To Ethiopia and Back Again

I will never forget that phone call. It was a quiet Thursday morning when the phone rang and a strange number came up on the caller ID. I answered and heard our caseworker's voice, "Betsy, are you sitting down?" After several terrible thoughts ran through my head of course, she told us the exciting news that we had a court date in one week, meaning that we would have to leave for Ethiopia on Sunday. After a few whirlwind days of packing, we jumped on a plane to meet our daughter.

That trip was so much of everything: exciting, overwhelming, surreal. We fell in love with the beautiful people and country of Ethiopia. We ate a lot of good food (just not the raw meat). We saw the city of Addis Ababa and in one word, it was "lively". We soaked in the sights all around us. And oh yeah, WE MET OUR DAUGHTER!!!

Our first meeting was just as sweet and awkward as I had imagined. She met us in the courtyard of the orphanage when our van pulled in, and gave us each a shy hug as we fumbled around trying to communicate in different languages. Good thing that smiles are universal and that kids love to play... because our time with her was full of fun and smiles. I have so many precious memories of our time there with her that I hope will never fade.

Our court hearing went smoothly, and before we knew it, we were saying "see you soon" to our little lady and flying home again. We are hoping and praying to be back again in a few months to bring her home. Thank you again for your prayers as we prepare for the few final steps in this adoption process, and then start the real process of becoming a family! God has been so good to us and has been with us every step of the way. "The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you..." (Deut. 31:8a)