I can't believe that after almost 2 years of this crazy journey, there is a little girl sleeping in her crib upstairs while I write this. We have been to the other side of the world (twice) and back again! Unreal. BUT TOTALLY WORTH EVERY MINUTE. Last time I updated this blog we were waiting for an important document to be submitted to the U.S Embassy in Ethiopia. It took 2 weeks for that document to arrive, but when it did they immediately sent us the email we had been waiting for. We had "cleared" embassy and could go pick up our daughter! The day before we got the email I was very discouraged. We were not sure if the letter needed had even been written, let alone translated and then delivered to the embassy. By that night, I had no choice but to give this whole thing over to God. I had struggled with that a lot towards the end. I just wanted her home and was simply tired of waiting. But that Wednesday night I felt peace that I hadn't felt in awhile. I was ready to wait longer. Little did I know, we wouldn't be waiting much more! Thursday morning, Dan and I dropped the kids off at school and ran some errands. In weeks past, I would have been checking my email non-stop to see if the embassy wrote us. That day, I didn't even think of it. I happened to check the time on my phone and saw there was email. Still not thinking anything. BUT THERE IT WAS!! The greatest surprise ever! We quickly contacted our travel agent to get us some flights and so began the craziest day ever! We rushed around like wild people making babysitting plans for the kids and throwing clothes into suitcases. Everyone stepped up to help us get to Ethiopia as fast as possible. My parents took the boys, Dan's brother drove us to Washington, D.C. that night, and my friend Kiyah hooked us up with a hotel room in D.C. ! We flew out first thing Friday morning. Less than 24 hours after we read that awesome email. :)
We arrived Saturday morning in Ethiopia and got to pick up Jordyn right away. She was definitely scared of us at first, but it was comforting to know that we would have her with us the rest of the week to start bonding. :) I could spend a whole blog post telling you about our week, but I will just try to sum it up quickly. Our first couple days were great and we were having a ton of fun getting to know Jordyn better and the other couples (and their kids) that were at the guesthouse. Then, Jordyn and Dan got sick, Jordyn projectile vomited in the U.S. Embassy (a statement perhaps?) and then I got sick on the last day. We were totally overwhelmed thinking about the 17.5 hour flight from Ethiopia to Washington D.C. Overall, the flight went way better than we expected. However, we were greeted with a canceled flight home when we got to D.C, one more outfit left for Jordyn (thanks blow out diapers) and one more bottle worth of formula. I was praying that God would seriously multiply the formula like He did the loaves and fishes, remember? It was a crazy time at the airport and I seriously felt like I might collapse from exhaustion and feeling sick. It was a tiring week in Ethiopia and I just wanted to get home. God showed up (as always) and gave us the strength to keep going. My dad drove down to D.C. to pick us up because we would have had to go to another airport in D.C. to get a flight out. In the end, it was nice not having to get on another flight and I was able to get more formula out of my luggage for the ride home.
We were originally planning for family to meet us at the airport to welcome home Jordyn, but since our plans changed they met us at our house and it was more than perfect. We pulled into the driveway and saw our three boys run up to the car. They didn't care one bit about seeing us. They wanted to see their new sister that they had prayed for for almost 2 years. Finally, she was home and sleeping peacefully in her car seat. They have been loving on her ever since.
I have to say that God has answered so many of our prayers with the transition home. Jordyn seems to be transitioning really well and so are the boys. Thank you Jesus!! So many of our friends and family have helped us out so much by making us meals, cleaning our house, taking our boys so that we can rest, and just sending encouraging texts and emails. I am SO THANKFUL for all of you. More than you probably know. This is when the real work comes in with adoption and Dan and I feel so much support from you. I am blown away and thankful for the body of Christ rising up and helping us.
I can't wait for everyone to meet little Jordyn. She is a happy little girl full of personality. She can definitely hold her own in this house full of boys. ;) I feel so blessed that God chose us to live life with this precious little girl.
