Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening!

Miss Zada is starting to get her clock figured out, but mom's jet lag is definitely kicking in. Thank goodness Dad will be home for the weekend so we can all get caught up from the excitement. Now, about our trip. First off, our flight out of GF got cancelled delaying our arrival into DC as well as us landing at the wrong airport. So, in the middle of the night we got to take a cab ride across DC with a driver who had no idea where we were going. We ended up getting to our hotel in time for a three hour sleep and off to Africa. That flight was 15 hours and really not that bad. I had a great incentive keeping me going.

When we arrived the airport as well as the outside scene seemed very modernized, until we actually started driving. Every picture that we had in our head of Ethiopia was in front of our very eyes. Beautiful people lined the streets five people deep. Children with no parents around, no shoes on their feet and washing in any dirty mud puddle they could find. Young mothers carrying one or two children begging for money to be able to feed them. When we arrived at the house, we found our room, got our packet of our child and we were off for orientation and then to meet our baby. There are so many details in those few hours, but to make a long story short, Monday when we went back we did find out that we were given the wrong baby on our first visits. Everything got straightened out, we got to take Zada with to the embassy appointment on Tuesday and Wednesday was our farewell party and she was going home with us. We had her for two nights with us before our big departure to Minnesota. She did amazing with a couple of melt downs (yes, both of us had melt downs). Then finally, we awaited our last flight to Fargo. We were just getting ready to board and an announcement came across that our flight had been cancelled. So, all our family is waiting for us in Fargo with a plan of landing at 6:00 PM. We were able to hang around for a bit to find a later flight into GF and she got to lay eyes on her Dad and Big Brother around midnight. I think all three of them were in shock. I was just to tired to think, but the hugs Luca had were the best in the world.

Monday was Zada's first birthday and welcome home party. She had so much company and we are so thankful for all the people that already love this little girl almost as much as we do. Now, we just want her to be secure and sleep!! Yesterday was her first photo shoot!! They both did great. Then, her first trip to the Pediatrician. She is doing amazing, but they are going to set up a pediatric evaluation clinic for her so that they can monitor her with PT, OT and a dietician. She will be on track in no time at all.

We were very fortunate to recieve a lifebook video for Zada that has an interview with her birthmother as well as footage of where she was born and lived for the first 6 1/2 months of her life. They are amazing people and we will be able to send back photos so they can see that the little girl we both love is safe, healthy and the gem in our hearts. If ever anyone were to ask me about international adoption I would direct them to Ethiopia. There are so many wonderful people and children that are just waiting for the experience of love. We have had so many people say what a wonderful we have done, but it is not that at all. Zada is our blessing and we thank God for directing our path to bring her home. Yes, I am glad that she will experience a life of security and health as well as receive an education, but we are not her savior - She is ours!! I know that we will learn together on many issues of life, but her culture and her soul has already taught me more than any course I have been through in life.

We did share our week with seven other families whom we already miss dearly. They are part of our Korean-Ethiopian-American Family. Many hugs and kisses to them and their babies. Also, a little note to Miss Layla and Auntie Jolene in Guatemala, we can't wait to meet you and welcome you home. Please call us as soon as your plane lands!!