Howdy!!!
We promised to give a brief synopsis of everything we did in Ethiopia on trip #1. Our journal has page after page of details, emotions, taste, smells, etc...All of which would overload our blog and is too personal to share. Therefore, we will give a little outline of all that was done trip #1:
July 31st-2nd..Lost one day flying east
We parked at Steve's and he so generously took us to the airport at 2:00am, flew from PHX to Chicago, Chicago to Frankfurt and then to Addis. Upon arrival we got Visas, exchanged dollars for Birr, were met and escorted to the guest house, fed a gourmet dinner and then try to sleep before next morning of meeting boys.
August 3rd
Met Zeke and Taft for the first time..PRAISE GOD! It was love, blessings and joy at first glance. We never imagined the overwhelming emotions we would experience. The boys are a gift from God he has trusted us with raising, providing for and growing to be disciple in Him. They were beautiful, healthy, funny and AMAZING!!! We then went to the attorney's office to complete Embassy paperwork, and prepare for the court interview. We met privately to discuss if the biological family was able to testify before court. Thankfully he made the 12 hour journey to court to agree to the adoption, and therefore there is no red tape waiting for us at court. We shopped and ate like crazy, just adoring the other families who are spending their journey with us as well.
August 4th
Another long and fabulous visit with the boys! We traveled to Entoto mountain and visited a museum, church, beautiful countryside touring.
August 5th
Court Day!
We spend FORVER ironing and getting spiffy! Then we all head to court and wait in the courthouse to be called. Several families before us had hard news and need additional paperwork or biological family meetings, so our hearts were racing. We were called, and what seemed to be a super model was the judge, who interviewed us with both our attorney and director at our side. At the end she said "You contract is approved", aka "You are Parents of Taft and Zeke"!!! We walked out and burst into tears of joy! After court we met with the pediatrician and asked all the questions ever imagined. They brought the boys in for us to hold and explain our concerns. She answered everything as we had hoped they are healthy and happy. Tigist, told us our little guy was her favorite, and let us stay long after our appointment to play with them. We felt guilty since the other families did not get to see their children, so after a while sent them back with the Nanny. We went to a dinner-dance-singing type place with the whole group to celebrate court approval. We at traditional food, drank honey wine, were entertained, and the dancers then came out into the crowd to get the audience to do this crazy dance with them. The dancer must have thought Tyler was the best, because next thing you know he is having a dance off with the lead dancer..He was awarded a little coffee pot trophy! The celebration lasted late into the night...we had a lot to be excited about!
August 6th
Early morning we drive to Arba Minch, stopping to eat several times along the way. We are in an off roading vehicle since there are not paved roads most of the way. I imagined gravel roads..NO...like paths cut through the country side, with boulders, rivers, trees, ETC! We have never been anywhere like that. We enjoyed watching the country side and peoples way of life. We stopped at a village compound and had a tour of how the build their homes, cook, eat, play music, sew, dance, etc. This time must have been my dancing opportunity. The kids pulled me out into the tribe and one of their leaders danced their traditional dances with me, eventually crowning me with a leopard fur over my shoulders! We arrived at the hotel which had all glass on one side overlooking the lakes and mountain side, and the baboons would come right up to the window.
August 7th
We went on a boat ride/hike/African safari and saw hippos, crocodiles, chased after Zebra(they were like 15 feet away)..And really saw the beauties of where are boys are from. The guide though I had a fake arm because of my fake nails and scar on my wrist, thought our granola bars were "stone" that breaks teeth and cracked us up the entire time. Then, we went to the local orphanage the boys were first admitted to. The director and her son let us see documents of when the boys were first admitted, and in broken English hugged each of us and called us her "Family"..Tears amongst the whole group at that point. We showed them current pictures and they all went bonkers excited to see how big and healthy they are. They explained the situation with Zeke's mom passing away during childbirth and what cemetery she is buried at. The director took us to the inn where Taft was found, and the keeper remembered the room he was in, what the mom looked like and everything...once again tears of thankfulness that we can share the info with our kids, and that we know their history. The director explained the boys are from different tribes and that is why they look so different, so we bought the scarves from the local villagers of the correct colors and style for each boy.
August 8th
We drove to Hawassa, the roads were even crazier than the days before hand. We enjoyed the sunset and avocado drinks overlooking the lake at the Haille hotel, then a five star Ethiopian dinner there as well too.
August 9th
We started the day at the fish market, which was heartbreaking and interesting all at once. The millions of mosquitoes from the evening before were being spent at the hotel into piles...piles that filled huge trash cans...I mean millions! Thankfully we have been using our nets at night and spray during the day...I feel for the locals and the danger they face. We visited the SOS EE Hawassa center, Meke Center and then the new center Gelan. The differences in the centers were remarkable how they have improved. Many of the children were HIV positive but on ART treatment to flip it. Gelan is like Americanized with running water, dorms, toys, playgrounds, etc...The direction SOS EE is moving is remarkable. We get back to the guest house in time to visit departing families that night.
August 10th
Again Wendy took us shopping for scarves, music, knives, etc. He is a wonderful man! Like a tour guide, driver, body guard, translator..all in one! After lunch we visited the boys for the last time. Heartbreaking but enjoyable! We fall more in love each day! They have such distinct personalities, like and dislikes, yet are so protective of each other. God has blessed our family of 4 abundantly. Back at the guest house we ate, showered, packed, said our goodbyes and headed off for our midnight flight out.
August 11th
We continue to travel, poor Tyler is sicker than sick. We keep saying get the illness part over this trip, so that we can be healthy with 2 little men on trip #2. Steve picks us up, bless his heart, we looked pretty sick and raggedy at this point. We finally head back to Tucson, as parents of the most precious gifts we could ever imagine being blessed with!!!!
Background
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
August 22nd, 2010
Howdy!!!
I know we haven't posted in forever. Life has been flying by! We are officially going to Ethiopia on September 24th and by Sept 30th will have the boys in our arms forever! We will then return home on October 1st and be the Johnson Family of 4!
We promise to post more about our travels through the villages of Ethiopia and our time in Addis Ababa!
On another note...We would be blessed to have your help!!!!....
Taft has a reaction to the formula he is being fed and now that we have legal custody can send formula to the orphanage with other familes to leave for him. We were hoping we could find another family leaving to Addis immediately, but have not been so lucky. If anyone knows of any families, with any agency, gouing to the Toukoul orphanage is the near future we would do anything, absolutelt anything, to be able to send a few weeks worth of specialized formula with them. We have exhausted all other opportunities and seem to be grasping at air now, but you never know. Gos provides is some strange ways!
I know we haven't posted in forever. Life has been flying by! We are officially going to Ethiopia on September 24th and by Sept 30th will have the boys in our arms forever! We will then return home on October 1st and be the Johnson Family of 4!
We promise to post more about our travels through the villages of Ethiopia and our time in Addis Ababa!
On another note...We would be blessed to have your help!!!!....
Taft has a reaction to the formula he is being fed and now that we have legal custody can send formula to the orphanage with other familes to leave for him. We were hoping we could find another family leaving to Addis immediately, but have not been so lucky. If anyone knows of any families, with any agency, gouing to the Toukoul orphanage is the near future we would do anything, absolutelt anything, to be able to send a few weeks worth of specialized formula with them. We have exhausted all other opportunities and seem to be grasping at air now, but you never know. Gos provides is some strange ways!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Court Day!!!
Howdy!
We have now been in Ethiopia for several days and have pages and pages full of information, photos, and videos to share, yet not enough time and desire to post in a little internet cafe in Ethiopia.
We have been able to visit the boys twice now.....LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!!! They are the most amazing little kiddos we could have ever dreamed of. We think back to those positive pg tests, and realize the excitement is only a percentage of what we felt when we laid our eyes and hands on the boys. They are so sweet and fun! They are full of giggles and smiles and love to play. They are super tiny, and have a distict Ethiopian smell. We love to absorb every second we have with them, and then back at the guest house watch the videos over and over again!
Today was court and we were all dressed up and ready for business. Our attorney and families all met at the court house and were seen by the judge. We met privately with the attorney on Tuesday with concerns about Zeke's father and the paperwork that had yet to be completed by him. Remarkably he had made the 10 hour travel last week in order to give his consent for us to adopt his little angel. What a miracle! So today we were interviewed by the judge for an understanding of our reasonsing behind adopting the boys. We were nervous and shaking, but at the end the judge said, "Your contract is approved!!!" Praise God!!!! Everyone heard different remarks finalizing so we were concerned, but our director explained to me that meant we have custody of the boys!!!! Taft and Zeke now are offically Johnson Boys!!!
We will share about all our tarvels in the days and weeks to come, we just appreciate all the prayers that were lifted for our day in court and couldn't help but take a moment to let everyone know that court went great!
Now we have some celebrating, meeting with the pediatrician, travel to Arba Minch to see the boy's first home and then we will be able to share more in the future. We promise details will follow when we are back in the boring life of American Johnsons!
Love yall and God Bless!!!
We have now been in Ethiopia for several days and have pages and pages full of information, photos, and videos to share, yet not enough time and desire to post in a little internet cafe in Ethiopia.
We have been able to visit the boys twice now.....LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!!! They are the most amazing little kiddos we could have ever dreamed of. We think back to those positive pg tests, and realize the excitement is only a percentage of what we felt when we laid our eyes and hands on the boys. They are so sweet and fun! They are full of giggles and smiles and love to play. They are super tiny, and have a distict Ethiopian smell. We love to absorb every second we have with them, and then back at the guest house watch the videos over and over again!
Today was court and we were all dressed up and ready for business. Our attorney and families all met at the court house and were seen by the judge. We met privately with the attorney on Tuesday with concerns about Zeke's father and the paperwork that had yet to be completed by him. Remarkably he had made the 10 hour travel last week in order to give his consent for us to adopt his little angel. What a miracle! So today we were interviewed by the judge for an understanding of our reasonsing behind adopting the boys. We were nervous and shaking, but at the end the judge said, "Your contract is approved!!!" Praise God!!!! Everyone heard different remarks finalizing so we were concerned, but our director explained to me that meant we have custody of the boys!!!! Taft and Zeke now are offically Johnson Boys!!!
We will share about all our tarvels in the days and weeks to come, we just appreciate all the prayers that were lifted for our day in court and couldn't help but take a moment to let everyone know that court went great!
Now we have some celebrating, meeting with the pediatrician, travel to Arba Minch to see the boy's first home and then we will be able to share more in the future. We promise details will follow when we are back in the boring life of American Johnsons!
Love yall and God Bless!!!
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