Ethiopia Day 6 Reflecting on an amazing experience

This is the first morning we have had time to hang around the hotel and ponder because we have been so busy experiencing things up until now.  When we were planning this trip I thought 6 days sounded like a long time, but to be honest it has flown by and I'm not ready to come home.  I'm not saying I won't enjoy a shower at home with actual water pressure, or some American food, but this trip has been such an experience that I'm not ready for it to be over.

One of the things we have enjoyed experiencing is the food.  Even when we ate at places that are supposed to have American food, it's just not the same as at home.  Everything looks different and tastes different.

Our Coke for lunch came in a real glass bottle with no ice.

Jeremiah and I ordered a double cheese burger to share and it was huge!

We were super excited to eat, and even thought it was good, it wasn't like a burger at home.

This is what Grant got when he ordered milk to drink with our lunch.

It was so hot you could see the steam coming off of it!

To say the least, he was not impressed!

He was happier about pizza, but it still wasn't the same as pizza at home!

They were both pretty happy about strawberry juice, which I have to admit was fabulous.  (Forgot to turn this picture before I added it and now it's too late!)

The best thing was this fabulous French toast.  It was amazing!

This was our traditional dinner.  We were all brave and tried everything, but didn't love anything.  This was a night when we all had to eat granola bars for snacks when we all got back to the hotel. :)

We are headed out for our last lunch right now and then one last trip to the orphanage before we head to the airport.  The next time you hear from us we will be back in the U.S.

Ethiopia Day 5 It's official!

So, today was court day.  I got up pretty early because we had to be ready to go by 8:45 and I didn't want to have to rush while we were getting ready and eating breakfast at the hotel.  That plan was ditched when I got up and found out we had no water.  Not just no hot water, but no water at all!  I was freaking out!  I can't go to court and ask them to give me a baby while I smell bad and have dirty hair.  I went down to the lobby in my pajamas in a panic and the nice lady at the desk told me the company was working on it already.  So, I went back to my room and paced.  Finally, we just decided to go up and eat breakfast in our pj's and then come back down and hope the water had been fixed.  Luckily, Jeremiah tried it one more time before we left and it was on!  I dashed in to the bathroom and started to get ready.

Even though we had been told that our paperwork was complete and ready to go, I was still nervous.  We got to the courthouse and had to walk up three flights of stairs and then wait in a crowded waiting room with adoptive families from all over the world.  For a while nothing happened, and then a lady came out and shushed us all and the first group went it.  We were all on pins and needles waiting for them to come out.  When they did, it was our turn.

Our new friends Whitney and Kurt went in with us and they shut the door.  My heart was beating a mile a minute!  They asked for our passports and then the judge asked each of us, including Jeremiah, if we had seen our children, if we wished to proceed, and if we understood that this was forever.  We all replied yes ma'am to each question and then she said, the paperwork is complete, they are yours!  You will be surprised to know that I held it together when we met Dalaney at the orphanage, but I cried when the judge said it was official.  We are now a family of three!  I can't believe I have a son and a daughter.  I am so blessed.

So, since we have a few (hundred :) photos of my beautiful daughter from this week, I'm going to try to post a few and hope they upoad without taking forever.

This one makes me smile!

Dalaney and her big brother. 

He picked her up from her crib and didn't want to hand her off to anyone else!

                     She sucks her thumb and it is so cute!  I hope I still think that in a few years.

                                                               Our first family photo!

Whoo, what a great day.  I can't believe tomorrow is our last day here.  We get to visit Dalaney one more time tomorrow and then we come back to the hotel to grab our bags and head to the airport.  We so much appreciate all of the prayers and good thoughts that have come our way.  Thanks to all of you!



Introducing.....

Dalaney Jo Ayana Rice

WE PASSED COURT!!!!

She is officially ours. :)

Ethiopia Day 4 - Experiencing God

Today we had the pleasure of attending church with another family from our agency who just arrived last night.  Our agency picked us up and we stopped for coffee on the way, which was actually fabulous!  Jeremiah had a caramel machiotto, and the rest of us just had regular ones, but we all agreed they were way better than we expected.

When we arrived at the church we discovered that it was an International Evangical Church.  Before we even made it in the door we met another group of adoptive families who are here for their Embassy trip.  They all had their beautiful children with them and we had a great time getting to know each other.  And how cool is this: one of the families is from Gallipolis, OH which is about an hour from where my parents live.  Another of the couples is from Indiana.  Small world, isnt it!  You go to Africa and meet people from neighboring states.  Totally wild!

When we made it in the doors, they handed us a program which looks a lot like our program at Mt. Olivet.  It listed the songs for the service, the name of the pastor and had a couple of inserts about their programs for the week.  Then, when the music started, it was like we had been transported back to Grant County and we were singing in our very own church.  Jeremiah looked at me and grinned when he recognized the music for "Your Grace is Enough."  We recognized every song they sang!

The other night when Alemu asked us if we wanted to go to church today, I said yes without hesitation because I thought it would be an interesting cultural experience.  I had no idea that I was going to go to church today and experience God in such an awesome way.  As we were singing, I was looking around at all the people, which was a lot, because the place was huge and it was packed. There were people of all colors.  People who speak all sorts of different languages.  People who were dressed in traditional African dress and people who were dressed just like us.  I was overwhelmed by the awesomeness of a God who can bring such a diverse group of people like this to one church , to pray to one God, to hear a sermon about living your life for that God.  I'm in Africa.  Over 7,000 miles from home.  And God is working here too.  It brought tears to my eyes.

It's easy to become isolated and safe in our little community and forget that there are warriors out doing God's work in places like Ethiopia.  The preacher for this church is from North Carolina.  Today he spoke about not just being "saved" but about how people who are followers of Christ need to live a certain kind of life - the kind that makes sacrifices for God.  Ummmm, hello....sound a little bit like the "Not a Fan" series we have been doing at church?  I think so.  I mean seriously people, I'm in a church in AFRICA, and I'm hearing a sermon with the same message that our little church in Grant County, KY has been studying for the last few weeks.  Now that, is an awesome God. 

You guys know I'm a cryer, so you won't be surprised to hear that I had a hard time keeping it together during the service, but there were two parts that were especially moving for me.  One was the baby dedication.  There were probably 10 or 12 Ethiopian families who came up front today to dedicate their children to God and to promise to raise them in a Christian home.  I just think it is so amazing that this is happening in Ethiopia.  The other part was when we sang the doxology.  Here I am in Ethiopia, with my beautiful son, and my closest friends, after having met my gorgeous daughter and I am blending my voice with voices from countries all over the world to sing the words, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow...."  Wow.  It was an experience I won't soon forget.

Yep, I'm a cryer.  I'm crying while I'm typing this, and I still feel like I can't find the words to express what I felt in that church.  You'll just have to trust me....it was amazing.

Ethiopia Day 3 - Experiencing a New Country

There is no better way to experience a new country than through the eyes of two teenage boys.  It is awesome to see the looks on their faces as they see and experience new things. My son has taken over my camera and is doing a great job taking pictures of our adventures.  To catch up from yesterday, here are a couple of pics from the museums we visited.

The best part was a group of school kids whow were also at the museum.  They were totally in awe of our whiteness!  They kept touching Grant's hair, and one boy even looked at him and said, "You white!" in kind of a shocked voice.  So cute!  They loved it if you took their picture and then showed them.  It just cracked them up.

Today we visited the lion zoo.

We have some other fabulous pictures of the zoo, Dalaney, and the "interesting" food we have tried, but it took me 30 minutes to upload these three, so you will just have to wait for the rest!

Tomorrow we are attending church with Alemu, the contact from our agency, and then visiting another orphanage with a new family who arrived today, and finally having dinner at a traditional restaurant.  We will keep you posted!

Ethiopia Day 2 - We Aren't in Kansas Anymore

I have to tell you guys, I've never been more happy to go to sleep in my life than I was last night.  I felt like I hadn't slept in two months instead of just two days.  As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light and didn't even move until several hours later.  I layed there and realized that I hadn't set the alarm on my phone to wake us up and for the life of me I couldn't figure it out.  My phone still has the time from home, not from here, and I can't figure out how to change it.  So, I just add seven hours to whatever the time is. That doesn't work well in the middle of the night when you are that tired.  It was like I couldn't get my brain to process.  I kept trying to count seven hours ahead of when we needed to get up and my brain was just mush.  The phone kept saying your alarm is now set for 16 hours and 2 minutes from now.  I know I'm not good at math, but geez, normally I can set my own alarm!  I finally figured it out and we slept like rocks until it went off at 7 this morning.

We have gotten to see Dalany twice and in the words of my son, it was even more amazing than I expected.  She is so adorable!  Her huge brown eyes are even more beautiful in person.  We also got to hang out with some of her crib buddies and it was great to get to hold her and love on her and to see her interact with the other kids and the nannies.  It is clear how much the nannies love the kids they care for.  They are always hugging and kissing them and they are so proud to show off how much they have grown since we last saw pictures.  It makes my heart rest a little easier knowing that Dalaney is loved that much by the wonderful ladies caring for her.

I have some great pictures to add, but the internet connection isn't working in our room tonight, so I'm using the computer in the lobby to post this.  I will try again tomorrow to add pictures.  The sights and sounds of this beautiful country are just amazing and I can't wait to share them with you!

On a funny side note, when I typed the title to this post, Jeremiah leaned over my shoulder and said, "I don't get it.  I didn't think we were ever in Kansas!"  Aaaahhh, when we get home I must see that this poor, deprived child sees some classic movies! :)

We Have Arrived Africa Will Never Be the Same!

We are here!  Our plane touched down around 7:20 this morning and two hours later we were able to leave the airport with visas, Ethiopian money and our mound of suitcases in hand. More to come after we  sleep for about twelve hours and no longer want to kill each other!