luck. As I wandered to and fro looking a bit lost, a nice young lady asked if she could help me. I told her I was looking for "Abeba with the twins" (she had told they would know who that was). Indeed, the girl knew exactly who I meant and took me to one of the ladies in the white robes. Ahhh! My friend!!!

I felt it gave me a small taste of what my children might feel coming to this country where they couldn't understand the language, didn't know the customs, and didn't know quite what to do or how to act. I think God gave me this experience so I could in a small way relate to that feeling.

The second time I visited, just last week, I asked Abeba if she could bring me a white scarf, the traditional "natela" to wear. This time when I arrived I was met by Abeba's cousin, Tsehai who fetched the natela that had been brought for me, and again found Abeba in the expanse of white -- I don't know how they do it! The church was packed as it was a special day for them, the anniversary of their founding. I arrived about 9:45. Between prayer and the "service" all of the the children file in for communion. It was so crowded we did not have a seat and were standing in the back. When the kids crowded in it was very crowded indeed! Rather than the 10 minutes or so communion took on my first visit, this one probably took 1/2 an hour! Then there is song and dance performed, which is wonderful with flags twirling and rhythms kept on large kettle drums. It's my favorite part! After the music, the pastor delivered an animated service with witty comments here and there, apparent by the laughter from the congregation. I would say that I didn't understand a word, but about halfway through he said a single sentence in English. Why he choose that one I don't know. And we should never complain about our protestant services going longer than the hour or ninety minutes they typically last. The service did not get over until 12:30! I stood watching and listening for almost three hours.

The long service was made all worthwhile by the delicious potluck style dinner which was served afterwards. Of course, once again it was packed. After a gracious woman offered to get a plate of food for me, I moved to sit with someone else I knew and wondered to myself if she would still be able to find me when she brought the food back. Silly me! I was the only white skin visible amongst every shade of caramel, tan, brown, and black. I was an easy target to pick out.

Finally about 2:00 p.m. I bid my good-byes, but only after being persuaded to take home a huge plate of leftover food. I hope to attend the church with my kids perhaps once a month or every other month after they are home. I'd go more often, but for one I don't understand the language and have a hard time using that time to learn more about God and deepen my relationship with Christ, and for two I love and adore my own home church. But I feel very welcome and appreciate having them in my and my kids' lives.

A Shower of Blessings

My awesome, wonderful, amazing friends Darla, Kayla, and Patti threw an adoption "baby" shower for me on Saturday. They worked so hard and I am so blessed by their love and support. I was overwhelmed with generosity. My best friend, Suzette flew all the way from Arizona just to be here for me. My new children and I truly received a "shower" of blessings.

           

WOW! We are sooo blessed!

I HAVE A COURT DATE!

I just found out today that I have a court date for March 6th .... only two weeks away. I am beside myself with joy! I cannot stop emailing and calling and thinking and praising Jesus! I am praying for no delays, complications, failures, or rescheduling. If all goes well that means an Embassy appointment potentially April 8th or perhaps the 15th (my agency has slots on Tuesdays). Since I plan to stop in London to visit friends on the way over, that means a departure of March 31st or April 7th. I have so much to do! I have to stop typing and go PACK!

He Reigns!!!

Just what I've been waiting for

I finally received the results of the medical exams that I have been waiting for. Praise the Lord! The kids appear healthy so the next step is getting a court date. I was really, really hoping to travel in March, but the latest timelines posted by someone on a Yahoo group state:

"Your paperwork and the children's paperwork will be reviewed and approved by MOWA (Ministry of Women's Affairs). They will complete the paperwork and your attorney in Ethiopia will file the case in court. Once filed, it takes on average 4 - 6 weeks to be heard. If it passes, the kids are legally yours and you should get an Embassy appointment for your children's Visa within 6-8 weeks. That is when you travel! Keep in mind that there are a growing number of agencies and cases. That means things can take longer."

I think I am at the point where we can file in court. I think, but am not sure, that I have already been reviewed by MOWA. That still means 10-14 weeks. I am still optimistically hoping to travel in early April. I appreciate your prayers!

If the medical reports are accurate, my kids are growing fast! Comparing my current medical report to the one I received last October. Naomi has gone from 45" to 47" and 46 pounds to 53. Josiah has gone from 46" to 49" and 53 pounds to 55. The report also states their ages at 8 (no birthdate yet) and their grade in school as Grade 2 -- at their interview in September the ages given were 8 or 9 and they were in Grade 1. So I am happy about the latest information. Hopefully not quite as much catching up to do in school.

I found a really cute cartoon to insert here, but it is copyrighted. Drats! See it here.

Love & Blessings,
Nancy

Faux pas

Oh my goodness! I've recently discovered that it is actually against Ethiopian law to post photos of the children prior to completing the court process and becoming the legal parents. It is for the children's protection and does make sense. Many things can go wrong in this process and they do not want these kids exploited in any way. So even though it is hard as a waiting parent not to share them with everyone, I have removed all photos and references to their Ethiopian names until after I have passed court. Thank you to the kind individual who pointed this out to me or I may not have known, and could have jeopardized my adoption.

On the bright side, my twins have been moved from the foster home in Soddo to the care center in Addis Ababa, their final stop before coming home to the U.S. Now they need to get another (more thorough as I understand) medical exam and then we can submit our paperwork for a court date. I am praying for a smooth process and to pass court on the first attempt. I am still hoping and praying for an Embassy date in late March. This waiting business is hard!!!