Last update from ET

Well, I don't even know where to start...here is a little nutshell...

I know it will take me some time to process all that I have experienced so far in Ethiopia, and we don't leave for home until Thursday late night.  It is a land of contrasts.  In the country, it was flat and lush and very green with mountains all around.  It was simply beautiful.  In the city, there are people EVERWHERE walking and the traffic and exhaust is like nothing I have ever experienced.  And, with all the traffic, there are NO traffic lights . (well, we saw one.)  It is CHAOS.  But the really crazy thing is that I haven't seen anyone get angry at the traffic. 

The poverty is staggering.  I am finding it very HARD to process!!!  I find that I am on the verge of tears when I start to take it in.  Life here is very HARD.  And, that is even for the educated.  I can't even put it into words at this point.

The people are beyond gracious.  Everyone we have come into contact with has been so gracious. (Of course, we obviously cannot understand most of what is being said.)

G is doing great about 80% of the time.  He is all smiles and laughs and wants to be held , which is a blessing.  The other 20% of the time is HARD.  His world has totally been turned upside down, and he is scared and confused.  It's going to take some TIME to build up a level of trust.  This is all normal, but it doesn't make it any easier.  The LORD is my strength.

We had our Embassy appt on Monday, and we passed.  So, everything on the legal paperwork front is good.

Tonight we go to the cultural dinner, which should be fun.  It will just be nice to get out.  We've pretty much been at our hotel since we got G.  I can't wait to get home and have a little room to move.  Of course, it will be easier for me, but probably harder for G.  I pray for his peace and healing.

I MISS my girls! 

Even though this is harder than I ever imagined, I count it a blessing that God choose us to be G's parents and to walk this path.  He is our blessing.

Hugs from ET
V

ET - Day 1

 
We made it to Ethiopia!!  We have alot to share, but we will wait till we get back.  Until then, we will give you the highlights of the day.
 

Our first - BEST - hightlight is that we got to meet "G".  This was a surprise as we weren't scheduled to meet him until Sunday.  He did better than our wildest imagination.  He ran right to us and jumped into my arms and said Mamma.  WOW!  It was truly amazing.  Here is a photo of our first meeting.

We spent a few hours there, and then came back to the hotel for lunch,  After lunch, we rented a cab with the LeFebers, another AGCI family, and went to Entoto Mountain.  

We've had a great first day!  God is good!
 

Off to 2nd Grade...

 
Today was the 1st day of school, and A was excited.

Finally after many unsuccessful pictures outside, she let me take at least one inside.  It was so humid, my lens kept fogging up outside.  Wow!  She looks so big!  It's hard for me to believe I have a second grader.

    

Here she is sporting her new backpack.  She had to have one that rolled. 

On Tuesday, we found out who A's teacher was going to be.  Actually, this year she will have two.  I have never heard of teachers job sharing, but I love the idea.  I'm all for moms getting the best of both worlds.  And, if the teachers are happy, then hopefully that translates into the classroom.  More importantly, A thought it was too cool that she had two teachers.  She was loving it.

 

A with Mrs. Hatmaker and Mrs. Millar

We're off to a good start!!!  I'm so proud of my 2nd grader!!

  

We're Headed to Ethiopia - Take 2

 
We got the call on Friday that the US Embassy has finished their investigation, and we are all clear to go.  Thank You Sweet Jesus!!!  What a wonderful gift!!! 
  
As you can imagine, it is all systems go.  We cannot wait to get our bundle of energy home.  I've been imagining him running around here for months.  It's a bit surreal to know that it is REALLY happening.
 
Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us.  We have felt your prayers and mountains have been moved.   I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful support group.
 

That's Not Fair!!

 
We've just left the park where the girls have played with their friends for several hours.  We're headed to a birthday party.  Upon arrival, one jumps out and the other states.  That's not fair!  How come she get's to play with her friends and I don't!  What?!?  Immediately, I'm frustrated, and I want to go into my spill.  All parents know "the spill" - the gratitude, thankful, less fortunate spill.
  
Within a week, we have gone from...tickets booked, joyful, excited, every spare moment filled with reading up on attachment, dreaming about our initial meeting with "G"...to...disappoinment and waiting yet again.  We've been put "on hold" and had to cancel our tickets.  And, we have no idea why and when we will get clearance to travel.
  
After I catch my breath and pick myself up, I feel like I'm 5 years old, and I want to yell at God and say "That's Not Fair!" and stomp away.  I mean we already had 4 court appointments, we're suppose to have everything fall into place like we want now.  Little man is suppose to be home now.  Then, I'm gently reminded that being blessed isn't about getting what you want, when you want, but it is about knowing that God is with you.  He goes before us; He is beside us; and He is behind us.  He will never leave us or forsake us.  Praise God!!

During this difficult time, we have had a whole army of folks praying for us.  It is very humbling, and I have been reminded that God loves little man even more than I do.  (I needed that perspective.)  I just have to share one of our emails.  It is from my friend Karen, and I find it very insightful and comforting.

I'm so sorry to hear the news (or lack thereof). I am reminded of Mary and Martha...when they went to find their friend, Jesus, to help because Lazarus lay dying at their home, Jesus said he'd be "right there". I cannot imagine the sadness and disappointment they felt as they watched Lazarus die, wondering why the Great Physician did not come to them in time to save him. That must have been a long 2 days. But what joy and amazing miracle they were to behold when Jesus did arrive, raising their brother from the dead!
 
When things are hard for me, and I'm finding it hard to understand the 'why' or wait...I just tell myself that I must be "in the 2 days" and find immense peace at what is to come at the end of however long my 2 days might be.
 
Maybe this will bring you some renewed hope as well. You are in the 2 days, my friend! Amazing things are coming!!! 
  
Now, I can't begin to comprehend God's timing. There's so much I don't understand. I can't fathom how massive the universe is or how you split an atom, so how in the world would I be able to comprehend God's timing. The God that created the heavens and the earth. It is too big for my little mind. So, I'm left with God's promise...
 
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purposes.

And that is sufficient!
 

Through His Eyes

 

Adoption is the gospel!  And, I am convienced that when I stand before my LORD, it will be one of my finest "faith" testimonies.  But, as I start thinking about adoption through "G" eyes, I am reminded that it starts off with a loss - with trama - with broken relationships - with grief.  It is important that I see it that way.
  
Take a walk with me...(This is NOT "G" story.  He will be in charge of when and how he tells his story.)
 
Just imagine you are a 3 year old child in an improverished country.  After going to bed hungry, you wake up early to walk for water.  Not sparkling water - dirty parasite infested water.  You walk with your mother and your brother.  You're too poor for shoes, so your feet have infected sores on them.  It hurts when you walk, but you have to walk fast to keep up.  You have to get to the watering hole early or there won't be any water for your family.  After about 3 hours, you return home.  It's hot, and you're hungry.

Your home is a mud hut 10' by 10'.   Your mother drops you and your brother off at the hut to watch after your dad while she goes to look for food.  Your dad is having terrible stomach problems because of the dirty water.  There's no money for medicine, so you just wait.  Wait for him to die - wait for him to live.  Your 7 year old brother is in charge.  After several hours your mother returns home with a couple of potatoes.  The family eats tonight.

After a couple of weeks, your dad dies.  The body lies there until your mom gets enought money to bury him.  It takes everything the family has.  All of the extra work is taking a toll on your mother.  She leaves you with an elderly neighbor while she and your brother look for food and gather water.  There's been a draught, so everyone is suffering.  Now, she is feeling ill, and decides that she must make provisions for you and your brother.  She goes to a local orphanage, prays over you, tells you she loves you, and walks away. 

There are many children here.  You cling to your brother and you wait for your mom.  She'll be back.  She always comes back.  After several months pass, you get word that your mother has died.  You are moved to another facility.  It's much nicer and less crowded, but where's my brother?  Also, the language spoken at the new facility is different.  This time, you are on your own. 

After several months here, you start to understand the new language and routine.  Your birthday comes, but there's too many children.  No one remembers.  You make friends and start getting healthy.  You see your friends come and go.  They've all got new families.  You want one of those families - someone to remember your birthday.  Finally, the nice ladies start talking about your new mommy and daddy.  They are coming tomorrow. 

You are right in the middle of play time, and the nice ladies come and get you and tell you that your new mommy and daddy are here.  You walk out, and there standing is a weird looking, weird sounding and weird smelling man and woman.  They walk over to you and scoop you up into their arms all while the other weird people are taking pictures.  After an hour of playing together, it is time to go.  The nice ladies who have been taking care of you say good-bye, and you're off with your new mommy and daddy.  You have nothing of your past with you, because you have nothing.  You try to tell them that you can't go, because your mom will be back any day. They don't understand.  You cry.
 
Over the next week, you go to a hotel for the first time, take an elevator for the first time, get on an airplane for the first time, have food whenever and whatever you want it, have toys of your own, have clothes of your own, and are strapped in a carseat for the first time.  Nothing is the same!  Everything is different!  You have moments of happiness intermingled with moments of sadness.  You think you like it, but you don't want to get too comfortable - too relaxed.  Afterall, you are not sure when you are moving on to your next facility. 

WOW!  That is pretty heavy.  That is why I've heard folks say - Adoption isn't for sissies :)  This is where God's redemptive healing comes in.  This is where He can turn the ashes into something beautiful.  Adoption is a tangible picture of His love for us.

Because of the loss and disruptions that come from adoption, we will be doing specific things to help aid in the process of building a connection.   One of the ways we will do this is to keep his world small.  We will need to be the only ones to hold, snuggle, soothe, provide food and comfort (basically meet all of his needs).  As we repeat this, he will be able to let his walls down and begin to trust us - and with trust comes  healthy connection (or as some say attachment). 

We will have to teach him that we are his family and what that means.  Children from orphange settings are prone to indiscrimately show affection towards whoever has what they need, which hinders the primary special relationship with parents and is very dangerous. They've had to do this in order to survive.  So until we feel he has a firm understanding of family and primary attachment, we ask that you gently direct him to us for all of his needs.  However, waving, blowing kisses and high fives are perfectly welcomed and appropriate. 

Why am I telling you all of this...well, we need continued prayers, and we want to equip everyone around "G" with the information that is needed to aid in the creation of a strong healthy foundation. 

If you have any questions, please let me know.  There are many resources on this subject.
 

Father's Day Weekend - Lake

For the past couple of years, we have spent Father's Day weekend at the lake with 2 other families.  (It's the only weekend that works for everyone.)  When we started planning this months ago, we weren't sure if we would be able to make it this year.  We were hoping we would be cocooning, but not yet!

The weather was perfect and the water was GREAT!!  I'm usually the big wimp when it comes to the water.  Not because I don't like the water, but because I don't like to be cold.  Well, the water temperature was perfect!  The kiddos had a great time, and the adults got to stay up late and have a conversation, which was very nice :)

On Saturday morning, the kiddos got up and were ready to go.

Here they are all giving me funny faces.

We stop to fuel up and to feed the ducks with our leftover breakfast.

  

Then, it's raft time.

Adley and A riding the raft.  They love to stand up and give us thumbs up.  B loves the raft too, but she is pretty much done after one good ride.  A, on the other hand, could stay on it for hours.

  

Our hosts had a new toy this year for us to try out...the knee board.  After a little desert bribe, I easily got A to give it a try.  She was up and going on her first try.  I was very impressed!  Of course, after my 6 year old did it, S and I had to give it a try.  Let's just say that one of us got up on the first try and that it took the other one FOUR tries.  Not that anyone was counting :)

B wasn't up for trying the knee board.  She just hung out and enjoyed the ride.

Happy Father's Day!! 

Or as A and B would say..."My Dad Rocks!"