Our Time in Ethiopia

We got home late, late Friday night. To say things have been busy since, just doesn't do it justice. So, I'm finally getting the chance to write about our trip.

Less than 48 hours before we were scheduled to fly out, we found out that Lufthansa canceled our flights. Their pilots went on strike the three days surrounding our flight out. Ugh. I can't even explain the panic we were feeling. Thankfully, our travel agent got us scheduled on a different flight with Turkish Airlines (I DON'T recommend them in any way... in case you were wondering). So we ended up arriving in Ethiopia on Saturday morning very, very early in the morning. We checked in to our guest house, unpacked and got about two hours sleep before waking up to get on with the trip! On Saturday, we went shopping with a friend that previously lived in Wisconsin and now resides in Ethiopia. We spent the day and evening with her and her family. It was AWESOME! So great to be able to connect and understand and spend time with someone you are familiar with when everything else is so unfamiliar (and often uncomfortable). Next to getting custody of Samara, this was my favorite few hours, hands down!

On Sunday, we got to go visit with Samara for a few hours in the afternoon. Thankfully, we had another couple from New Jersey that I had connected with often before leaving that we spent tons of time with while in Ethiopia. This also was a huge blessing for us. It was great getting to know them better and chatting while sitting at the orphanage and holding and playing with our girls!

On Monday, we went to the orphanage for the farewell ceremony. This was a long, hard day. The nannies at the orphanage really do the best they can and they really grow to love the kids there. Samara has been there almost 16 months, so these ladies have come to know her quite well and have been like her mother figure this whole time. Though the conditions at the orphanage are painful to see and experience, we know that our girl was treated well and was cared for. That is most important. During the farewell ceremony, many other kids were there - younger and older. There was cake, coffee, soda, singing... it was so so so precious.

More later.Cant'.Stay.Awake.