Anyway, after telling the director that we were interested in adopting the baby there, she asked if we wanted to go to another gov't orphanage around the corner and see what babies they had there. I said no, we didn't have to, but she insisted, so we did. It wasn't far, but the road was rough and Zelalem ended up getting a flat tire! Anyway, that director was scary! Whew! She basically said that they did have babies, but wouldn't let us see any until we had gone through the city office, where they would assign us a child – no choosing. So, we went back to... more

Another emotionally draining day! H refused to change her mind. Asafa at Kidane Mehret wants us to translate our homestudy (not a requirement!) and we think it's just because he wants to show he is in charge (he's not). Michael has been sick all day and I haven't felt great and have definitely felt tired and drained. The last couple of days have been very long.

This morning, we went early to Kidane Mehret to do the paperwork. Sister Lutgarda was not there and Sister Nora was, but her English is much more limited. Asafa... more

Anyway, I knew H already suspected that we were not taking any of her boys and when we confirmed that we were taking 3 from Kidane Mehret, she refused to let us have the baby. She wouldn't let me take her for blood tests, she wouldn't let me see her or hold her or anything. I had not known she came with "strings" - in this case, three "twelve" year-old boys. She called Sister Lutgarda and chewed her out good, then put her on the phone with me. Sister Lutgarda is sweet. She told me she was sorry, that I could have either Edina (the... more

May 26, 2004 (Here was the first big dip in the roller coaster we call adoption!!)

Last night as we discussed kids we had seen that day, there was a little sibling group that really stood out. I saw Beti and recognized her from her skin condition - vitaligo. I took her picture and Thomas' picture. As soon as I was done taking pictures, she came and crawled in my lap and stayed there for quite a while. She held my hand and stayed in my lap and was just generally possessive of me, right off the bat. (RAD warning... more

I have prayed and prayed and prayed some more. I already pray a lot, even in “normal” circumstances, but I truly understand having your heart drawn out in prayer continually, and with intense sincerity and pleading. I hoped that all children would be as “obvious” as the baby was, with a racing heart, or some kind of bright light over their heads or a big neon sign or something, but it hasn't happened that way! The truth is, they are all good children, and they could all fit into our home. Greg said that I could have said “I want... more

I started taking pictures of some children I recognized and pretty soon they ALL wanted their picture taken and were practically mauling me!! Sister Lutgarda did arrive and finally sent them off for study time. She told Greg if she didn't make them do work and study, they would just want to watch TV all day – it's universal!!! She also said that boys and girls all work there. In fact, she said that “We all play, we all eat and we all work”. Our philosophy as well. I mentioned that when Ashenafe first came, he didn't... more

May 24, 2004 We found out that Kidane Mehret has “guest beds” and has young adults come and volunteer in the orphanage for 3 months or more at a time. I think Aaron should go, and maybe Mira, our oldest daughter. Our kids wouldn't have too much trouble not staying out late, they don't smoke, they don't drink, etc, and they are GREAT with kids! Anyway, new project. :)

So, most of the babies are “spoken for” and in one particularly touching instance, there was a little boy who was 5 or 6 with a disability from polio who is now... more

May 24, 2004 While we were holding the baby (and yes, Greg and Aaron did get a turn!), our driver went down the road to the school that the older boys were attending to get them and bring them to meet us. Nothing like feeling like you're on display, poor boys! Just before he got back with them, we went over to the little school right there in the orphanage courtyard. The children who attend are NOT orphanage residents, but local children who go to school there and have lunch during the day. They sang several... more

By this time, we had pulled over maybe 3 times for Ashenafe to throw up and then he started having diarrhea, so we sent him and Michael home to the hotel with the other driver. We then met H and she introduced us to the baby. :) She told us that from when she got our letter, then had this baby come to them, she said “I will save this baby for her” and she did. The baby does not have a name yet, so we will name her ourselves. She'll probably be “the baby” for quite a while, though! Anyway, as they went to get her, my heart started beating faster and I started... more

Next, we went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but there must be two separate locations, as I have seen a big fancy one, with a big gate, and we went to a little one where I was patted down before I entered. (The men/boys were “wanded” before they went in.) We paid 325 birr for each set of documents to get yet another set of stamps, verifying the US State Dept's stamps and the Ethiopian Embassy's stamps. (We have 3 “sets”.) We then went and dropped documents off for translation. You do not get the entire dossier translated,... more