embassy submission!!!

Deep breath...we found out today that our paperwork has progressed faster than expected and will be submitted to the U.S. embassy on Wednesday morning!!  We are beyond excited as this has been what we have been praying about since we left Ethiopia.  We were anticipating the paperwork to take 6-8 weeks...and it has been 4 weeks!  The US embassy's acceptance and approval of our paperwork will be Elora's ticket HOME!!

We covet your prayers.  Things at the embassy can go in soo many ways right now.  What was once a simple process has turned upside down.  This is the part of the journey where we all hold our breath.  Some cases receive approval within weeks; others take months; many end up getting sent out of the country to Nairobi for further review.  Without the embassy's approval, our children are not allowed to come home. This is SUCH an agonizing time..

Our friend Julie, who has sent us many precious pictures of Elora, is in the midst of having her paperwork reviewed in Nairobi.  After waiting for her paperwork to be approved and spending weeks apart from her sweet Zaidee, she decided to return and is now staying at the Transition House with Zaidee...it's just so HARD to be away from them.

We are asking for prayer that our paperwork, Julie's paperwork in Nairobi, and Jason and Jessica's paperwork - the other couple in Ethiopia with us -all fall into the hands of someone with a soft heart and willing spirit.  We desperately long for Elora, Zaidee, and Joshua (their little boy) to be HOME. 

New picture of Elora that Julie sent me!

Joshua and me at the Transition House

                                                 

A New Picture!

Today, I checked my email to see a sweet surprise from a new friend in Ethiopia, Julie Jorgensen.  :-)  She took a picture of our precious girl and it melted my heart. 

One of the most amazing parts of this journey has been meeting others along the way.  We have been able to share heartbreaks and hope, tears and joy, breathless anticipation and miracles.  Julie is staying with her little girl Zaidee, who is the same age as Elora, at the Transition House until she and her husband pass Embassy and can bring Zaidee home for good.  Her beautiful daughter, Zaidee, shared her awesome hat with Elora!  Check out pictures of Zaidee - one of the most beautiful little girls I have ever seen - and follow her Mama's story at http://adam-julie.blogspot.com/

I miss my little girl and want her to come HOME!!!

Glimpses

Since returning home from Ethiopia, I keep trying to gather up the whole trip in my thoughts...but I fail every time.  Already, it all seems a bit surreal.  But I want to remember everything that I can about the home country of my daughter. 

Like how the dusty streets of Addis are home to people to numerous to count.  I close my eyes and I can see the poverty...EVERYWHERE.  Row after row of tiny shacks held together by pieces of corrugated metal.  I can hear the constant horns beeping, the donkeys braying, the people begging for food.  I remember a young mother, curled up in a ball in front of a small shop, eyes unseeing, one hand held out for money, the other protectively wrapped around her toddler.  The people milling everywhere above her, almost running over her and her son...and how he never left her side.  I see the elderly, lying in the dust..and wondering if they are dead or alive.  The lame, the disfigured, the scarred, the sick, the street children...they crowd every shop, every dusty street corner.

 

The children..the people...they amaze you and break your heart all in the same breath.  Never have I met people with such dignity, respect, kindness and determination.  And yet, they have been dealt disease, famine and economic devastation.  We were told about  the street children.  Many are as young as 2 and 3 years of age.  Their parents have died and there aren't any other family members.  They band together in groups and live on the streets, begging for food.  They will not be placed in an orphanage unless a parent or living relative actually brings them to the orphanage and relinquishes them personally.  Picture your two-year-old and 3-year-old, being forced to take care of each other because there is no one else to do it for them.  

These sweet children, enveloped us in shy waves, warm smiles, and pleas to have their pictures taken.  They gave hugs as readily as the sun shines and giggled endlessly over their pictures.  

You leave Ethiopia, wanting to take every child that you meet home with you. And you leave...so thankful for the policemen, family members and parents who brought your sweet child to an orphanage...to the place where God intersected your life with their own and you get the incredible privilege of becoming a mother/father/family. 

God is Good-byes...

We are in our last few hours here in Ethiopia and once again, we are soaking in Grace.  As many of you know, our last couple have days have had a little of the drama of new parenthood.  On day two here, we were only able to spend about 5 minutes with Elora before leaving to go sight seeing and we noticed that she seemed quieter than normal and had a nasty cough.  We were hoping to check on her when we got back, but it was very late and the nannies had put the little ones to bed.  On day three, we could tell that Elora was really not feeling good.  She was coughing a deep, racking cough and  pus was coming out her eyes.  She began throwing up all her bottles.  There were no more little coos, just a very sick little one.  It got worse on Day 4 and though we tried to talk to the nannies about it, the language barrier made it difficult.  Finally, in the evening of Day 4, the agency's Ethiopian director's wife stopped by.  She took one look at Elora for us and told the nannies to take her to the hospital.  Day 5, we were not able to see her, but found out she was diagnosed with pneumonia and was receiving injections every twelve hours.  Today, she went back to the hospital for a check-up and more shots.  This afternoon, she is back home and here with us.  For the first time, we got some smiles and coos out of her again. We were worried that we would not get to see her again before we left.  Not only have we gotten to see her, we are able to see glimpses of light come back to her sweet eyes. 

Thank you for all the prayers over this trip.  We have seen God's grace in every step...from passing court and receiving our MOWA letter to Elora being able to get much needed treatment.

Elora!!

We arrived in Addis on Saturday morning after a straight 13 hour flight.  The city was bustling and full of people.  Cars careen in all directions, putting New York City taxi drivers to shame.  We could barely contain our excitement as we spotted the transition house where we would be staying.  We had been warned that we would want to have our camera ready as soon as we got in the door, on the off chance that Elora would be there, waiting for us.  She wasn't...but as we greeted the others adoptive parents staying at the guest house, a tiny bundle was brought in behind our backs.  Suddenly the bundle, wrapped in a blue striped blanket, was thrust into my unsuspecting arms.  Wide brown eyes immediately locked eyes with me..and a coo and a smile came out of a tiny pink mouth.  Elora is a little miracle and has us totally smitten.  She has reminded me how TINY babies are..and how fun they are to cuddle.  She is happy nearly all the time (the first for a baby of mine!) and loves to coo.  

We can't seem to get enough time with her.  Our agency is very smart.  We have free access to our little ones throughout the day, but they try to take us on a lot of long day trips so that the children don't become too bonded to us (or us to them) so that leaving isn't as traumatic for them.  Ethiopia is full of beautiful, dignified amazing people who have been subjected to extreme poverty.  The middle class and upper class make up only about 3% of the population of Ethiopia.  Spending time here has been eye opening for us.  We have eaten in some beautiful resorts and hotels, which are located right now to countless rows of tiny shanties.   I cannot get over their beautiful spirits and kindness and generosity to us.

Today was court day...and today we have officially become the parents of 4 beautiful children.  From now on out, no matter what happens with the US embassy and her VISA, Elora is officially ours and our responsibility.  We were given our MOWA letters right at court (thank you for the prayers!) and so we can show her picture off everywhere now. :-)  So, being brand new proud parents - here are some more pictures of our sweet new addition.

Grace on March 2nd

Once, there was a couple who adopted a sweet, beautiful little girl from China.  They longed for her to have a sister...so they began the process again.  After crossing the land of paperwork for a year, they waited with great excitement for a phone call to come, telling them of another little girl.  They waited and waited and waited.  Two long years...and then they received news..but it was not the kind they were expecting.  The woman had been diagnosed with stage two breast cancer.  Their dreams of adopting were placed on the back burner as this couple braced themselves for a year of surgeries and treatments.  The woman DID get better...but she was told by China that she was no longer allowed to adopt the little girl she had dreamed about.  The couple tried to relinquish their desire for another child..but it was always there.

During this time of waiting, the couple opened their arms and home to a 16-year-old refugee from Burma.  She touched their lives in new and beautiful ways..and she wouldn't have entered their lives if they hadn't been waiting.  As they experienced life with both their girls, their desire to adopt intensified.  After many months of searching, this couple finally found an agency and country that was willing to work with the woman's cancer diagnosis.  In November of 2010, over 4 years after they had begun the adoption process, their paperwork was finally in Ethiopia.  Then...inexplicably...things slowed down for them again.   It wouldn't be until late into the following year...but finally, they were matched with a child. 

A little girl...with turned out feet. 

Here is the rest of their story in their own words, from their blog post:

We prayed fervently that God would fulfill our dreams of adopting again.  He answered this prayer with the referral of our beautiful daughter, Melat.  After meeting her in December, we were reminded yet again that God is so good and His plans are much better than ours.  As we say with all our daughters, we could have never dreamed of better children then the ones God has blessed us with.  God knew well before we ever meet what our family would be and He had his hands on our children, taking care of them in ways we never imagined before bringing them into our lives.

We are thrilled to report that on February 24 ^th we will be heading to Ethiopia to bring home our sweet Melat.  The wait the past couple of months has been the most difficult in all the years we have waited.    To hold your child and then have to leave her behind is unspeakable to us and we honestly don't know, other than by God's grace, how we did it.  Melat will be home with her forever family on March 2^nd, 2012.  It's been a long wait but God had a plan and we waited for Him to unite us with Melat.

Oh sweet grace.  The prayer that Anthony and I began praying last July has been answered: "Please let Melat be referred to a family who loves Jesus and who can best meet her needs."

Oh sweet joy.  God allowed us to find out what happened to our Melat....even though this dear family knows nothing about us.

Two families...two stories..each set out on their journey, longings laid open before God.  And God heard every anguished tear of both families.  And God took two families, rerouted their paths in ways they did not expect...and gave them both "immeasureably more than all they asked for or imagined."

In exactly one week,  on March 2nd, we will be flying to Ethiopia to meet Elora, our beautiful baby girl.  And on March 2nd, Melat will finally be flying home...to be with her Forever Family.

"Oh, the deep, deep love of Jesus.."

What's In A Name

Dear Little Rekike,
Some days, while your sisters are sitting at the kitchen table, munching on pretzels and spooning yogurt into their mouths, they ask me to tell them the story of their names.  And so I tell them because I love their stories.  I always begin with Lilah. 

"When you were still inside me, tucked up in a little ball, Daddy would sing to you.  And one day, when he was singing a song called "Lyla," down close to my belly, the little ball that was you somersaulted over towards his voice.  He was so surprised, he stopped singing...but after that, no other name seemed to fit you as well as that one."

And I watch as a smile spreads across your sister's face.

I move on to Arabelle.  "When you were hidden in my belly, the doctors found a big boo-boo inside your head.  And they sent me to a hospital far away and they told me that you might not get better.  So EVERYONE began praying for you- day after day..and then, your boo-boo started to get smaller and smaller until there was nothing left...God had made you better!  And so we named you Arabelle which means `Answered prayer'."

And Arabelle's eyes light up.

At this point, I turn to Esme.  "Forever and always I loved the name Esme.  And when you were born, your Daddy and I had a different name picked out for you.  But as we held you close and looked into your eyes, suddenly that other name didn't seem to fit.  Esme means "loved" and that was what you were."

And Esme scrunches up her face in a grin.

But now, little Rekike, we don't stop with Esme.  Your sisters always ask me to tell another story.  It's the story of YOUR name..and it's their favorite.

"When I first heard your Ethiopian name, Rekike, I held my breath. It reminded me a lot of the nickname my friend always called me. Kiki.  I loved that God connected our names together from the beginning. We love your name..and now it was time to add our special names for you. Some names from US, your mommy and daddy. 

And so we named you, our bundle of hope, Elora Hartlee Rekike. Elora means `God is light.' We could think of no other name to better describe our journey to you. Hope shining in darkness. Forever and always, when I say your name on my lips, I will think of Psalm 36:9 `In Your light, we see light' and Isaiah 50:10 `Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.'

Hartlee twines its name around your Daddy's, since his middle name is Lee, and around Psalm 20:4. `May He give you the desire of your HEART and make all your plans succeed.'

So you, little Elora Hartlee Rekike, remind us of God's light shining forth. You have stolen our hearts and you are what we desire."

Right now, I don't get to see your face as I tell you your story.  But in 25 days, we are going to come and meet you. And I will whisper the story of your name and our journey to you in your ear...and even though you won't understand it now...someday you will.  And until then, I will hold you as close as can be for as long as they let me...