1st trip to Ethiopia - Day 4

When I say...

this trip was much too short...

believe me,

THIS TRIP WAS WAY TOO SHORT!

my biggest regret.

We cut this trip short:

1. because our kids were missing school

2. Derek had sorta kinda started a new job, and he had little vacation time (plus a 2nd trip in the future)

3.  my job didn't exactly work out the way I thought it would, and I didn't have the time off that I thought I would.

ughhh... hate it when work and school gets in the way of stuff!

So day 4, was full of just seeing Addis...

as much as we could fit it,

before we flew out at 10:00.

buying coffee at the coffee place (Tamuca? i can't remember)

 We went and met Levi and Jessie (and their kids) with 

Bring Love In...

so glad we did!

Please check this out...

They are doing great stuff!

We then visited what stood out as a sore thumb in Ethiopia...

but was totally awesome!

I mean seriously,

looks like it should be in NYC or Cali.

Next we went to Korah...

just no words...

We then went to Mount Entoto

We might have had to go buy some more beads...

seriously out of control.

If anyone wants to buy any,

Aimee and Brittany are selling them to support their trip to Rwanda in July.

 Back to the hotel to pack up :(

And HERE is where we had JUST gotten word that we were allowed

to post pics of our little boy!!!

Thank goodness for the Bole Airport wifi!!!

we were like crazy people trying to get a signal

and racing to see who could be the 1st person to post a picture of him!!!

so funny!

all trying to post a picture of the most precious boy

that we couldn't wait to show to the world!

 and Ellison won!

with a posting to instagram!

When we drove up to that airport,

I could barely hold it together...

The thought of leaving Gudeta on the other side of the world

just overwhelmed me.

At the same time...

I was so glad that we have an excuse to go back!

Can't wait until the next trip!

We came home forever changed.

Loving Ethiopia, the people, the culture.

Praising God for this calling.

So glad we didn't miss out on the joy of this calling...

1st Ethiopia Trip - Day 3

Day 3 in Ethiopia was court day!

Here we are on our way out...

or possibly when we got  back.

ready to go gain another Cheatham!

I was really ready to get this part of the process over with.

We sat in that court waiting room...

and I just thought about all the people that had been there before us,

all those adoption blogs I have read the last several years...

and I prayed for and thought about those of you that will be sitting in that room after us.

It's a little nerve wracking...

seeing some people coming out with tears of joy

and some people coming out crying for other reasons.

We left the 3 kids with Aimee and Brittany...

they swam, and swam, and swam...

there might have been a little stunting involved as well...

they promised us they would eat healthy and keep the kids safe...

That night we went to Habesha 2000

totally fun!

and can I just say...

Praise the Lord that Abey ate with us...

so he could warn  tell us about the lovely delicacies in the buffet...

such as coyote meat.

and Abey could also affirm that yes, the bowl was indeed for tips...

Abey might have mentioned that maybe Brittany should put it on the dancer's forehead...

But Abey did not mention that when you gave a tip,

you would have to put it on her forehead,

and then you would be challenged to a dance off!!!

and the dancer would NOT crack a smile!

Abey also did not tell us...

that they would randomly pick people out of the audience to dance...

This made my anxiety level go through the roof.

I do NOT like getting called out/up to dance!

 Apparently my 2 friends don't mind one bit getting on stage for a dance off!

The cultural dinner was a great way to celebrate the Cheatham 6!

and thank the Lord that I was never called up to dance!