We're Here!!

We've spent the last day in half in Mekele at our agency's other care center. It was amazing. The people here are so nice and the staff and nannies take wonderful care of the children. We haven't even met our girls yet and this has already been one of the most amazing experiences of our lives.

We are now back in Addis and will meet Hermela and Meron in the morning. Hard to believe we're actually here. Meeting the children today kind of assured us that things will go well tomorrow (we hope). The children are so welcoming and loving, so we hope for the same with our girls.

Keep praying. So far so good. We are well and all of our bags are all here.

I hope to be able to post pictures tomorrow.

We're Off!!

We left this morning for DC and will board Ethiopian Airlines early tomorrow morning. We've been soooo busy this past month with Christmas, 3 birthdays, our anniversary, switching and preparing the kids' rooms and packing. Oh the PACKING. Now that it is done, I feel like I can relax and enjoy the ride. I've had information overload for weeks-can't shut it off-wake up all through the night with to do lists running through my head. Now that we've done all the prep work, all there is left "to do" is board the plane and meet our girls! I think I will sleep well tonight.

Keep praying. We know it works. We've been praying specifically that our baggage will all get to Ethiopia and nothing will be lost. As we got off the escalator today to wait for our baggage, we saw it coming out on the conveyor belt. All four pieces. Doesn't sound too impressive, but it was because ours was the only luggage out. Not another piece of luggage was their, just all four of ours-at the exact moment that we came to the baggage claim area. Maybe I'm reaching, but I think we just experienced a small baggage miracle (or maybe someone just did their job). We're hoping the miracle will continue on our next leg.

We also got to make a little snowman in DC. They had a big snow storm last week and there are still piles everywhere from when the roads were cleared. This is the most snow I've ever seen, so it was a nice surprise to be able play a little in the snow.

We'll update if we're able.

Departure Eve

Last night before we start our travel journey to our girls! We've managed to get 20 care packages for other families, donations and enough snacks/clothes/camera equipment to last a week-we hope. Our kids are really starting to realize that we're going to be gone for a while (a "long time" as they put it). We've never left any of them for this long, so I know they'll miss us and we'll really miss them. Caleb told me he didn't want us to be gone so long tonight and Caroline said, "I will miss you so much mama". Even Colton was saying, "mommy bye bye?"

We've left a count down chain until our return, a treat grab bag for each day and we recorded ourselves reading their daily devotion, bedtime stories and saying their prayers, so hopefully all that will help. I'm sure all the grandparent attention will help as well.

Continued prayers for them, our travels, baggage making it all in one piece :), and our first meeting with the girls. Also, for all that Hermela and Meron will be leaving behind and their many adjustments to life with our family.