Two Fathers that Love you Very Much

Life continues to be wild and crazy.  We had the boys dedicated at the church on Saturday night.  It was an amazing ceremony and the Love from our congregation, family and friends was felt throughout the church.  The boys were exhilerated but somewhat apprehensive to be up on "stage" in front of so many people.

At times Fikadu, our oldest seems more distant.  Mostly when he is tired at the end of the day.  He keeps his photo album close at hand and looks at the pictures frequently.  The other day while they were playing at Grandma's, mom saw him looking at the pictures and asked him about them.  (She already knew most of them) but then he got to the small obscure picture of Daddy Asayda.  Mom asked him about it and he told her who it was, the discussion went something like this, "it's o.k. to miss Daddy Asayda but you are such a special little boy to have two Daddy's who Love you so very much."  He smiled, put up his photo album and once more he was reassured he was safe and Loved.

And Life continues in the Ewing household.

  

Home sweet Home

We arrived home as a family of four on January 28th.  Delays in the Embassy kept us in Ethiopia a week longer than planned but we knew it was all in God's timing.  We miss the precious friends we have made and are trying to stay in touch with them.  The boys speak frequently of their friends from the transition house and guest house.

We have been so blessed with two precious boys.  They have settled in well, have completely gotten over their fear of the dogs, to the point they torment them now.  They sleep in their own beds and are not afraid to.  They have already seen so many "firsts".  It is difficult to even put them down in writing.

Monday they start school.  Fekadu is very excited and wants to continue working with his English, and Abinet, well, what can I say about a three year old in school.

Fekadu had his first dentist appointment and we will be starting on his extensive dental work the first of March.  Abinet has his first dental visit scheduled about that same time but we aren't sure he will be able to sit still long enough to let the dentist look at his teeth.

Last weekend we spent at the cabin with some precious dear friends and their two daughters.  It was the first time the boys had been in the snow for any length of time.  We couldn't get them in the cabin at all even when they were wet and cold!  The first words before breakfast in the morning were boots, coat mommy boots, coat mommy!

All is well, what a change.  Blessed are we, Thank you Lord for the gift. 

Six days and counting

We have made our final travel arrangements to pick up our sons, Fikadu and Abinet.  Although we have not been "officially" cleared for an Embassy appointment we are taking another leap of Faith and showing up.  The Embassy will have had our paperwork for two weeks.  We pray this is enough time for them to approve and issue their visas.  My husband and I have never traveled with children.  This is going to be an interesting and absolutely marvelous time.  It will be a learning experience for all four of us.  We know that God's hand is in this and we will be protected through the time.
It is difficult to pack personal things for the boys.  We were only able to spend 15 hours over 5 days with them a month ago.  It was a start to get to know them but so much more to learn!  Clothes are the easy one, toys? not so easy due to limited space books, lots of books and coloring things.  Boys, here we come!
This is a venture God has designed and blessed.  It will be a  lesson in trust and faith for each and every one of us and in the end, all four of us will be forever changed.  

January 19th is going to be our magical day

Today we received our sons birth certificates and passports.  At least copies of them.  This means they will be submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia tomorrow and we will have the next available Embassy appointment.  It should be January 19th.  In just over two weeks we will have our sons in our custody and will be starting our family of four.  Fikadu, your black dog is waiting for you to come home.  Abinet, your kitties, (plural by 12) are waiting for you!  Mom and Dad are coming.