Travel day 3 and 4

6-15-11, 6-16-11

Well the "next" few hours of the flight did not fly by, ugh. My stomach was in knots and it seemed as though it would never settle down. I am severely jet lagged today but am still very excited that today we meet our daughter for the first time!

Today we met our beautiful A.J.!! It was very surreal driving up to the foster home and having them open the gates for us to come in. It didn't seem real until we were ushered up the stairs. Sister showed us up to her room and walked us right over to her crib. She was just lying there awake staring at us. I had to take a step back because she looked so differently than all of the photos we had received thus far. She was far more beautiful than I could've ever imagined! Her big round eyes just kept darting between my husband and myself. I immediately asked if I could pick her up and was told "of course!!" She began smiling as soon as I picked her up; as if she knew who we were already. Despite her being transferred from Awassa, nearly 6 hours away, she was as happy as she could be! Her laugh was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard! The next few hours with her went like a dream. We began to realize that she is definitely our child, she did not want to be put down! She was beginning to become spoiled already!

As we drove back to the guesthouse it became apparent to me that A.J. was a very lucky girl to have been born in Ethiopia but also very lucky to have more than most Ethiopians. She will have a roof over her head and three meals everyday when she comes home. She will not have to worry about clean water or malaria. However, as lucky as she is to be coming to America we are ten times more lucky than she to have her coming into our lives. She is a miracle and we are so grateful to the country of Ethiopia and her birth mother for giving us this little blessing. She is our pride and joy.

The streets of Ethiopia are a sad sight and definitely make me feel grateful for all I have. Even while staying in Ethiopia we are far better off than most because we have bottled water and walls made of concrete. We have a guard who watches over our guest home day and night and we have someone to make our meals for us. We are very grateful to all of the people who have already gone out of their way to make our stay here the best possible stay. Of all of these people we are the most grateful to our driver, translator, body guard and most of all our friend Joni. He has shown us God. He has shown us generosity at its best. We have already been blown away by his caring nature and we haven't even been here three days! He is a great, great man and I must say if you are going to Ethiopia ask for Joni- most people know who he is! He laughs with us and crys with us- he is our "cousin" now as he puts it. We love him like family!

So far Ethiopia has been wonderful! We cannot wait to come back! -Mama 2 be