Ethiopia-Day 2

Vince and I started our second day much like the first.  We ate breakfast at the hotel and quickly left for our orphanage to spend the day with Yonas and Yosef.  We ended up having a very emotional day there.  Yonas was feeling much better and played a lot more.  Both of the boys seemed to be more relaxed with us, and we were able to spend some time with just the two of them.  Throughout the day, it weighed on my mind that I would have to say good-bye to them knowing it would be several weeks before we would see them again.  I tried to enjoy every moment. 

One thing that happened for us was a surprise visit from their birth mom.  As soon as she arrived, Yonas and Yosef went to her and hugged her.  One of the older boys told me in broken English who she was, and I immediately went to her.  The tears began to fall...I just wrapped my arms around her and told her how much we loved her.  We were able to talk with her for quite some time and learn quite a bit about their family.  She wanted to make sure we knew how much she loved her children.  She is a very hard worker but is unable to provide for them.  Their father died about 3 years ago from a heart attack.  She tried to do what she could to keep her family together.  She told us she prayed that God would send a family that would love her children and provide for them and he did!   She said God has given her a peace about the situation.  She asked if we would send her pictures occasionally.  Of course, we said we would be honored to keep her in their life as much as we can.  When she dropped them off at the orphanage in May, she visited the boys 3 times a day every day.  I could see the enormous love and selflessness she has for them.  It was a wonderful gift to have that time with her.  When our time with her ended, I felt so much peace.  God gave us such an incredible meeting with her. I decided that I wanted to keep our pictures with her private, but I will say that Yosef looks just like her!  She was a beautiful woman inside and out.

Getting ready for a spin

Yonas

Yonas getting tickled.  All of the children loved being tickled!

Both of them were very good at soccer

Below are some scenes that we saw on our way back to Addis

Ethiopian Air Force Base

Day 3 was our court date.  More on that to come!

Kelli

 

ONE LAST FUNDRAISER!

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

at

 APPLEBEES GRILL & BAR

4717 Dixie Hwy 

Saturday, November 13th

8:00-10:00

Tickets are $5 per person

$20 Max per family

Tickets purchased ahead of time are preferred instead of at the door.
(Each ticket price consists of 3 pancakes, syrup, butter, 2 sausage links, refills on tea, coffee, juice and sodas)

use of the plates, silverware, cups and napkins.

Email us if you are interested.  I can deliver the tickets to you, or we can email them.

Thanks for your support!



Ethiopia-Day 1

We got in to Addis Sunday night without any problems with flights, or sickness, etc.  Things went very smoothly for us.  Woudneh (our West Sands host) picked us up from the airport and took us to our hotel.  We tried to get settled in that night knowing that Monday was a big day for us.

This is where we ate breakfast every morning in our hotel.  The food was very good!

We were blessed to share our week with the Veals and the Crums.  We had a blast!  Lots of laughs...

Woudneh

This was our driver, Dere'je who took us to our orphanage in Nazaret.

This was our first meeting with Yonas and Yosef.  Yonas wasn't feeling well and spent a lot of time laying down while we were there.  They both instantly came to us and hugged us.  We were all smiles.  I thought that I would end up crying the whole time, but after a few tears shed at our initial embrace, I didn't have any tears!  I was overcome with so much joy.  It is hard to put it into words.  The boys are amazing.  They got along with all the other children at the orphanage and were so full of energy.  We enjoyed watching them play and learning as much as we could about them.  The language barrier was somewhat difficult, but there were some kids at the orphanage who spoke pretty good English.  They helped us a lot. All of the children were wonderful.  We enjoyed getting to know all of them and could have brought them all home if we could. 

One of the first things they did for us at the orphanage was a coffee ceremony.  It was the best coffee I have ever tasted.  This woman made our coffee.  She was so good with all of the children.  I wish I had written her name down because I don't remember it now.  Maybe I will get to see her again when we go back.

Yosef trying to jump rope.  Too cute:)

My favorite boys!

Here are some pictures of the orphanage.  We loved it there.  All of the children help with the gardening.  They have cows, goats, and chickens.  They pretty much grow all of their food.  They also have several fruit trees and a coffee tree.  They are as organic as you can be.  

This was in front of their dorms. 

This is where we had our coffee ceremony and where they eat their meals.

After leaving the orphanage, we met back up with Woudneh, the Crums, and the Veals and had coffee and popcorn at our hotel.   This woman served us.  She was very sweet to let me get a picture with her.

Vince's dinner on Monday 

Bart and Brandi

Denise and Eric

 We enjoyed hanging out in the evenings with everyone.  We feel blessed that God placed us on this trip with 2 other couples that we didn't really know beforehand.  We made friends that will always be part of our life and part of our adoption story.

I have to say that Vince and I enjoyed pretty much every part of Ethiopia.  They country was beautiful as were the people. 

The next post will be about our second day with Yonas and Yosef.  We were only able to spend 2 days with them, but they were 2 very good days!

Kelli



We are back! Our first trip to Ethiopia is over and now we wait for the call to find out when we can go back. I plan to write about our trip, but it has taken me several days to process everything that happened. I still don't know if I can put into words everything that we experienced. So many emotions...I do know one thing; Vince and I will never be the same. I think God has led us to this place in our marriage and family for a reason, and it goes beyond this adoption.

Yonas and Yosef were just wonderful. They are sweet, energetic boys who we instantly fell in love with. We had 2 wonderful days with them before we had to say good-bye. Meeting them was such a happy moment for us all. The only thing that would have made it better is if Abby and Gracie would have been there. 

I had to post a few pictures

Look at that smile!

Upon arriving home Friday night, this is what we came home to:

We were so overcome with joy.  THANK YOU!!  Our friends and family have been so good to us (much better than we deserve).  Vince and I both want to let everyone know how grateful we are for each of you.  God continues to amaze us. 

I plan to post more about our days in Ethiopia very soon.  If you think of us, please pray for us and our embassy appointment (which is what we are waiting on).  We also have something on our hearts that we need God's direction for.  We sure appreciate the prayers.

Kelli



One more day to go.  Tomorrow we will be on our way to meet our little guys.  I am super excited, and I haven't been sleeping very well.  Vince and I have spent the week preparing (as best we could) ourselves for what is to come.  I have spent a great deal of time praying for everything to come together as it should.  God has prepared us as a family and has opened the doors to get us to this exact point.  I'm giving Him all the praise.

Our flight leaves tomorrow around 11:00 in the morning.  We will be stopping in Chicago, then travel on to Washington DC, then we'll be on our way to Ethiopia!  We should get in to Ethiopia Sunday evening (their time).   Some of you have asked what our week will be like once we get there, so I thought I would post for everyone.  Of course, this is just a tentative plan because anything can change!  We are just going along with whatever is planned.  Sunday night we will stay in Addis.  We are staying at the Crown Hotel.  Monday we will travel to Nazareth, which is about 60 miles away, to see our boys!  We will stay overnight in Nazareth and be able to visit the orphanage both Monday and Tuesday.  We're hoping we get to spend as much time as possible with them.  We don't get to take them with us, and really it is for them.  How hard would it be for us all if we took them to our hotel and then had to return them to their orphanage!  We are just praising God that we get to meet them.  Tuesday night our plan is to go back to Addis because we have another court hearing on Wednesday.  We will stay in Addis until we leave Thursday night to come home.  We hope to get in some shopping and a traditional Ethiopian meal. I'm hoping to soak in as much as the culture as I possibly can. I don't want to forget it!  It will be a quick week for us.  Our driver will pick us up from the airport and will stay with us the entire time.  He will even be the one to go to court with us and translate for us.  We are glad we get to meet him because also chose our boys for us.  That makes this all the more special.  I know he will be a great help to us in country.

Depending on Internet connections there, we will try to update as often as we can.  Please continue to pray for us!  Thank you for sharing this journey with us. 

Kelli

I don't have much time right now, but I had to update everyone to say that we passed court today! Praise God!  I just booked our airline tickets.  We will be leaving October 9th.  Thanks to everyone who has encouraged us and prayed for us. 

Kelli

Wow, I can't believe how busy we have been.  I guess it is good because it has kept our minds busy, so we are not sitting around just waiting to leave.  We will be traveling in 2 weeks if all goes well in court.  Vince and I are so excited.  I can't wait to meet my sons.  I love the sound of that.  While I am there, I want to soak up as much as I can.  I pray this experience changes Vince and me.  That we continue to let our minds be shaped with an eternal focus.   I already feel God at work in our hearts.  Almost as if he is saying this is only the beginning.  My heart is so full of love for the people of Ethiopia already.  I think being there will give us an opportunity to see how we can be used further. 
During my prayer time in the morning, I have been praying for Yonas and Yosef's birth mother.  She has been on my mind a lot.  I pray that I get an opportunity to meet her while we are there.  I know that God has placed this on my heart for a reason.  He will reveal to me the purpose as he sees fit.  Feeling an absolute peace in whatever circumstances come our way.  God has been my firm place to stand, and I wouldn't be able to walk this road without my faith.  I know that Vince feels exactly the same.  Can I just say how incredibly blessed I am to have him in my life?  It gives me so much joy to know that the God who plans our steps is also the same God who loves me enough to bless me with more than I ever deserve.  I am eternally grateful for how far he has brought me. 

Well, what have we been up to?  We just returned from a busy couple of days in Maryland/Washington DC.  It was a wonderful opportunity for us.  Vince had to travel there for work, and we tagged along.  We are thankful that his work allows us to do these types of things.   Here are some pictures from our trip. 

This was at the National Museum of Natural History

Arlington Cemetery

Best place by far we have had school

Love these girls!

They did lots of swimming

Our hotel

Last night Vince and I went to the Casting Crowns/The Afters concert.  Thanks to my brother Kyle.  It was an amazing concert.  Casting Crowns always is...It was exactly what I needed to hear, not only in song, but also in the message spoken.  I love how God does that :)
We forgot our camera, but here is  one picture Vince took with his phone.

School is going pretty well, with a few bumps in the road here and there.  It has been hard to get on a routine because of how busy we have been.  I finally accepted that our whole year will probably look like that, even though I am a routine type of girl.  I am thankful for the flexibility in our schooling that allows us to take the necessary breaks while we have so much going on.  I just hope that doesn't mean we are still finishing up our school year in July! Ha!

Thank you so much for those of you who continue to pray for our family.  It means so much to us.   Please pray for our court hearing next week.  This will determine if we can travel in 2 weeks.  Also please pray for us as we prepare to leave.   Abby and Gracie will be well taken care of, but I know that it will be hard to leave them.  I pray that all of the details surrounding our trip would come together. These are just a few things you can pray for specifically. 

Love you all,

Kelli