Since it's Monday and there's not a lot going on around here, I thought I might just hop on a plane and FLY TO ETHIOPIA to get my daughter.
Yep. You read that right. I got the email last Wednesday that let me know that we had an Embassy appointment on May 2 - that's Wednesday of this week!!! Holy cow. There has been some freaking out around here let me tell ya'. There was frenzied packing, and cleaning and planning for school and not a whole lot of sleep.
Right now my sister and I are in the airport in Washington waiting to board our flight to Ethiopia. In less than 24 hours I will have Dalaney with me forever! I'm so excited that I can hardly stand it. Stay tuned as we will update as often as possible once we land in Ethiopia.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Happy Adoption Day 2012
It's hard to believe it's been this long, but my beautiful son came home to his forever family twelve years ago today. I find that adoptive families have lots of different names and occasions that they celebrate - Gotcha Day, Forever Day, Referral Day, Forever Family Day - but it all comes down to the same thing. We are so happy to finally be a family that we want to celebrate! So, for our family it is Adoption Day. This is technically the day Jeremiah arrived home in the U.S. and his adoption was technically final months before this day, but today is the day we came home to KY as a family. For us, that was the best day ever!
Our long trip from Romania actually started on the morning of April 15. They are about six hours ahead of the U.S., so when we were boarding a plane there, it was still the middle of the night here. Our first flight was from Bucharest, Romania to Switzerland. I still remember driving down the still, dark streets in Romania with Jeremiah in my lap and tears in my eyes as I thought of leaving the place that had been his home. It is a country filled with beautiful people. Even though I was sad to leave, I was excited to finally be heading home. I think Jeremiah must have sensed my excitement, because he was wired! He screamed the whole time he had to sit in his own seat with his seat belt on. He didn't want to sleep on the plane at all, or eat any of the "kid-friendly" meals they presented us with. I'm pretty sure he had never seen a hot dog in his life, and he wasn't taking too kindly to these! He kept looking at me and saying, "papa" which means food in Romanian.
He also wasn't a big fan of a long layover in Switzerland. Our flight was delayed and by the time they were finally ready for us to board our flight to the U.S. I had to go to the bathroom in a bad way, but every time I sat Jeremiah down he screamed bloody murder. Finally, I just decided I would rather have him screaming in the airport bathroom than in that tiny cubicle that passes for a bathroom on the plane. We made it through the bathroom debacle, and boarded the flight, only to find that this one wasn't going to be any more fun than the last one. You try explaining to a two year old who doesn't speak English that he needs to sit still and be quiet because people are trying to sleep. Somehow, the message wasn't getting through! He finally passed out in the last half hour before our plane landed in New York. Ironic, huh?
Once we landed we breezed through security and immigration, and found the taxi that was supposed to drive us to New Jersey so we could catch a flight from there to Cincinnati. Yeah, we took just about the most scenic route we could find on the way home because it was Saturday and everything was booked. The two hour taxi ride was a hair-raising one. For one, this taxi had no car seat, so I had Jeremiah in my lap wrapped in my arms as tight as possible. Two, our taxi was driven by a large foreign man who talked rapidly on his cell phone in an unidentified foreign language for the entire trip while driving on packed interstates with one hand. Finally, a huge thunder storm chose just this time to burst out with lightening and the kind of thunder that makes your teeth rattle.
When we finally arrived in New Jersey, I was exhausted. Jeremiah was exhausted. I just wanted to go home. And that's when they told us that our flight had been cancelled due to the weather. I just started to cry. Then Jeremiah started to cry. I think the two of us standing there wailing scared the poor airport people to death and they ended up putting us up in a hotel and getting us a flight the next morning.
That was probably the best four hours of sleep I've ever had. It was very late when we got to the hotel, and we had to get up super early the next morning to head back to the airport, but I didn't care. Sleep is sleep, especially when you haven't had any for a while. We finally boarded our flight to Cincinnati and Jeremiah slept peacefully for the whole hour and a half. When the pilot announced that we were approaching Cincinnati, I started to cry. I was finally bringing my baby home.
My best friend Jodi and her Dad were at the airport to pick us up. We headed south toward home, and found a few surprises. Jodi's family had gotten us groceries so we could just go home and make breakfast and not have to worry. Sarah, Connie, and Melissa, a few of my favorite students, had decorated our whole street. All the way down the street there were signs that had the Romanian flag, the American flag, and Welcome Home Jeremiah on them, tied to any and every sign and mailbox they could get their hands on. The kids down the street had even gotten into the act and made their own signs to hang out. When we pulled into the drive there were balloons tied to our mailbox, and our shepherd's hook and a huge welcome home sign on the door.
I was so happy to be home and the day just kept getting better. We had worried that a lot of visitors might make Jeremiah upset, but that was not the case. He is a total people person. As it was Sunday, the visitors starting rolling in as soon as church was over and kept on coming the whole day. Family came, neighbors came, some of my students came, friends came, and my Mom and Dad even surprised us by driving up from West Virginia.
I know these pictures aren't the greatest because I just took pictures of them out of his
scrapbook with my digital camera, but this post wouldn't be complete without them!
Hanging out on the train from Transylvania to Bucharest.
Our long trip from Romania actually started on the morning of April 15. They are about six hours ahead of the U.S., so when we were boarding a plane there, it was still the middle of the night here. Our first flight was from Bucharest, Romania to Switzerland. I still remember driving down the still, dark streets in Romania with Jeremiah in my lap and tears in my eyes as I thought of leaving the place that had been his home. It is a country filled with beautiful people. Even though I was sad to leave, I was excited to finally be heading home. I think Jeremiah must have sensed my excitement, because he was wired! He screamed the whole time he had to sit in his own seat with his seat belt on. He didn't want to sleep on the plane at all, or eat any of the "kid-friendly" meals they presented us with. I'm pretty sure he had never seen a hot dog in his life, and he wasn't taking too kindly to these! He kept looking at me and saying, "papa" which means food in Romanian.
He also wasn't a big fan of a long layover in Switzerland. Our flight was delayed and by the time they were finally ready for us to board our flight to the U.S. I had to go to the bathroom in a bad way, but every time I sat Jeremiah down he screamed bloody murder. Finally, I just decided I would rather have him screaming in the airport bathroom than in that tiny cubicle that passes for a bathroom on the plane. We made it through the bathroom debacle, and boarded the flight, only to find that this one wasn't going to be any more fun than the last one. You try explaining to a two year old who doesn't speak English that he needs to sit still and be quiet because people are trying to sleep. Somehow, the message wasn't getting through! He finally passed out in the last half hour before our plane landed in New York. Ironic, huh?
Once we landed we breezed through security and immigration, and found the taxi that was supposed to drive us to New Jersey so we could catch a flight from there to Cincinnati. Yeah, we took just about the most scenic route we could find on the way home because it was Saturday and everything was booked. The two hour taxi ride was a hair-raising one. For one, this taxi had no car seat, so I had Jeremiah in my lap wrapped in my arms as tight as possible. Two, our taxi was driven by a large foreign man who talked rapidly on his cell phone in an unidentified foreign language for the entire trip while driving on packed interstates with one hand. Finally, a huge thunder storm chose just this time to burst out with lightening and the kind of thunder that makes your teeth rattle.
When we finally arrived in New Jersey, I was exhausted. Jeremiah was exhausted. I just wanted to go home. And that's when they told us that our flight had been cancelled due to the weather. I just started to cry. Then Jeremiah started to cry. I think the two of us standing there wailing scared the poor airport people to death and they ended up putting us up in a hotel and getting us a flight the next morning.
That was probably the best four hours of sleep I've ever had. It was very late when we got to the hotel, and we had to get up super early the next morning to head back to the airport, but I didn't care. Sleep is sleep, especially when you haven't had any for a while. We finally boarded our flight to Cincinnati and Jeremiah slept peacefully for the whole hour and a half. When the pilot announced that we were approaching Cincinnati, I started to cry. I was finally bringing my baby home.
My best friend Jodi and her Dad were at the airport to pick us up. We headed south toward home, and found a few surprises. Jodi's family had gotten us groceries so we could just go home and make breakfast and not have to worry. Sarah, Connie, and Melissa, a few of my favorite students, had decorated our whole street. All the way down the street there were signs that had the Romanian flag, the American flag, and Welcome Home Jeremiah on them, tied to any and every sign and mailbox they could get their hands on. The kids down the street had even gotten into the act and made their own signs to hang out. When we pulled into the drive there were balloons tied to our mailbox, and our shepherd's hook and a huge welcome home sign on the door.
I was so happy to be home and the day just kept getting better. We had worried that a lot of visitors might make Jeremiah upset, but that was not the case. He is a total people person. As it was Sunday, the visitors starting rolling in as soon as church was over and kept on coming the whole day. Family came, neighbors came, some of my students came, friends came, and my Mom and Dad even surprised us by driving up from West Virginia.
I know these pictures aren't the greatest because I just took pictures of them out of his
scrapbook with my digital camera, but this post wouldn't be complete without them!
The first picture I saw of Jeremiah. Taken September 1999.
He was 21 months old.
Updated pictures taken in early March 2000.
Jeremiah's brief catnap before we landed in New York.
Chilling in the airport in Cincinnati as we waited for our bags.
He wasn't any happier about being strapped in the car seat than he was about wearing a seat belt on the plane.
Meeting Pappaw for the first time.
Jeremiah reached for him as soon as he laid eyes on him and made all of us cry.
This picture turned out awful, but you had to see it. I think my Dad held Jeremiah's hand for half the afternoon while he walked up and down these landscaping timbers in our yard. They would go all the way down and then turn around and come all the way back. I'm sure they did this about a thousand times!
Looking at all of these pictures makes this seem like it happened yesterday. But I have to tell you, even though they went by way too fast, the twelve years since I became a Mom have been the best years of my life. It has been such a blessing and a privilege to watch Jeremiah grow into a young man that makes me proud on a daily basis.
He works hard at everything, especially things he loves, like baseball.
He loves his friends and wants only the best for them.
He spends his free time doing things like being Snoopy in the church Christmas play.
He loves his baby sister.
And prays for her to come home soon every night.
And even though I still long for the days when this little man would run up to me and throw his arms around me.....
I wouldn't give up hanging out with the young man you have become for anything.
Thank you God for blessing my life with my son.
I love you Jeremiah!
Happy Adoption Day!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
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.
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!)
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.
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!
The best thing was this fabulous French toast. It was amazing!
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.
Monday, March 19, 2012
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.
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!
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!
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!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
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.
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.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
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.
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!
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.
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!
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