We're going to get our boys!!!!

Yes, after 6 weeks of waiting, we finally have news that we can go back to get our boys and bring them home. As you can imagine, we are overjoyed. The first four weeks went pretty quickly, as I was pretty busy, but now that things have slowed down a bit, it has been very hard to wait. Waking up Tuesday morning to an email from the Adoption Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia, letting us know they were ready for us to schedule an appointment, was the best news we've had in a long time. We have also received news from another AP (adoptive parent) who was recently in Ethiopia and saw our boys at WACAP House that the kids there are doing great. At the time, there were seven boys there--which were all kids from our group, Travel Group #43. She said that they were happy and healthy and receiving very good care. It was nice to hear that the WACAP House is quite a bit better than the orphanage. The AP also recalled that Tadesse was being carried around everywhere by his nanny, and that they "never saw his feet touch the ground"! Sounds just like him. :) We're going to have to really work on his leg strength, and I am sure I will build up some hefty biceps carrying him around everywhere. I know that holding him a lot is important for bonding (this goes for both boys), but we'll also have to get him used to bearing weight on his legs so he will quickly catch up developmentally. We received pictures of the boys a little after we left, and it was so sweet to see their faces filling out and some hair on their heads! I am sure they'll look even more different when we see them next. So exciting!!!!

For those of you following along on our trip and praying for us along the way (please!) here is a breakdown of our upcoming trip:

Thursday, June 9: leave Phoenix for Washington D.C.
Friday, June 10: spend a day in D.C.
Saturday, June 11: leave for Ethiopia at 12:00pm (13-hr. flight)
Sunday, June 12: arrive in Ethiopia at 7:45am (Ethiopia is 10 hours ahead of us), spend day sightseeing if weather permits
Monday, June 13: see the boys!!!! Spend part of the day at WACAP House with them and rest of the day on our own (shopping, sightseeing, etc.)
Tuesday, June 14: see the boys, goodbye ceremony, pictures
Wednesday, June 15: take kids into custody!
Thursday, June 16: embassy interview
Friday, June 17: leave for home at 10:15pm
Saturday, June 18: arrive in Phoenix at 5pm

Our flight home from Ethiopia with the boys will be the toughest. The flight from Ethiopia is 17 hours nonstop, then we get off in D.C. for 4 hours, then we fly 2 hours to Detroit, one hour layover, then 4 hours to Phoenix. So that's 29 hours of travel, with 23 of the hours on planes. I am really anxious about that part, so I would really appreciate your prayers. I think Milkanu will do fine, but we're quite nervous about how Tadesse will do. I think he'll be used to us by then (we hope!), but he is a baby, and that's a lot of time confined on an airplane. We are praying that both of the kids sleep a lot and that we are able to as well.

I completely believe in the power of prayer. God has shown us his faithfulness to answer prayers SO many times throughout this almost 6-year journey of wanting to expand our family. I have so many of you to thank for that, as you covered us in your prayers and interceded for us so many times. Thank you so much. But I need you to keep praying! Not only for our bonding with the boys in country, and our travel home, but also for the transition once we get home. For now, I most covet your prayers during travel. I know I'm getting specific here, but it would be awesome if you could lift us up in prayer especially while we're flying during the following hours (converted to Arizona time): Friday, June 17 at 12:15pm to Saturday at 5pm. Just whenever you are awake and thinking about us!

I have a lot to do still today, so I better go now. I will try to update this blog while we're in Ethiopia if I am able. They are in the rainy season now, so we may be stuck inside a lot, giving me opportunities to get on the computers in the lobby/office area. I just hope I brought enough toys for the boys if we're stuck inside... :(

God bless you all!

P.S. A friend of mine told me about this awesome video on YouTube that you guys have to check out when you get the chance. It's about 7 minutes long and it WILL make you cry. Search "Depraved Indifference, Eric Ludy". Incredible...