One week. That's it. So incredibly fortunate to have it. So sad that it wasn't longer. So so so hard to say good-bye and go through the whole adoption process. All of us wanted to just keep them here. We know we are adopting them, they don't.
I told you all about our first encounter which was on a Saturday. So on Sunday we sat with them at church, and later in the day went to the zoo with them. We had a great time. I think feeding the goats was the highlight for all the kids. Each day is a blur, but we made sure to see them every day with the exception of Friday. It simply didn't work out. But we had the host family and the girls over for dinner. I attempted some Ethiopian cuisine:), and it turned out pretty well. The kids broke into a water fight before dinner, so we moved dinner outdoors. After dinner the classic game of croquet began. Since we had a foster license we were able to spend time with the girls without supervision as well. So that week we also picked them up twice and brought them to our house for dinner and swimming, trampoline, and of course...you guessed it, CROQUET:)
We really enjoyed that week. We were just starting to get to know them a little. They were warming up to us, Hudson was enjoying their company, Solomon and Malakai were after their attention, Josh and I were getting a feel for that many kiddos:), and then the week was done. What a privilege that week was, and my how fast it went.
Our hearts made the decision right away about adopting them. By the end of the week we were having the conversations with the social workers and coordinators about getting started. On Saturday August 4th we drove to the host families home to play for a little while and then say good-bye. We made two little photo albums for them. I cleverly started the album with a picture of our family right now, went through all the events of their time with us, and ended with them included in the family picture of ALL of us! I don't know if they got that, but hey! I can't tell them, so I thought I would at least try to plant a little seed anyway:)
So my amazing husband worked every spare second on our home study and we finished everything for the local, and International Agency in like TWO WEEKS! Thank you Lord for his competitive nature! Right now we are waiting for our paperwork to be sent to the US Gov for review. Then off to Ethiopia it will go! Then we wait on them.
Meanwhile, we wait. We know this adoption game all to well at this point. Wait and wait we will, anticipating their return.
More to come!
I told you all about our first encounter which was on a Saturday. So on Sunday we sat with them at church, and later in the day went to the zoo with them. We had a great time. I think feeding the goats was the highlight for all the kids. Each day is a blur, but we made sure to see them every day with the exception of Friday. It simply didn't work out. But we had the host family and the girls over for dinner. I attempted some Ethiopian cuisine:), and it turned out pretty well. The kids broke into a water fight before dinner, so we moved dinner outdoors. After dinner the classic game of croquet began. Since we had a foster license we were able to spend time with the girls without supervision as well. So that week we also picked them up twice and brought them to our house for dinner and swimming, trampoline, and of course...you guessed it, CROQUET:)
We really enjoyed that week. We were just starting to get to know them a little. They were warming up to us, Hudson was enjoying their company, Solomon and Malakai were after their attention, Josh and I were getting a feel for that many kiddos:), and then the week was done. What a privilege that week was, and my how fast it went.
Our hearts made the decision right away about adopting them. By the end of the week we were having the conversations with the social workers and coordinators about getting started. On Saturday August 4th we drove to the host families home to play for a little while and then say good-bye. We made two little photo albums for them. I cleverly started the album with a picture of our family right now, went through all the events of their time with us, and ended with them included in the family picture of ALL of us! I don't know if they got that, but hey! I can't tell them, so I thought I would at least try to plant a little seed anyway:)
So my amazing husband worked every spare second on our home study and we finished everything for the local, and International Agency in like TWO WEEKS! Thank you Lord for his competitive nature! Right now we are waiting for our paperwork to be sent to the US Gov for review. Then off to Ethiopia it will go! Then we wait on them.
Meanwhile, we wait. We know this adoption game all to well at this point. Wait and wait we will, anticipating their return.
More to come!
SO Excited for you all! Many Blessings on this Journey!
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