Ethiopia Day 2- Embassy Day

Aven slept like a champ her first night...I however did not! I was wide awake for 4 hours in the middle of the night. Somehow I didn't mind though. My daughter was right next to me. I had no problem just watching her sleep:) Maybe that's why I couldn't go back to sleep.  This morning we woke up to a different girl. Yesterday she was sad and scared. Today she was comfortable with us and we played on the floor for most of the day. I had some sweet time with just her while Brian went out to get some things straight for our flight home. She took a great nap and then it was off the Embassy for our appointment! While we were sitting in the US Embassy waiting, we got our first smile and giggle out of her! I almost broke down crying right there on the spot! We played peek-a-boo with her blanket over and over again and each time she giggled I had to hold back the tears. As much as I don't want to relive yesterday, I would love to be able to show you how scared she was.  What a different child she was today!

After the many weeks we waited to be cleared by the US Embassy to bring Aven home, all it took was less than a minute at a window and we were cleared to bring her back to the US. We will get her passport and visa tomorrow, and then be on our way tomorrow night!

Brian got lots of giggles out of Aven this afternoon! She was having so much fun with her daddy! So thankful!

Ethiopia Day 1- "Gotcha Day" (12-12-12)

On Tuesday morning we left RDU airport at 6:00 a.m. and flew to DC for our 10:15 a.m. flight to Ethiopia! Our flight landed in ET at 7:30 a.m. Ethiopian time. We got all of about 2 hours of sleep on the plane and hit the ground running when we got there.

It was so much different this time. I don't like the unknown and going into situations where I don't know what to expect. So our last trip to Ethiopia was a little scary for me. But by the end of our week there in August, I had completely fallen in love with our daughter's country and the people that live there. When we got off of the plane this time, I could help but smile. I was SO happy to be there. I couldn't wait to smell the dusty air, ride on the bumpy streets, and see all of the people that I had met on our last trip.We unloaded our things at the guest house and quickly jumped back in the van to go get Aven (with a quick stop to buy some fruit and a goat for the children at the care center on our way).

I knew the way to the care center and as we got closer, I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face. This was it. Finally. What we had been waiting for for so long. Then we pulled onto the street where the care center was and I saw the gate....I couldn't wait to see that gate! Behind it was the home where my daughter had spent practically her entire life!  When we arrived, Aven was playing on the floor with her nanny Aberesh and immediately clung to her, like she was afraid we were taking her away right then and there. We sat on the floor and played with her for quite awhile and she gradually became more comfortable with us. We stayed at the care center for 3 hours, visited the other children, and took pictures for the other families. Aberesh had bought Aven the most beautiful Ethiopian dress. She clutched in to her chest when she was about to put it on her, and said "My Tutu"(Tutu is Aven's Ethiopian name) with the biggest smile on her face.

I had always known that Aberesh and Aven shared a special bond, but that confirmed it. I know for a fact the nannies themselves rarely buy anything for the children. We had made a book for Aberesh with pictures of her and Aven together and with Bible verses on the pages written in her language. She and Aven sat on the floor looking at it together. It was such a sweet moment.

Saying goodbye was so hard. Aven took it harder than I thought. She cried....actually she shrieks, she doesn't cry. So much pain and joy happening at one time.  It was one of those difficult times as a parent, where you know you are doing what is best for your child but they don't understand. Aven doesnt know that she deserves SO much more than a nannies love. She deserves a family, with a mommy and daddy type of love.

Aven fell asleep on my lap on the way back to the guest house. And then I held her most of the afternoon. Thankfully she wanted to be held. She cried whenever I tried to put her down...and every once in awhile she would look up at me and start her little shriek. She was scared. But with each minute that went by, she became more comfortable. We took a long nap together and I enjoyed lots of snuggles.

Before bed, she enjoyed a bath. I let her stay in there as long as she wanted to....she even started to play a little bit. She went to bed so sweetly and made the cutest little noises while she was falling asleep. I was curious what the night would hold. She had hardly ever left the care center, much less slept anywhere else. But she slept 12 hours! She woke up one time, drank a bottle and went right back to sleep. And she woke up a happy and very different little girl! More to come on Day 2.....

The Fight

It is always interesting to me when adoptive parents say that they "fought" to get their children home. I never really understood what they meant. I always pictured the "fight" being a court room battle, attorneys, and goverment officials trying to keep you from your child. Sometimes that does happen. But most of the people that I have heard say that, havent had anything too dramatic happen....its just been your typical adoption (let me say that NO adoption is EASY!) 

However, NOW I know that every parent that adopts, FIGHTS. I have been fighting now for 4 months....and the past 10 weeks have been TOUGH. The fight I am referring to, does not happen in a court room or with attorneys. The fight I have been fighting has been within myself. 

It's been a FIGHT....

To live without my daughter

To live each day to its fullest 

To constantly trust the Lord

To not live in sadness

To give the Lord control

To sit back and let the Lord work

To not worry about my daughter

To not let the tears flow when someone asks me about her

To not let the circumstances consume me

To not be jealous of others

To ENJOY life

It's been a struggle. But I am SO thankful for the struggle. The Lord has taught me so much. I have learned so much about the Lord's faithfulness. I have learned to trust the Lord when everything is out of my control. I have learned to trust the Lord with my children...even when they are a world away. 

I. am. thankful. for. the. stuggle. 

And yes, that's much easier to say now that I know my daughter is coming home. But I told several people that I was thankful even last week.... when I had no idea when I would see my daughter again.

And now....NOW she is coming home.

 

Brody is FIVE!

We surprised Brody and took him to the Great Wolf Lodge for his 5th birthday! My parents and Parker, Lindsay and Emme came along as well. We all had a great time...even the adults! It was such a sweet time with family the week of Thanksgiving!

It's Progress...

We finally heard from the embassy today......they sent our file to the USCIS office in Nairobi. Its not really a "good" thing. But its progress. So I will take it!

What does this mean? The US Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia decided there was not enough information in our file to approve us to bring her to the US. The US Embassy does not have as much authority to clear cases as the USCIS in Nairobi does. The Embassy has to have enough information to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the child is indeed an orphan before they send them to the US. I know...you are thinking, "its a little bit late for that, she is legally yours!" Yep, no one understands why the US decides to conduct their investigation AFTER you have already legally adopted the child. Anyways, thats beside the point. Because the Embassy could not locate the person in our case for an interview, and were unable to get any other information from the police officer originally involved in her case, they decided they did not have sufficient evidence to clear us to bring her to the US. I know this sounds horrible and depressing....BUT its really not. The USCIS office in Nairobi is able to clear cases without as much information because they are a higher authority. We are hoping and praying we are cleared quickly! We should hear something in 2-3 weeks. Thank you for continuing to pray our little girl home!

Halloween '12

10 years

I can't believe that Brian and I celebrated 10 years of marriage this month. I know people thought we were crazy when we got married....or maybe more thought my parents were crazy for letting me get married so young! Here we are 10 years later.....the first five years we spent just the 2 of us and the second 5 years we have added 3 children to our family. We always wanted to do something big for our 10 year anniversary. We dreamed of second honeymoons and tropical islands. A big trip full of relaxing.... just the 2 of us.  Well, this year we HAVE taken a very big trip to the other side of the world and will be taking another trip very soon! No tropical island or much relaxing...and we spent it with a very special little girl:) We decided we have and will travel enough in these months surrounding our anniversary! I wanted to make our anniversary special, and I have been dreaming up a plan for the past 6 months or so. I asked our dear friend Courtney to help me surprise Brian with me in my wedding dress and a photo shoot to celebrate our 10 years together. We have known Courtney for years and he has taken pictures of me when I was pregnant with Brody, and also Brody and Levi's newborn pictures. He was more than happy to help me:)

I told Brian he had to leave the house for an hour or so and told him what time to return. My mom showed up with my dress as soon as Brian left.  I laid Brian's suit out, along with a few things from our wedding, our old wedding invitation, and a new "wedding invitation" inviting him to meet me. Courtney and I went and hid down by the pond and waited for Brian to come. When he finally came walking down the path and saw me, he was pretty shocked. I think the first words out of his mouth were something like "where did you find your dress?!" Like I had lost it after all of these years:) Apparently he didn't even know I had it anymore! We renewed our vows together and then had fun with our photo shoot! Here are a few of our favorites!