we are going back to ethiopia!
i'm in a scramble to book flights and a room at ethiopia guest home as we speak. it's possible ethiopia air will start running a special this afternoon that could get us cheaper fares, so i've got my fingers crossed. i'm hopeful we'll have everything nailed down by the end of the day.
we are very likely leaving this sunday. then we'll have a full day in addis on monday to pick up a few things we wished we'd gotten the last time, and my dad is coming with us, so we'll show him around the city. i think we've convinced him to let us take him to yod abyssinia, the restaurant in addis that has traditional food and dancing. we really enjoyed ourselves there last time, and i think it's the most efficient way to get a nice dose of ethiopian culture (as if riding down the streets of addis isn't enough).
our appointment with the embassy is next thursday the 17th. we'll pick up our kids tuesday and have a couple days to start acclimating to each other before our embassy appointment. we should be able to leave ethiopia friday, but we may stay over another night if there's a significant difference in the airfare (once again, waiting to see how this potential special might affect things).
to say we are excited is an understatement. honestly, i don't think it's all sunk in yet. i could write something really emotional about how long we've been waiting (we signed on with cwa 3 years ago this month...i can't even believe it), how many delays we've had (starting with the expected wait for a referral estimated at 4-6 months when we started, and then turning into 19 months), and how we really didn't think this day would ever come. but i expect that those details, while extremely important parts of our story and things we will most certainly tell over and over again to our kids, will soon fade into the background of what will become our life together as a family. because soon, the joys and frustrations of everyday life with kids will be at the forefront. we will be rejoicing over first english words or peeing in the potty or sleeping through the night and not over a document that has come through or an approval given. and we'll be frustrated about discipline or lack of sleep and not delays or waiting.
whether a person admits it or not, the adoption process kinda hijacks your life. and, for me especially, i think it will be a huge transition not only to having 2 kids, but to being out of the adoption process. even this morning, once i opened the email from the embassy stating our interview is scheduled for the 17th, i realized i'm really not waiting on anything else anymore. that email was it. and it feels weird, but also pretty liberating.
i'm in a scramble to book flights and a room at ethiopia guest home as we speak. it's possible ethiopia air will start running a special this afternoon that could get us cheaper fares, so i've got my fingers crossed. i'm hopeful we'll have everything nailed down by the end of the day.
we are very likely leaving this sunday. then we'll have a full day in addis on monday to pick up a few things we wished we'd gotten the last time, and my dad is coming with us, so we'll show him around the city. i think we've convinced him to let us take him to yod abyssinia, the restaurant in addis that has traditional food and dancing. we really enjoyed ourselves there last time, and i think it's the most efficient way to get a nice dose of ethiopian culture (as if riding down the streets of addis isn't enough).
our appointment with the embassy is next thursday the 17th. we'll pick up our kids tuesday and have a couple days to start acclimating to each other before our embassy appointment. we should be able to leave ethiopia friday, but we may stay over another night if there's a significant difference in the airfare (once again, waiting to see how this potential special might affect things).
to say we are excited is an understatement. honestly, i don't think it's all sunk in yet. i could write something really emotional about how long we've been waiting (we signed on with cwa 3 years ago this month...i can't even believe it), how many delays we've had (starting with the expected wait for a referral estimated at 4-6 months when we started, and then turning into 19 months), and how we really didn't think this day would ever come. but i expect that those details, while extremely important parts of our story and things we will most certainly tell over and over again to our kids, will soon fade into the background of what will become our life together as a family. because soon, the joys and frustrations of everyday life with kids will be at the forefront. we will be rejoicing over first english words or peeing in the potty or sleeping through the night and not over a document that has come through or an approval given. and we'll be frustrated about discipline or lack of sleep and not delays or waiting.
whether a person admits it or not, the adoption process kinda hijacks your life. and, for me especially, i think it will be a huge transition not only to having 2 kids, but to being out of the adoption process. even this morning, once i opened the email from the embassy stating our interview is scheduled for the 17th, i realized i'm really not waiting on anything else anymore. that email was it. and it feels weird, but also pretty liberating.
i love this post and you
ReplyDeleteAMAZING News!!! I am so thrilled your littles are finally coming home! You're very wise in what you said. I know being "out of process" was a huge shift for me. Have an awesome trip and keep us posted, if you can:).
ReplyDeleteWOOT! So excited for all of you!
ReplyDeleteYAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO YOU!! so, so happy for you! We will be thinking of you and praying for you this week! It's a crazy first week/flight back/first few months! But we are 8 months post embassy and I can finally say we're doing good and there is lots of love flowing in our home! {it was a rough go for us all} But the Lord is faithful! So excited for you!! MUCH LOVE FROM MINNESOTA!! - Amanda McAlpine
ReplyDeleteI'm SPEECHLESS!! I logged on tonight just to see what's been happening with your family and realized that you spent Mother's Day WITH your babies!!!!! So happy for you guys. It's been a brutal wait but God's been so faithful and you are finally a family! Overjoyed...
ReplyDelete