The last Hurrah.....HOME!!!!!!

I shouldn't have been surprised that our trip ended as it began - a whirlwind.

As I mentioned in the last blog post, I emailed our travel agent pretty much the second we cleared embassy with this subject heading......CAN WE GET TICKETS BACK FOR TONIGHT????? Hoping that subject line would grab her attention the second she arrived at work (since it was only 2:30am Central time and we assume that she sleeps). We knew that if she were able to get us tickets, by the time we officially got them we would be leaving for the airport probably only an hour later. So for the second time in just over 3 weeks? We packed like we were leaving, without knowing if we were or not. Here is how things unfolded......

2pm (6am Central time) Jason left to go back to the Embassy to pick up Little Miss's actual Visa paperwork - still no word.

3:30pm (7:30am Central time) I called the kiddos before school, as we did each day at this time, to let them know that we DID pass embassy and were hopeful to be leaving that evening or the next - which meant we would be home soon - but we still had no idea how soon it would be, possibly even the next day....crazy!

4:15pm (8:15am Central time) we get an email response from our travel agent letting us know that it might be possible - but a long shot - as ticketing didn't officially open for another 15 min. AND our flight (should we get tickets) would be taking off in less than 6 hours......she double checked that we DID have Little Miss's visa in hand AND reminded us that if this worked we would have to leave for the airport within a few hours - were we even packed? Ha! Ummm.....yes of course, why wouldn't we be? ;)

5pm (9am Central time) we learn that there were indeed only TWO tickets left on the almost completely booked flight (since we had round trip tickets booked and were simply moving the tickets up a week, we had to stay with the same airline/flight path, etc.) was it okay if Little Miss was a lap infant? If not, it wouldn't work. Again, ummm.....yes! Ticket changes and lap infant ticket were officially in the process of being purchased, but we still had to wait for the e-tickets to be issued. Last minute things were in order (such as a SHOWER!) and making sure our carry-on(s)s were ready for all things baby (i.e. pleasingly arranged for accessibility and ease ;)

6pm (10am Central time) sit down to our last dinner in Ethiopia. STILL awaiting our official e-tickets to arrive from ticketing - so that it things are officially set in stone.

6:23pm (10:23am Central time) getting antsy, tickets still haven't arrived.....get the email from our travel agent letting us know that ticketing issued them 4 minutes before and they would be coming soon to our email as soon as they landed in hers.

6:51pm (10:51am Central time) E-tickets arrive! We immediately forward on to our parents and take pictures of the e-tickets with Jason's itouch.......as our Ethiopian SIM card in our phone must be returned before going into the airport, which meant from that point on our cell phone would be rendered useless in order to get this info off of the phone. I also quickly email close friends and family and post to FB to let folks know we are coming home and will be there Friday night!

7:30pm (11:30am Central time) loaded into Ephrim's van for the last time and head for the airport.

8:30pm (12:30pm Central time) Arrive at the airport. Head through screenings to get into the airport, check our luggage, get our boarding passes, go through immigration, security and arrive at our gate.

9:40pm (1:40pm Central time) Boarding 1st flight!!!!

10:40am (2:40pm Central time) Saying goodbye to Ethiopia until next time (visiting, that is ;)

To say that we were thrilled to be headed home would be an understatement. However, in the excitement of the last minute unfolding, what I didn't anticipate? How bittersweet heading home would be. It wasn't until right as we were leaving that it truly hit me - how on earth do we say goodbye to our people who had become family? Who had made Ethiopia home for the past 3 weeks? When we don't know when we will see them again? These amazing people that God placed in our story. Who we were in community with while in country. Such community that if we could have teleported our other three kiddos TO us in Ethiopia? We wouldn't have been in a rush to leave and could have lived there for months longer with no problem at all. These unexpected advocates. Our Ethiopian family. What I did NOT expect to happen when leaving was to be fighting back tears and crying. We will miss these folks immensely, although we have plans to be back to visit, as a certain set of parents might have marriage plans for their young son (Sami) and since it is customary in Ethiopia for the grooms family to give gifts to the intended bride's family (and they just happen to have a lot of what we love - freshly roasted coffee and shiro, a lifetime supply) and being related to an such amazing family, sounds pretty good to me ;) (shhhh - just don't tell Jason....he doesn't want talk like that until Little Miss is at least 30) 

Ephrim and Yeshi (and us)

Love these folks! (Although this photo is missing Leah, who left for the US days before for her sister's wedding)

I have to admit that because Little Miss typically goes to sleep around 8pm or 8:30pm, the flight leaving at 10:40pm was a little concerning.....I was hopeful that she wouldn't be a tired mess in this very public setting after her bedtime while waiting for the flight to depart. I shouldn't have worried. She was a complete jewel in the airport and fell asleep while eating her nightly bottle right before we took off. In fact, she slept SO well that she didn't wake up for the next 9 to 10 hours - which included a 2am stop/refuel/loading (landing, lights up, then retaking off) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and only woke up about an hour before our plane landed in Frankfurt, Germany. As my lap and arms were her bed for that amount of time? Let's just say I'm surprised I still have a tush left. It was worth it to take one for the team (the team being the ENTIRE PLANE) and have a quiet baby the whole flight - as I hate the thought of disturbing others. It was somewhat satisfying that the dude that sat down next to Little Miss and I on the flight and had that "dangit, I'm sitting next to a baby - this is going to be a long flight" look in his eyes when he arrived in our row had absolutely no cause for complaint. He wouldn't have had a more pleasant flight if he sat next to an empty chair (well, maybe he would because than he could've stretched out, but you know what I mean :)

Outside Bole Airport in Addis

Little Miss NOT struggling to stay awake ;)

We had a 2 or 3 hour layover in Frankfurt and then loaded up again. This flight was the one that took place during her "day" (I was keeping her on her Addis time schedule). Praise the Lord it was a double decker Airbus AND with so few babies on the flight, even though the flight was full, we got moved to bulk head seating - which means we had LEG ROOM and a bit of floor for Little Miss to sit and play. It couldn't have been a better situation. She did amazing. Took her naps at normal times, played like normal and even chowed down on the plane food. Such an answer to prayer!

Nap #1 on 2nd flight

"I have room to play!"

Wow! Look at that view of blue......

We had a quick layover in Houston with a lot to do in a short period of time. First through immigration and handing over the precious manila envelope of her immigration documents (Hello! New U.S. Citizen), picked up our luggage (and did a MUCH needed quick re-do of her hair), went through customs, rechecked our baggage, went through security and then had about 45 min. to wait at the gate before our last flight. It was a perfect amount of time. Brush our teeth, change our clothes (that we had been wearing for a LONG time), etc. Since we were still keeping track of Addis time, it was shocking that Little Miss was awake and doing as well as she was - as it was 1am for her (and us). She conked out right before the flight took off and slept the whole 90 min. flight to Kansas City. After taking 2 long flights in a row, it was unbelievable how fast we arrived in KC. She was so conked out, that when we landed and I sat her up and put her in the ergo carrier and she didn't even fuss....totally out. I was thinking that this might just be the only airport welcome that the baby sleeps through ;)

What a welcome it was! We could see the kids first thing peering through the glass and LOTS of family and friends.......when Little Miss heard the noise of it all her eyes popped open as big as saucers peering out of the ergo. Oh love! It was amazing. Tori was crying with joy at seeing her sister for the first time and the boys were so excited. I couldn't get over just how HUGE my children are. Of course with me? There is always something else funny that happens. So here we are a large group of friends and family staring at Little Miss with amazement, taking pictures and video, etc. As I took Little Miss out of the carrier and passed her off to one of the kiddos, I was realizing that something is felt really wrong and odd. I figured out quickly that apparently as I unsnapped the carrier in the back? I also unsnapped something else supportive, that only ladies wear........kind of an awkward moment when an uncounted crowd of folks are staring at you all happy and excited and lots of photos/videos are being taken. We've kinda waited a long time for this moment....now what the heck do I do now? Leave things be. Hmmmm. Have someone try to fix it there? Hmmm. I realized that this whole thing wasn't going to be an enjoyable experience if I left things be, so after confiding in two dear friends, I grabbed my college roommate and headed to the nearby bathroom. So for those of you there wondering why I exited fairly quickly after arriving? Well, now you are in the know, even if it is a bit too much information ;) Oh my! I know folks would LOVE to see our airport pics - but alas, I wasn't taking photos.....so stay tuned. An amazing lady (as well as others there) took pictures for us - so I will get them posted as soon as I can!

We stayed at the airport visiting with loved ones for about an hour and then headed home in the van as a family of 6. Walking into the house for the first time with Little Miss was the most surreal thing I have ever experienced. She was really here. IN our home. With us.

Wow. Our God is faithful.

I've heard many people say they wished to be a fly on the wall that first night. Let me caution you in that statement. After 3 weeks in Ethiopia? I am now lethal killer of all things small and pesky ;) Ha! Seriously though, it was so neat so see her with the kiddos. Knowing that she would be scared of the dogs, that introduction was going to wait, so they found themselves outside a lot. The kids LOVE to pick her up and to follow her around. They are great at helping, something that I didn't have when I had 3 kiddos ages 4 and under, when they were small. It is a good change! Because of the way the flights worked out? And not sleeping through her "night"? She went to bed that evening a little after 9pm and slept like normal, awoke at 6:30am and was on her regular schedule yesterday - even went to bed again last night at her normal "Addis" bedtime (but on Central time) and slept again like normal through the night.........we are SO hopeful that the adjustment to our timezone has already happened, and it appears it has - pretty sure that is a miracle in itself!

Something else amazing? One of my closest friends was due with her baby boy on April 30th. All this time waiting to get Little Miss, never thinking for a moment that it would take THIS long, there was the possibility of missing the arrival of little Caleb. Let me tell you. I did not want to be in the middle of our Ethiopia trip and him be born. Now I realize I would survive. Perspective. All of that. But it still doesn't take away the desire. Folks, my friend's little baby Caleb and my Little Miss? Arrived on the same day. The.Same.Day. After all this time? This was the icing on the cake. Purely orchestrated. Once again, this overarching picture of time that God has going on - so much better than what I could plan on my own. The adoption of Little Miss has taught, stretched and grown my faith more than I ever could have imagined possible. God is good. So good.

Baby Caleb and Little Miss - LOVE THIS!!!!

We are going to be taking things slow with Little Miss the coming weeks and months. Sticking close to home as much as possible and cocooning (keeping her world small, so she has opportunity to learn what family is, who we are, etc.). The three weeks in Ethiopia gave us a huge head start in this process - but she is learning, as a newborn baby would be, about relationships (immediate family, extended family, friends, acquaintances and strangers) - so please bear with us as we do our best, for HER sake, to have her healthily attach to us. I posted a while back about this very thing, if you want to read more of the why, click here. Practically what does it looks like? It is only Jason and I caring for her needs for a while - holding, feeding, changing, all of it - so Little Miss realizes our relationship is different than other relationships. Now this is a bit more challenging since we brought Little Miss home as a toddler and she is an independent walker......and it would be oh so fun to scoop her up as she walks toward you, or be thrilled when she reaches out her arms for you, but it is this indiscriminate affection for others that comes from being in group care and is really not a good thing, although it may feel good to have her want you to pick her up, doing so (with her not knowing the context of the relationship - i.e. family, friend, stranger, etc) is really not healthy for her as she learns. For a short few months - what she really needs more than anything is to be directed back to Jason and I for her needs to be met. It really is for her benefit. You can still high five her, talk to her, wave and admire her beauty ;) We so appreciate your all's support throughout this phase of adoption, just like we've experienced throughout. What support God has given us through you all. We can not express in words what that has meant and continues to mean to us as a family.

Little Miss is safely home. I will forever be in awe of what God has done. Glory to HIS name!!

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills-

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you -

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, 

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm-

he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.