Hi all--it is about 7 friday night here and we have had one of the
most emotional days yet in Ethiopia. This morning we as a group
ventured to the court for our parent interviews. Rob and I were up
early again prepping for the interviews and then we did the Ethiopian
"Hurry up and Wait". Our appointments were to start at 10-however we
got the call from the lawyer/social worker at the courthouse saying
-wait a half hour. Then we got to the outside of the court and waited
about another 45 minutes. However when it was our time-they weren't
kidding. All 11 families were ushered in front of a lot of other
waiting families and we were all in and out in about 30 minutes--all
with favorable decisions from the judge!

Hearing "it is done, he is your child now" was probably something I
will never forget in my life. We are now waiting until Monday to see
if the paperwork from the Ministry of Women's Affairs is in order and
then begins the Embassy Process (I will be able to finally blog monday
when I return to the US-but a huge thank you again to Katie Stromlund
for doing this while I am away).

After lunch was the birth parent meeting-this was so emotional for all
involved, but an amazing opportunity to ask specific questions, give
pictures-and take a family picture. At the end of the meeting all the
families united for a prayer in three different languages, then she
lit a candle-gave it to us, we said a prayer in response and then said
our final goodbyes. In the two hours I was able to spend with her I
was able to learn so much about their lives, her hopes for herself-and
her hopes for him (when they told us to bring a lot of kleenex to this
one-they were not kidding).

Rob and I are emotionally spent at this point, which is probably okay
as we leave Ethiopia tomorrow night. During the day it will be a
little more shopping/sight seeing, and hopefully a trip to AHOPE with
the supplies I brought from the states.

I will not be able to blog again until Monday-but I really can't
express enough thank you's to all of you back home! I am so grateful
for your support in our journey to bring our little guy home.