5 weeks and a picture

Tomorrow marks 5 weeks since we passed court! The Embassy has kept up posted (they do not do this for everyone) on our status, yesterday was suppose to be the birth mother interview, we found out at 1:45 this morning our time, that the interview did not happen and was rescheduled for next week.  While this may not be a HUGE deal, it crushed us.  We know that after that so many things can happen, we could get clearance or they could want to investigate more, we were semi prepared for whatever they told us, but to have all that delayed for another week we were not prepared for.  I am not sleeping well, I just miss her so bad.  But, we wait as there is nothing else we can do.

Boy I cannot to get her in my arms again!

A blessing

Three weeks ago Duane and I walked through a gate and our lives changed forever.  In no time we were being greeted with a hug and kiss from our daughter, as well as being surrounded by about 20 other children.  What a day and what a place.  Our lives changed because of a few different things, the biggest of course was meeting our daughter for the first time.  We had so many expectations that we really had none!  She is just perfect, her sweet smile, adorable dimple, the cutest walk and a giggle that warms my heart.  She showered us throughout the week with as much love as we had for her.  God had truly blessed our family.  I have been praying since we began this process to God to put a peace upon our child/children hearts that they had a forever family, when we were matched with CC, my prayer was the same just specific to her! He did this indeed, there was no hesitation with any of us towards each other. 

The other impacts that week that we had were all of these children.  Each day we would walk through the gates twice and both times we were not only greeted by our CC, but by all the children and they were all so lovely. They craved attention and affection but in such a sweet way, that while we would spend time with them, I would forget where we were, at a transition house in Ethiopia located in a very impoverished area, a place where broken bottles are used as "barbed wire" around the tops of buildings, where electricity would come and go as well as phone lines.  But none of that would cross my mind when I was being surrounded by 20 sweet souls.  But, it was not just that I would forget where we were, but I would at times forget why these children are there, these loving, funny, energetic, HAPPY children.  There are not a lot of toys there but they did not need a lot, the space is like a school yard where they get to play, but they never get to leave the school yard, there rooms are nice, the walls are decorated, but they sleep in these rooms with other kids, some even sharing a twin bed, but they are happy loving children, These children are there due to some tragedy whether losing their birth parents or having to be relinquished is such a tragedy.  They have possibly lived in a few "homes" along the way, they have seen more loss that I have as an adult.  But, I would forget all of this as I played with them, laughed with them and watched them! These children taught me a lot, one is enjoy the moment, that is what they did, they would enjoy the moments they were having.  I will never forget these kids (thankfully I have met some of the forever families so CC will never forget them either!) but mostly I will not forget what they showed me, how happy THEY made me. 
I cannot wait to go back, to see my CC, to bring her home, I also cannot wait to go back and see those kids and not only shower them with love they are craving but let them shower me with their love.

a lot of random stuff!

While we have been waiting ( a whole week and a half!) I realized a lot of the frustration is in the ambiguity of it all.  Where is our paperwork is it with the US Embassy or still with ET government?  I have decided that is what is driving me crazy!

But, on to fun stuff!  So another blogger (Kristin) asked me a few weeks ago right before we met our daughter what would I tell someone who has been referred but not met there children yet...here is what I would say- be true to yourself during this waiting process.  As an example, as soon as we were matched with CC, in our minds/hearts she was our daughter, we began to do things to indicate this, looked at schools, decorated her room, called her our daughter...we fell in love with this girl.  Other people once referred still keep their guard up and do nothing, that is OK- I think if you are true to yourself it will help you get through the wait, if I were to have kept that guard up I would have been crazy, just I am sure if someone who does that were to let it down and go hog wild they would be very anxious! 

A shower...dear friends of mine through me (CC) a shower this weekend, WOW- my sister, sister-in-law, niece and friend all came in town for it and about 35 people came!  It was an overwhelming blessing! My little CC has no idea the impact she has made on people.  She is a true angel!  We received so many wonderful gifts and fun things I cannot wait to get her home to enjoy them!

These are my very random chaotic thoughts this morning ( I blame the delicious Ethiopian coffee I am drinking!)!  I am just missing my girl so much- she is all I can think about and I am hoping by writing some of this it will help to ease some of that longing. It will be soon that she comes home I know this, but I want it to be NOW!