Saturday, July 6, 2013

7/1/13 - I can't help falling in love with YOU!!!

The day is finally here!!!!!  This morning we had breakfast as a group – french toast :).  After breakfast, we and the other adopting couple headed to the Bethany Ethiopia office to go over what to expect in the court process.  We also had the opportunity to buy some items made by women from one of Bethany’s local ministries for widows.  We then went to a French restaurant for lunch (I know, French food in Ethiopia?? :))  and it was very good!  After lunch we walked down to the orphanage to meet M.  Our hearts were pounding and we were anxious!  We walked through the gates and into the building.  

At the gate!

Walking up to the door!

It felt like we were walking so slowly.  The door to the infant room was closed.  Abel knocked and opened the door.  Most of the babies were asleep.

Walking into the infant room

One of them was not and I immediately recognized her.  It was not M, but our friend’s baby, K.  Sooo cute!  Abel told them we were there to see M and they woke her up from her nap.  She laid in her crib for a couple minutes to wake up.  We stood at the end of her crib talking to her and, of course, I cried a little. :)

Just WAITING to be able to pick her up

When she was a little more awake, one of the nannies picked her up and talked to her, then handed her to me.  Oh, what a moment!!  She was awesome!!  She wasn't upset or fussy, but calm as a cucumber!  As I held her in my arms, the tears started flowing again.  Three years of waiting, praying, and wondering for THIS VERY MOMENT.  Oh, what a blessing to snuggle her to my chest and kiss her head.  To tell her I love her and have her hear my voice.  Thank you, God, for this precious girl and the opportunity to bring her into our family!!!!  I did, of course, give Dad a chance to hold her too :)  



We spent probably the first 10-15 minutes or so in the babies room, and then our social worker showed up.  She spoke to the nannies and they let us go to a different room with her since all the other kiddos were sleeping.  We were able to spend 2 ½ hours with her just playing and talking to her.  She likes to talk and is quite the mover!  When the nanny changed her diaper, it was hilarious to watch her kick her legs like a little ninja!!!  As soon as her pants came off until they were back on, she was just kicking those legs as fast as you can imagine!!!  The nannies are very talented to be able to keep her still long enough to get one diaper off and the other one on!  Some of the older kids passed through while we were with her, as well as the nannies passing by and it is clear how much they love the kids.  The other older kids would come by and grab her hand or rub her head and talk to her and the nannies would come over and goof with her to get her to smile.  She was more serious with us than with the nannies, but she was all smiles as we were leaving.  Maybe she was trying to get rid of us??? :)  I cannot tell you how great it is to know, for ourselves, that she is happy, healthy, and tomorrow (God willing) she will be a Longstreet!!! 
After we left the orphanage (not crying, I think only because I know we will see her again before we leave) we headed back to the guesthouse for a little while before dinner.  Dinner tonight was at a cultural Ethiopian restaurant.  It was awesome!  Each group sits around a large basket table (sorry, I don’t know how to explain it better) and the food is shared among the group.  Different types of Ethiopian dishes are spooned onto a large platter covered in injera (Ethiopia bread).  Abel explained what each of the types of food were on the platter and then we dug in!  No utensils; instead you tear off injera and scoop up the different types of stew.  It was all very good!  We also tried a honey wine, which was definitely not like wine, but it was surprisingly good.  Just about the time we were done eating, the performance began.  They did a variety of different songs and dances from different regions of Ethiopia.  Very cool experience!!  Soo glad we did it!
Tomorrow is another big day!! Praying that court goes well and we receive our decision tomorrow as well!



They brought water to wash our hands right at the table

The injera rolls are around the edges and then the different stews are in the center.

Dig in!




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