Today. How We (Unofficially) Became Five.

"The coffee ceremony typifies Ethiopian hospitality. An invitation to attend a ceremony is a mark of friendship or respect, though it's not an event for those in a hurry. [...]

Freshly cut grass is scattered on the ground 'to bring in the freshness and fragrance of nature'. Nearby, there's an incense burner smoking with etan (gum). The 'host' sits on a stool before a tiny charcoal stove.

First of all coffee beans are roasted in a pan. As the smoke rises, it's considered polite to draw it towards you, inhale it deeply and express great pleasure at the delicious aroma by saying 'betam tiru no' (lovely!). Next the beans are ground up with a pestle and mortar before being brewed up.

When it's finally ready, the coffee is served in tiny china cups with at least three spoonfuls of sugar. At least three cups must be accepted. The third in particular is considered to bestow a blessing - it's the berekha (blessing) cup. sometimes popcorn is passed around. It should be accepted with two hands extended and cupped together.

-Lonely Planet: Ethiopia & Eritrea {p 70}

This morning we went to the orphanage.

The. Orphanage.

The only home our daughter has ever really known. The place she likely will only truly know from the photos we took today. (And even those paint a blurry gap-filled picture.)

The staff member G, employed by our agency picked us up at 10am and we were off. The drive was short, distance-wise (7-10km from our guest house) but took longer than you'd think because of the dirt/rock roads. It was intense. The rains have also been intense over the past 24hrs causing much run-off and power outages. On our way to the orphanage we played the million questions game. Not really familiar with what we could and could not ask, I just went for it. I don't think I over-stepped and I am quite sure I simply would have been told, had I done so.

It would seem in all likelihood that we will not pass on Friday. MOWA is about 22 days behind in support-letter writing and if they are 22 days behind, it would be nearly impossible for our letter to be there on the actual day. (You know, seeing as we can't fast forward or turn back time.) This was very hard to hear but not a huge surprise and, being given at least a potential timeline eased the blow a bit. This isn't reason to stop praying.

We arrived and pulled up to the gate. G (our staff host/driver) honked a couple times and the gates were opened. We drove in and got out. It was damp, drizzling, a bit dark and cool. The orphanage typified what I would have articulated an orphanage to look like. Perhaps this sounds big-headed of me. It simply smelled of Africa. The Africa I remember from my teens when we travelled a bit...in a more vacation-like way. Regardless, the smells don't change. The 'architecture' was what I assumed also...

The orphanage sprawled. Several rooms (all of which we viewed later on) including bedrooms (the nursery!), the medical office, the main/social worker office, the classroom, the food and clothes storage room, the kitchen/cooking room, and the coffee ceremony room. The playground outside was sweet...swings and a carousel-like play structure for lack of a better word. I could imagine the shrill laughter as the children played in the warmer seasons.

Prior to our tour we experienced the most humbling, surreal moment for which we have been preparing over the past three years.

We entered the nursery and immediately found her. We stared at the most terrifically smooth gentle face, soft lips, and head of curls I have ever set eyes on.

And then we did it: We locked eyes.

I was incorrect in thinking (saying) we could touch but not hold her. We could do neither.

We could get a smile from her.

We did earn several coos.

We played with her and some of her (communal, I am sure) toys for many many minutes. I lost track of time - because that's what a Mama does when she meets her child for the first time...regardless of age or circumstance. The smiling and cooing continued. We three were engaged with each other.

Her delicate legs, feet (not quite the size of Ben's index finger - miniature almost!), tiny wrists and outstretched hands were so real.

As she turned her head from side to side to track us or a toy or a nannie calling her name, we could see resemblance to her photos. But my, how she has changed.

At that moment I couldn't hold it in and the tears fell. Quietly. Mourning the loss of one mother and peaceful rejoicing the blessing received by another. It doesn't get much more raw or real as that moment.

Her head boasts thousands of tightly wound, wee curls.

Her tiny thumb would often reside in her mouth and she would suck away and I smiled to myself as I reflected upon the dichotomy between the being in front of me and those two beings at home...between our first two children and now our third.

She was content to lie there. She was content to observe. She is teeny...breakable in appearance in some ways. When feeding time neared (followed by nap time soon thereafter,) she maintained her thumb-in-mouth stance and her eyelids grew heavy. No fussing, she simply disengaged as she fatigued.

We went to the coffee ceremony room for the next long while. I intentionally didn't look at my watch from the moment the gates were opened for us until the moment we drove out. I didn't want anything hindering all that was around us...all we were taking in. As per the quote above, Ben was offered (and felt he must accept) three cups. Each likely contained a good healthy tbsp of sugar. And each likely raised his heart rate significantly. I managed to wrangle my way into only two.

The deep, dark, rich, syrupy coffee is unique. It is nothing like home. It is amazing. It makes the claim "full bodied" at Starbucks into a mockery, (not that the quality would even compare). As we drank and ate we talked. Everything from Canada (the director, Ethiopian born, lived in Toronto for many years), to adoption (duh), to our family at home (that iPod certainly is handy for showing off two small blondies), our court date to come, and so much more.

We returned a while later to look at something specific to our babe, with the director and we (accidentally) woke her. She opened her eyes and simply looked at us bleary eyed. No noise. No objection. A simple, silent gaze which spoke volumes, "you've disturbed me...". So we left. It was time.

And now, all that is left is the affirmation of our delicate, beautiful habesha baby waiting, depending on us - her (soon) forever family. And a photo. A photo of her itsy-bitsy red crib with her name in Amharic taped on the headboard.

Prior to leaving we opened the two bags packed full (!) of donations. Friends and family generous beyond words, you have helped little ones. Shirts, pants, shorts, sweaters, blankets, crocs (!), cloth diapers (they don't have all-in-ones in Ethiopia and were over the moon), and the like. (More to come on other donations soon. Promise.)

There is more to share. It will come as the days pass and are filled.

For now, we rest in knowing we have seen her and she is so very sweetly real.

Safe In Addis

We arrived last night.

Our two flights were as smooth, (including the only two hour layover in Frankfurt) as one could ask for. No delays. Great food...apparently Luftansa's meal plan includes short ribs among other yummy offerings. If ever you take a long haul flight and they are in the running, fly with them.

Visa purchasing, immigration, baggage, and then baggage clearing all went very smoothly and quickly. We arrived at our Afro Land Lodge guest house around 10pm. We were asleep by midnight-ish...heavy on the ish for some of us, but there's nothing a little sleeping aid can't help, right?

The noises we can hear from our (beautiful, large!) room include a rooster, dogs, and a mosque screaming out sometime around 5am briefly roused me. Ear plugs are a fantastic investment (especially when they are free!). I have to say, however, I am loving the noises. Each and every one. Okay, the rooster could shut up for a few minutes but even it symbolizes something.

{the view from one of our windows...this is the "front yard"

...we believe they are storing many

of their belongings in the car.

a few moments later they were washing their dishes in a plastic basin

between the car and the laundry line}

The noises, smells (good and not-so-fragrant), the sights, it's all part of our journey. I am not annoyed or fussed by the incessant goings on below us. I am aware of it. I am trying to engrain it all in my mind, memorize it all, appreciate it all.

{apparently the best way to keep your satellite dish attached to the roof...this method is a common

sight from our room's view}

Internet (wireless) is slow, hit and miss...but available. So, as I am able I will post.

Tomorrow or thursday we will meet The Reason for our journey. We met with friends this morning who are returning home with their sweet 10mth old bundle and they saw our babe yesterday. She is long (if you know us, you'll find the irony in that one...at 7 months she is apparently longer than our friends' nearly 10mth old). Her little legs are just that...petite. Her hair...she has a head of beautiful curls. And these are some of the reasons I know she is meant for us.

Keep checking in. I'll do the same, and post whenever I can...and by that I mean whenever I can access the internet. I'll go into more detail on our excursion this morning and just some of the culture we experienced.

And please, please keep praying.

Flick

Here we are.

The place we have only dreamt to be, for the past three and (nearly) a half years.

And it is still as surreal as the day we embarked on this journey.

We're about to board and I am in a revolving pinch-me-it's-real state.

We arrived and went to the ticket agent. As we checked in, she was a little...snippy. Our destination became known and she asked why we were going where we are going.

And, as we have seen over and over again this week, the switch flicked.

Her eyes lit up and there was a compassion in her voice, a care and desire to know more - not heard before that moment.

And the underlying theme we have felt over and again recently prevailed.

There is this deep care and ache for the orphan. Innocence lost and vulnerability inevitable, at the fault of no one.

And we have the privilege of being a part of maybe just a little change.

They've called us now. We'll stand in another line...one of only a dozen or so, I suspect...over the next twenty-four hours. We've done all we can do to prepare. There's no second guessing, no double checking for items forgotten.

Here we are. As we step forth, we don't - we won't - look back, but look only ahead to all that awaits on the other side.

Court

I plan to be in this place before our court date on Friday, however if I am not able to, I wanted to specify our court times. We will be attending between (approximately) 9am and 12pm on Friday July 15th. If you live in BC this is 11pm Thursday July 14th, until 2am on the 15th. (If you live elsewhere...I will let you do the math on that one.)

Please, please pray for us - leading up to our date and time and if you are able, during our court appearance time also. We will be with the judge for only a few minutes at some point during those three hours.

We are grateful beyond words for all the love, support, encouragement, prayer and hope we have received over the past days, weeks, and months. We cannot wait to continue our dream and this journey and anticipate sharing in the joys with you.

Snapshot Saturday

Because we're not all completely consumed by this trip and because these little events are most exciting...here's another little milestone from yesterday. The result of much yanking and a pulled-pork sandwich to seal the deal at lunch.

Fast Forward

It hit me today after making the moron move of the week and realizing I'd likely climaxed to the peak of my stress, that I needed to slow myself down just a wee bit. So, I sat on the edge of the bed after pouring out my most recent stress-mess-up to a friend (and being on the receiving end of encouragement that maybe it wasn't quite as bad as I'd originally thought...it was pretty bad though) and took a deep breath. And another.

And I thought.

And then it hit me.

This time next week we will be different.

Not from the (completion of) packing, and driving, and ferrying, and more driving, and flying (let's not forget about the layovering) and time changing, and seeing and experiencing. Yes, certainly we will experience change.

We will be different though, because this time next week we will have met our daughter...our fifth family member.

We will be different because this time next week we will have stood in front of a judge.

We will be different because we will have been graced by her gaze, her curls, her country, her culture, her home.

And, while we will not leave with her this time around, we pray with all that is within us that we will leave, legally five.

Fast forward one week - we will be different.

And Tonight I Started Packing...

Okay, that could be stretching the truth a little.

Tonight, I began amalgamating items with their "likes". And got to work (or continued working) on so very many things.

The evening was dictated by some of the following...though I am losing my mind and likely forgetting key activities, events, and completed tasks. At this point I recall getting:

• food stuff together along with first aid and other medicinally related items
• batteries in their chargers and juicing them up (the back ups, too!)
• donations folded and grouped by item (pants, shirt, cloth diaper, etc) in one location
• completed lists...yes, there were more of them...such as the lists of items our children will need (I kindly refer to that list as the "Keizer Inventory" - and no they are not coming with us), lists of photocopied documentation, lists of questions (for court, for BF if we are able to make that trip this time around, etc), lists of places to visit (or not) and places to eat (or not)
• emailed more people than I could possibly have thought I'd need to...

1. would you mind watering the garden(s)
2. can you ensure me we won't need a photo when we purchase our in-country visa
3. here's our arrival time when we return
4. what the heck is the address of our guest house just in case we are overlooked
5. yes I will be here and would love to accept anything you have to drop off tomorrow
6. when am I taking your small child?...I know it's sometime over the next 2 days but just can't pinpoint what day and time I committed to
7. when you traveled to your child's birth region how did you pay for your tickets? should i bring more cash or do you think credit card will suffice?
8. how's the laundry service over there?
9. should the money order read "Receiver General for Canada" or "The Receiver General for Canada" (these details actually matter...)
10. are our tickets actual tickets or do we need to check in and get something scan-able (did I just make up a word?). and on top of that, if you, our agent sends us tickets saying we can have 2 pieces of luggage but the company with whom we are flying states only one 50 lbs piece per person, who is right

So tonight, in my mind I started packing. I started because like things are in physical proximity. I started because the lists are dumbed down to the point that nearly anyone or their dog could follow them. I started packing because all those "little things" (which really aren't that little are they?) are pretty much off my plate and now I can actually begin putting things in suitcases (which are still in the basement, in case you wanted a status update).

I started packing because if I say those exact words repeatedly (and incessantly), I feel a little less overwhelmed.

Today I Scrubbed The Bathrooms...

I hoped it would be the last time before we leave but let's be honest, we have two small boys who spend hours daily playing at a camp in their crocs. Yeah, it looks like I'll be cleaning them again.

And the milk expired yesterday but still doesn't smell sour...so do I buy another jug or do we roll the dice on the true lifespan of our 1%?

These are questions and thoughts which would only run through the mind of a girl getting ready to journey far far away. What a privilege.

As the number of days remaining dwindle, the question "are you so excited?!" crops up time and again. And my answer remains: mentally yes, I cannot wait. Emotionally, I'm not there yet.

My hope, my prayer, my desire, my longing, my dream, and my goal is to live in every moment there. I want to feel the ache and sadness that will inevitably surround our every move outside the Guest House. I want to savour the smell and taste of the rich coffee while in it's country of origin and as I soak in the strong african heat. I want to listen to the children...to long to help each one and ache knowing it's not possible. I want to breathe the dusty air. I want to wake early (maybe just once) to the mosques in the wee hours as their bells ring out. I want to live in each moment as much as I possibly can, knowing that not long from now it will all resemble a dream. I want my mind to remember in detail, what I saw exactly as I looked down that alley, looked up at that window, looked over at that clothes line. I want to connect in as much as possible with our little girl.

I don't know what it will be like exactly, to see her, hear her, touch her, whisper to her and then have to leave her. I've not gone there. I'm not sure I will. Each moment will unravel and I want to live in them...not anticipate the next or mourn the last.

We're in countdown mode...only a few more days, two more loads of laundry, one more trip to town (uh...that could morph into two), one more night off, a couple of suitcases to fill, several batteries to charge, many (!) itunes movies to download, a couple more boxes to tick off...we're definitely in countdown mode now.

Most items needing to be packed are somewhere within the walls of our home. Those missing are on the final "to do" list. While trying to decide how best to photo journal each part of this journey, a friend and I brainstormed just a little. And so it was decided that she will come journal this part of our journey to our daughter, by way of her Canon. She'll make appearances to capture moments we would likely have overlooked, in our near future as well...possibly the decorating of a nursery, maybe a celebration in anticipation, most certainly our arrival on canadian soil. These moments are quickly forgotten but each one plays part in the miracle of our adoption.

A Food Security Alert

This was brought to my attention tonight and I'm near tears because although the crisis has been prevalent for years...worsening in more recent months...the region(s) severely affected hit close to home. To our hearts. It's personal now. And I feel so helpless.

And not to stray from the gravity of the situation, but I think we'll call sweet Mae our little girl's Habesha baby.

(Habesha is a term of pride that Ethiopians use to refer to themselves.)

Seems fitting wouldn't you say?

Meet Mae

A friend and I went in together on a pdf pattern a couple weeks ago. Not because it would have set us back a huge chunk of change but...well...why not? Cheap gets cheaper when you split it, right?

I started Mae last night and finished her this morning. Granted she is the first, and a bit of a test but still I'm pleased with how she turned out. Those thin arms are tough to stuff, I have to say! And, though her little pigtails are slightly (accidentally) lopsided, when deciding whether to stitch-rip, un-stuff, stitch-rip a little more, then re-pin, re-sew, and re-stuff, then re-seam, I asked the boys what they thought.

"Oh no, Mama! You should leave it. It's more real that way," they replied in agreement with each other. (That was one of the only things they agreed upon today!)

Enough said. Plus, the bows hide a bit of the lop-sidedness.

The biggest dilemma is wondering how many things I can pack and bring to our wee one (for her care package) before I'm cut off. I think I'll leave Mae home...just in case.

And on that note, I'm not a huge fan of the name Mae...so do you have a suggestion?

I'd be up for an Ethiopian name if you've got one handy...it would seem appropriate. For now though, she'll remain Mae. Little ones love these dolls as they are not only soft but the thin legs and arms make them easy to grasp, carry, or drag all over the place. So, my hope is that she will be well loved upon, drooled on, and cared for.

And while we're on the topic of The Care Package (what, you weren't following along?), I figured since the sheets are freshly washed, (too personal?) and we leave in a teeny tiny bit over a week, tonight would be a great night to put M's blanket in our bed.

It is still surreal to know that soon, very soon, she'll smell us - begin to sense us, she'll see us (photos comprise part of the package) - begin to know us.

All this will begin to unravel in a teeny tiny bit over a week.

Breakfast Bits From The Garden

Are You Ready? How Are The Lists? How Can You Stand It?

All common questions around here.

All valid.

All have answers.

In order they could be reciprocally answered by further questioning...

• Will we ever be ready?
• The lists are long...but fortunately many to dos now proceed many ticked boxes which once were empty.
• I am numb. That's how I can stand it.

If we had been given several months' notice of our court date, I still don't know if we'd ever be ready. I actually don't think I can quantify such a subjective answer. I am thankful for the month's only notice.

Are our bags packed? Heck no, they aren't even up from the basement yet. Are the orphanage (non-financial) donations ready? Um nope...verbally we've been gifted much but it's not here yet. Do we have tickets, vaccinations, documents proving the reason for our destination, immigration forms to be passed along, contact numbers while in Addis? Yes.

Are our hearts prepared for all we will see, hear, smell, touch, witness? I truly don't think we can prepare ourselves for all of that. Thoughts of the sights to which we will undoubtedly bear witness, breaks my heart. The thoughts alone have changed me. I can only imagine the effects of our first hand reality of it. I've been there before - Africa that is, not Ethiopia. But the purpose was different. I was different, (fourteen years different in fact).

The question "why", often wriggles it's way into my insides.

Why must such poverty exist? Deep down I feel I know some of the reasons, both tangibly and spiritually.

Why her? This question will be answered as our little family evolves and grows to know our daughter and experience her perfect fit into our family. Certainly it will take years to fully comprehend the magnificence of this plan. She will no doubt change us all, each uniquely so. We will never be ready for all that is about to occur. What we can do is pray and seek to allow everything to change us, to grow us, to make us better, to make us more aware, to break us, even.

I can stand it because I am numb.

I am numb from over three years of waiting and feeling at the brink of giving up during some seasons. I am numb because I am still in awe at the grace shown to us, that we may have this gift of a precious life. I am numb at the surreality of the fact that we leave in less (!) than two weeks and the fact that we'll be heading east about as far as we can without just going the other way. This is still too overwhelming to truly wrap my head around. I am numb because one day (soon) those diapers downstairs, that seat in the car (which still requires an actual carseat!), those clothes in the closet, the high chair in the basement, the soft toys and blankets and crib, they will all actually be in use. That is something, a concept, with which I struggle daily. I am numb.

And I know when this numbness gives way to feeling, reality, pure and raw emotional understanding, I will be forever different. Some of the walls will come down. Some of the guards removed.

I will touch her (this is when I believe the numb will begin to dissipate).

I will whisper to her.

I will look in her eyes - locking her gaze with mine.

We will study each other until she knows, I Am Her Mama.

Forever.

And the only reason she is not with her Birth Mama is because she was so very loved.

She 's 7 months...And More Prep

I did the math awhile back and realized that when we go for court our wee one will be just over seven and a half months...and today she is seven months. Let's pause for a moment while I fight back the urge to wet my pants with anticipation.

The butterflies are still there. They've set up camp in my insides and quite honestly, I love it.

The lists have been created (with help, tips, tricks and insight!) and I thought that would be sufficient. I was wrong. Apparently simply having the lists doesn't actually help this girl with task completion. Boxes were being ticked off...just not in the timeframe originally anticipated. (Keep in mind that by normal people standards I'm probably right on schedule...it's this darned Type A personality...it gets in the way of being behind in all things detail.)

So, print it all off I did.

And that didn't seem enough either.

So, categorizing tasks into days by (during) which they need to be completed was the next step.

And now the fire's lit and I'm on my way. The past twenty-four hours have been super productive and the pace will likely continue.

Last night's goal was to start and finish her blanket (part of the gift we will leave) for the Transition Home.

Times two.

I made two in case one is lost while she's there. They are identical...and while it's highly possible that it could end up on the crib of another wee one, I did my best to eliminate that possibility.

Hope she likes it...

More Progress...On Summer...On Travel Prep...On The Journey

By the timestamp on this post you may realize that...

1. it's busy around here
2. there's a lot of excitement in these parts
3. there has been a lot to get done
4. the sun has (finally!!) been shining and time indoors simply has not been on the agenda
5. we just finished the most wonderful Nana visit
6. the preparations are truckin' along nicely (we leave in 2 1/2 weeks??!!)
7. did i mention the excitement?

Aside from the day-to-day of birthday parties, father's day, end of the year trips and get togethers, summer camp and staff preparations and events, the amount to accomplish in these parts over the next couple of weeks can overwhelm a girl.

Well...most girls.

The demands, tasks, itemized lists, events ahead, anticipation, timeline...they just gets me going. I'm a multi-tasker at heart and though admittedly some things have fallen off the radar recently, this list-making, gift baking, goal seeking girl is in her element. And the high of it all can (apparently) lead to some sleepless nights of "day" dreaming, praying, deep thinking, yearning, and realizing that the control is out of our hands.

We can prepare what we wish. We can plan for most imaginable (and some unimaginable) circumstances. Yet, we are venturing into uncharted waters. The journey ahead - and the path getting us there - is a little blurry and as we step further towards the destination (simply, the next phase of the journey), the path progressively becomes a little clearer.

And I realize again: this is out of our control. What will be, will be. It is in the hands of the One who planned our journey long ago out of nothing but pure, raw, aching love. And so we must trust through the fog, in all that is ahead of us and around us, in the love and desire of His utmost (love, care, heart, compassion, longing, joy...) for us.

We confirmed our Guest House stay while in Addis just a few minutes ago. (The time change works wonders in the wee hours.) And donations are trickling in steadily. And we feel blessed.

We arrived home last night to a package on the doorstep. A large box I had been hoping would arrive soon - but not expecting this quickly. (The strike has it's door-to-door courier service benefits! Not that we don't miss picking up daily mail...but home delivery is a welcome, temporary aberration.)

{i resisted the urge to take and then post a photo, but the encouragement

"oh come on honey, you know you want to"

was all the motivation i needed.

so i grabbed the camera to photo document this wee step towards our wee babe}

The contents of the box were a screaming reminder of the growth on our horizon. The first "real" purchase...the fact that they are for us...for our child is something I am having a heck of a time fitting into my paradigm. What a perfect predicament.

And, upon request...she sent a few extra. I was again touched as I have been repeatedly throughout this journey, and humbled to the core.

Check, Check And Nearly Check

A productive day on many accounts. I'm excited mentally but emotionally I'm still so very guarded. I'm not sure that will ever change.

Today, we crossed a couple of significant items off the 'to do' list...

• vaccinations (and while we thought this would be a 1 appointment event, it seems we need enough of them to warrant a second appointment in a week...) - check
• securing/booking our flights - check

Yes, you read that right.

We have tickets to ETHIOPIA BABY.

Once they're in our hot little hands (or in my hot little inbox) I'll be contacting our accommodation of choice and booking our room. (I contacted our guest house last week and our room of choice was available.) - nearly check

Oh my.

It hasn't sunk in. We leave in less than three weeks.

We're. Going. To. Ethiopia.

Soon.

And we are so very very grateful - not letting a moment, an event, a ticked box on the list of preparations go by without a deep sense of gratitude for the grace shown to us.

No, we don't take these steps for granted.

We feel so very very blessed.

What's Next: A Summary

I've had a lot of friends and family ask what's next.

What do we do now to prepare to head over to Ethiopia? What paperwork must we complete before going? What do we need to present when we are there? What do we do while we are there? How is this all going to work?

So, I thought I'd take a few moments to jot down thoughts and replies, as best I can. Knowing that I've not done this before and I only know what I know from agency information, friends' experience, and personal awareness/research.

Here we go...bear with me this could be long-winded.

Currently we are

• booking flights
• getting ready for vaccinations (tomorrow)
• finalizing accommodation in Ethiopia
• preparing travel lists (thanks friends for all your help!...this in itself is deserving of a giant post but I will spare you - you're welcome)
• registering with foreign affairs
• preparing donations (would you like to help? we would be honoured. if so, please email me for details. regardless of our friendly canada post people we can make this feasible. regardless of your proximity to us, we can make this feasible. what we are saying is that if you want to donate to our daughter's orphanage we can make this feasible.)
• preparing lists for two small boys who will be staying with their Nana and Pops
• diving head-first into the start of summer staff training and camp...whoa!
• not sleeping so much

What we anticipate

• arriving jet-lagged but full of anticipation
• taking a couple days prior to court during which we will enjoy parts of Addis
• meet our daughter in her current orphanage (prior to court...maybe this was obvious)
• going to federal court (july 15)
• if we pass we will take a day and then we will visit our daughter in the transition home (take some photos and enjoy some time with her) then head home
• if we do not pass we will take a couple more days to explore Addis and then head home

Where the nerves tend to rule

• that we will remember everything and prepare all we need to bring/register/prepare (that seems random...there are just so very many details)
• there's no certainty that we will pass court. we have done all we can to complete our paperwork and there's nothing in that area that needs any attention as far as court is concerned. we are nervous that we may not receive our MOWA letter (ministry of women's affairs) which would support our adoption. this would be a (common?) reason we may not pass. please please be in huge prayer for that

What's next

• we will return home
• if we passed court we will now be in the immigration wait...this can take 8-12 weeks...sometimes longer sometimes shorter
• if we did not pass court we do not need to reappear, however, another court date will (likely) have been set for us and we will wait for our agency to call us about whether or not we passed. once we do pass, immigration begins

How you can be in prayer

• continued health of our babe
• for our health and safety as we travel
• that all of our paperwork is complete and done to standards
• that our MOWA letter is provided and that we PASS the first time
• that we can fully embrace Addis and maximize our time in our daughter's country of birth
• that we would rest in the knowledge that God is in control
• that our kids at home are safe, healthy, (behaving!), and having the time of their lives with their Nana and Pops

For now, I think that sums it up. Thank you for your continued support, prayer, and friendship.

Someone Turned Six...

The "no girls allowed" party started off right in the eyes (and mouths) of some small children..."can I have chips, Mama?...my own bag??!"

There was a lot (a lot!) of hockey played.

The Leafs brought their best game...!

"Scores!!!"

They do much better playing on the same team, rather than one-on-one at home.

"Just because" gifts were abundant around here...and the joy was sweet.

We celebrated the birth and life of the sweetest six year old yesterday. We hugged and kissed and laughed and played and unwrapped and ate and it was just an all around great day.

We also celebrated by booking vaccination appointments, holding a set of tickets (to be booked Monday!), and making one of the first "official" purchases specifically for one small sweet girl...oh, all so very very exciting.

Always Keep The Phone On The Toilet. Always.

Okay, it went down like this...

The phone rang this morning at 7:50am. While this wasn't the anticipated time that MoT could call, it certainly fell within an "acceptable" time range. That would make it 10:50am in Ontario. It wasn't MoT. Unfortunately for my recently-arrived-on-BC-hometurf-Mum, she was on the other end. And, while it was great to hear from her and know it wasn't overseas long distance, it wasn't a female voice I was hoping for on the other end of the line.

I got the boys in the car for school, hopped in and then realized that I didn't have the keys. Yes, keys usually help with starting a car Ashleigh.

So I whipped inside to grab them just as Ben had grabbed the phone on his way upstairs to get ready for work. He let me know he's specifically come back into the kitchen to grab the phone to take upstairs.

"Put it on the back of the toilet, honey" I said, "It's easier to reach when you're in the shower".

After months upon months of waiting for the phone to ring, you get these tactics down pack.

He may or may not have looked at me (lovingly of course) like I had just grown a third eye.

We headed to school. On the way there I wondered to myself how many more mornings I could wake up and tolerate the inner nausea without allowing it to take over. The feeling of utter illness would not subside until 10am each day. (This would be 1pm in Ont and in my mind: game over.) It was consistent to say the least. It has been horrible. And today as we drove, mostly in silence, I cranked the radio when this came on. I love this song. I mean seriously, who has the power to turn water into wine. Who does that? The same God who cares for our each and every prayer, problem, plea and praise. The same God who reminded us once again today of His sovereignty and His awareness of each and every concern and request we bring to the throne.

The difference between this wait...these past several weeks...and the referral wait...those many dozens of months...is that the referral had taken so many months (ah hem, years) that the timeframe wasn't quite as finite. There was no "if then" clause with the referral call. That does not in any way minimize the anguish of waiting for that call, it is and was just different. This call had to come within a specific timeframe or there would be no pre-summer court date. The fear of our child in an orphanage a moment longer than she will have already been wasn't okay.

I digress.

I dropped the boys off, whipped across the school to talk with a teacher and then walked out, preparing to head back to work.

And my phone rang.

And it was Ben announcing a July 15th date.

Yes, a month from the day we received it.

That means leaving in less than a month.

Hold on to your hats. I can barely cling to mine. It's fantastic.

I cried. I called a friend. I yelled at another as she drove into the parking lot. I hugged another, while simultaneously calling my Mum (I should really apologize for having been short earlier) who had just come on the scene. And I shook. Oh, my legs. They just would not stop. And I cried some more. What a moment.

I worked, concentrated, focused on soaking in every second of this moment in time.

A time of prayer had been arranged to take place at noon today...everywhere. Around the world in different countries by all sorts of caring souls, hearts, and friends who love this child whom none of us have even met, were going to be praying as one.

And before we could all ask, plead together, He answered.

And why should we be surprised? Why did I ever for a single split second, question if this would happen. He always answers. In His own way. In His own time. For good. He always always wants nothing but good for His children.

And so now we go forth.

The phone rang soon after Ben was out of the shower, so perhaps the "keep it on the can" suggestion was a little over the top. A girl really can never be too careful though. Apparently, the split second(s) between when the phone rang and he grabbed it to look at the call display and the "unknown name" appearing (which we know to be MoT because of the area code) were some of the longest he's endured in quite some time.

Please don't stop praying. We need it now as much as ever.

There's an ash cloud hovering over Addis (and surrounding areas) after a volcano eruption in the Horn of Africa...some flights into Addis have been cancelled.

There are documents required to pass court.

There will be layovers and vaccinations and so so so very many details to fall into place...or be placed into place, I should say.

And I know that through it all, we are held in the hand of the Father.

Please don't stop praying.

July 15...and counting!!!!!!!

IT'S A DATE

I don't have but a second but we are OVER THE MOON TO SHARE THAT WE GOT OUR COURT DATE.

July 15th we will stand in front of a judge in federal court in Addis Ababa.

Please pray that we...

• manage to get around the ash from the volcano. there have been some flights cancelled into Addis because of this
• all our documents are ready to go and we get the MOWA letter
• our baby stays healthy
• all court proceedings which take place on our behalf before court, will take place without any hitches or glitches
• for safety and health as we continue to travel

Oh my word. WE HAVE COURT A MONTH FROM TODAY.

Hold on sweet sweet baby girl.

Mini Getaway