Day 2! Embassy Appointment Success!

After a night of not on and off sleep, Asawmenew, the social worker from the agency,picked up at 7:30am for our Embassy appointment with our babe. The appointment was quick and easy. A half hour of waiting and five minutes talking to thedirector of the adoptions unit. He didn't say anything about the investigation, so we assume that there were no problems with any of her documents. Prise God. We were home by 9 am.

Jessa (trying to get used to calling her that)and I took a long nap. Then we met an amazing friend, Fekadu Hailu Kyle, who took us all around Addis to shop for some special things to remember Ethiopia with and give Jessa as she grows up over the years. Two amazing stops... one was the Makush Art Gallery where we found some beautiful art. We were especially blessed by the manager of the art gallery who took the time to tell us how he admires families who will adopt their country's children and thinks it is a wonderful thing. He was so genuine and kind. And it meant so much to us. After that wewent to little shop owned by the birth mom of a boy our friend adopted. We got to meet her and found some sweet things to buy there.

Back t the hotel we all fell asleep by 6pm. Jessa is sleeping well at night, only waking up once or twice for a bottle and little play time. We are loving our one-on-two time with the baby, knowing that these first days are going by so fast. We have so many memories of lots of snuggling and playing and getting to know each other. At the same time we are missing home, especially the kids. We have been getting cute messages from them everyday. We are excited to bring her back to meet everyone there who loves her so much.

Soaking her in - The first day back at the hotel.

Leaving the care center with the baby was crazy. It really happened after all these years. We were all smiles for the ride to the hotel. Asawmenu even played us some rockin Journey songs to add to the excitement. We took turns with her on our lap (yep, no car seats in Ethiopia). Ryan insisted that we record most of the ride which I'm sure will be so bumpy and make everyone dizzy, but he just wanted this moment to be captured. Sweet.

Inside our hotel room, we all layed on the bed and played. Jessa already loves to look right unto our eyes. She showed us how she can roll over and gave us lots of big smiles. The best part was when Ryan tickled her and she let out a huge belly laugh. All this was wearing her out so she fell asleep peacefully next to us on the bed. Ryan promptly fell asleep,too, but I couldnt take my eyes off of her. She only slept dor about 20minutes then woke up without making a peep. I had not been able to get her to take a bottle earlier, so I tried again and she did great -again looking into my eyes as she ate.

Ryan could not peel open his eyelids so Jessa and I went down to the lobby. It was pretty quiet so it was the perfect time to just absorb her. She was so peaceful. She easily nozzled her head on my shoulder. She poked at my nose and eyes. She tugged on my hair? She squeezed my fingers. It really was the best way to get to know each other. So far she has been all peace and happiness, and calm. She only cried once later during the night when Ryan had to use the bulb syringe to clear out her stuffy nose. She hasn't cried when she's hungry or tired or overwhelmed by all this change. Makes for a sweet first day. But I am watching for More subtle signs of her expressing her needs to us. Instead of cries, I notice things like short quiet squawks and a scrunched up face. Sometimes she turns away when she needs a break. Little things that a momma should respond to when her baby hasn't had a momma to notice before.

Laterback in the room with Daddy awake, we played some more until bedtime. She drifted off to sleep in the crib without a sound, except for the sucking on her fingers. She slept. We slept. We woke up at 1am. Checked facebook and email. Ryan got up at 2 and she was awake. Quiet as could be. So we got her up and played and did the bulb syringe, gave her a bottle, laid her on her tummy between us on the bed and she peacefully went back to sleep. Hmmmm. If only I could do the same.

We finished our first day together in awe of this Gift (which many Ethiopians remind us is what Sitota means in Amharic). We know that we are so blessed.

Ethiopia at Last- what I wasn't expecting.

Today was the day we have dreamed of for so long and it could not have been better, we started out on our trip to Addis Ababa on Friday night with a send off from some of our dearest friends in Gig Harbor. They prayed for us, took our kids under their wing, and we were off. The first flight was a red eye to DC. Then a 5hour layover followed by a 13 hour leg to Addis Ababa. But no one wants to read about the plane ride, right?

After dropping everything off at the hotel we headed to the care center. We stopped on the way and bought 3 huge bags of fruit at a street kiosk for the kids and nannies. We have heard that this is a huge treat for them.

The driver took a more bumpy back road route then we have been on before, but soon we rounded a corner and saw the walls of the care center. Neighboring children gathered around the car while we waited for the gate to be opened. The driver had told us that they were asking for chocolate.

The kids were all out playing in the courtyard when we pulled in. We saw some familiar faces of children we met in our last trip who have not gone home yet, or do not have families matched with them yet. They are so precious and I have come to cherish them as I get to know some of their parents back home and know more about their journeys . They know that when the parents come they want to take their pictures, so they were coming up to me saying, "Parent!" and posing for a picture. They would gather up their siblings, if they had them.

This was sweet, but I was ready to sprint to the baby room and get my girl! So we rolled the video camera and set off. Sitting in front of the door were the two older babies, both with runny little noses. Sitota was in the other room getting changed. Her loving and kind nanny, Benmet, was putting a diaper on her for the last time.

I imagined this moment of reunitting with Sitota being perfectly happy, but it was hard to see Benmet say goodbye. She clearly adored Sitota. She was tears as she handed her to me. I know she will miss our sweet girl. Benmet was the one holding her the first tipi me we saw her in the doorway pf the baby room in April. She told me Sitota was "silent". She also said she was a good baby. I am sure that if we didn't have a language barrier she would have said much more about her fondness for the baby. I could see it in her eyes. Today words were lacking again, but her tears spoke volumes of how this baby has been more than just another mouth to feed. When we finally left, Benmet told Sitota, " I love you." And then we grabbed her in our arms and kissed her and snuggled her and told her over and over that we loved her. After a few more pictures with the other kids, we drove away to forever with our girl.

Our Last Few Days Apart From Each Other

Yesterday we got our monthly update on Sitota from the adoption agency. Every month, we eagerly wait for the 1st to roll around so we get a new picture of her. These pictures have been the only way we've had to watch her grow and change since February when we were matched with her. In one picture we got, we noticed her first tooth. I was so glad to know about this milestone, but also sad that it happening with her so far away.

But yesterday when we got this picture I was overwhelmed knowing that this is the LAST time we will have to study her changes from afar. The LAST time we will print out the latest photo and tape copies all over the house. The LAST time.

Sitota only has 4 more nights to sleep at the care center where she has lived the first months of her life. Ryan and I only have 2 more nights before we get on the plane and fly 17 hours (not including layovers) to Ethiopia. On Sunday morning Ryan and I wills step off the plane in Addis Ababa, drive through the now familiar traffic and smog to the care center. Our driver will honk outside the gate, and one of the nannies will pull it open for our van. Moments later she will be in my arms forever!!!

The Mountains Have Been Moved! -Sitota is coming home

7 YEARS exactly since Ryan and said "yes" to the Lord's greatest idea - adoption.

3 YEARS 7 MONTHS since we closed our pursuit of adoption in China and applied to adopt from Ethiopia.

4 MONTHS and 4 DAYS since we were matched with our daughter - she was 2 months old and so beautiful. Her Ethiopian name, Sitota, means gift. It was love at first sight.

9 WEEKS and 1 DAY since going in front of an Ethiopian Judge and adopting her.

28 DAYS since our adoption case was submitted to the US Embassy for approval and her Visa to come home.

1 HOUR and 34 MINUTES since I read the title of the email from the US Embassy, "Ryan Family, Case Cleared"

Again, waking up in the middle of the night - this time 1:33AM, I checked my email. This time I had hope that it would be there. Ryan and I both went to bed hoping (with caution) that the email from yesterday meant that it was in the final stages. Hoping that we would actually get the email tonight.

AND IT CAME. In an instant all the emotions of the past few weeks - especially the fear that she could still, somehow slip away from me were gone.

There are no more obstacles.

The mountains have been moved.

She is coming home.

I will have her in my arms .

Oh, how I have dreamed of saying those words. We can ONLY thank the Lord for this gift.

I Love My Husband! - how Ryan was able to get an update from the Embassy!

Just hours after posting the previous update - the hardest one I have written so far - I woke up. It was 3:30 AM. The Ipad was on my bedside table (it's new resting place for charging during the night), so I could check for emails from the Embassy. Addis Ababa is 10 hours ahead, so they come in the middle of the night.

My inbox had 3 junk emails.

Ryan woke up and I told him that there was nothing. I couldn't tell, but I thought he was going to go back to sleep for a few minutes, but then he threw back the covers and got up. On a mission.

He went to his office and called, faxed, and emailed the Embassy until he heard back from them!!! At 5:30 he got the email (and called me to read it to me). I've never been so happy at 5:30AM.

Their email explained that the delay in hearing from them was that they were trying to complete the interview with the police officer who found her in Gambella Region. Coincidentally, it was completed just before they responded to Ryan's battery of requests!

So, this is big progress. We don't know what will happen next or when, but it is so nice to have relief from the fear and sadness that I have been battling hard for the last 2 weeks.

Hooray for my husband who is really good at making things happen!! THANKS, BABE!!

Facts verses Truth - my thoughts in the silence of the long wait for Sitota

Tears in my eyes, lumps in my throat, overwhelming moments of fear, heaviness of longing to hold my baby again forever... these are familiar feelings to me. This is the hardest thing I have ever gone through.

Fact: We have not heard anything from the Embassy in 4 weeks. They have not responded to 3 emails. No one can explain it.

"I fear that her journey won't end up in my arms." -these words, written by another adoptive mom, sank deep in to my heart because this is also my fear.

But I know The Truth in the face of the facts.

Scriptures are starting to cover my cupboard doors. Promises of God's love, goodness, faithfulness, strength to the weary, help to those who look to Him. I started collecting them the week before our case was submitted to the US Embassy. The first one the Lord gave me to up was "I weep with sorrow, comfort me with your word." Psalm 119:28. They are daily reminders of how grateful I am to know the God who formed the heavens and the earth.

I have amazing friends, family, and community of adoptive families who share this journey with me bringing me life-giving encouragement and support as well as endless prayers. I can't imagine how hard it would be without them. The Lord has used them over and over. But, I do not have words to describe the comfort and hope that has come in the quiet of my own heart, straight from the Lord. He is so real to me now. More than ever. And if I didn't have to go through the sorrow, I might have missed this sweet time with the Comforter.

I want to see Him in every day of this journey. I want to let Him have control. I want to stay right in His arms, head on His chest, letting Him wipe away my tears so I can see more clearly who He is.

Today I am reminded that the TRUTH is that God knows that every delay and disruption of this stunning journey causes my heart to know emptiness and pain. But the pain is not the end, the adoption is not even the end. In this pain, I am living with a need for Him like never before. That makes my faith alive and real. That makes me love Him more than ever.

From another blog: "There are always stories to be had, friends. He is always weaving a story — of beauty. And glory. His glory. The best kind of glory. In every seeming setback, there is glory to be had. And when our hearts receive even just one touch from the Father who seeks to captivate His children, the byproduct is radiant." (www.everybitterthingissweet.com)

Because of the depth of love I have for this baby, this wait the hardest thing I have ever gone through. Because of God's faithfulness, this the most in love with Him I have ever been. He is captivating me, His very own adopted daughter.