J Cooper Photography

I have not been good about blogging the past couple of weeks as my mind has been racing in a million different directions.

Last Thursday Mr. P left for Ethiopia.  He had made the decision to go on a missions trip with Karen and Children’s Hopechest last year…and even though we plan to be traveling to Ethiopia multiple times in the next few months…he still really wanted to be a part of the team.  I really wanted him to go as well.  Although the thought of him being gone for almost 2 weeks was causing some mild moderate severe panic.  He used to travel internationally ALL THE TIME but that stopped when we moved to Nebraska.  And I have lost my groove at single parenting.  Not an entirely bad thing to lose.  Just a bit painful to try to find it!

So Mr. P left on Thursday…and we started off just great for the first 3 or 4 hours.  Then my sweet niece (who lives in my basement) ended up in the ER.  We got home around 1:30 am and by 3:00 am Danny Boy was screaming bloody murder from a sudden ear infection.  OK…so not a great start.  But things had no where to go but up, right?

We’ve hunkered down and had LOTS of discussions about honoring God with our GOOD attitudes.  Those discussions have been preached to the kiddy choir here but I’m sure I’m just as needy of the reminder.

I’ve been receiving texts every few days about Mr. P’s amazing experience with the team.  The first amazing moment for him was getting to personally meet the little girl at Trees of Glory that we sponsor.  Samarwit is almost the exact same age as The Brainiac.  She lives with her parents in a nearby village and attends the school during the day.  She is beautiful and sweet and I am so thankful that we get to come alongside her family and help to give her tools for her bright future.  Karen surprised Mr. P with a trip to see Samarwit’s house and he got the opportunity to meet her parents!! Oh, how I wish I could have been there to hug them and thank them for allowing us to be a part of their family!

The team has traveled to several care point centers to work with the children.  It has been so fun to hear my husband’s report of the amazing children!  I love him and how much he cares about these little lives.  Some women love body builders or rock stars….just give me a man who is head over heals in love with orphans and I melt to a puddle

The highlight of his trip so far???  MEETING OUR SUNSHINE!!!!!!!!!!

Our agency was extremely gracious and allowed for a brief visit at the Thomas Center!   We just could not fathom being IN Ethiopia and not getting to meet her.  It was only 20 minutes with a soccer ball in the court yard but I can tell you…we are both completely in LOVE!!  I am so thrilled he had the chance to see her…and I’m jealous beyond words.   She doesn’t know yet that we are her family.  The nannies will tell her once our court date is scheduled.  So for now…Mr. P was just a strange man with a ball…but hopefully she will recognize him when we are there for our court trip soon.

I have really been doing fine with the wait.  Things have moved so rapidly throughout this adoption that I was ok with the pace.  I knew our court date was coming soon.  I was just fine.  But now I have seen pictures and VIDEO and she sang me her ABCs and showed me her mad soccer skillz and now I MUST.GET.ON.A.PLANE.ALREADY to meet my daughter!   This morning a switch was flipped.  And I am NOT OK.  My heart is aching to meet this precious girl who has waited while others have gone home before her!

She’s shy at first.  She loves technology and knows her way around an Iphone.  She’s a little silly and definitely sweet.  She’s reserved.  She’s coordinated and poised.  She has the biggest smile with the white-est teeth (but you will have to earn it).  She is BEAUTIFUL and soon she will be our daughter!

This week has been emotional as every morning I have woken up to new pictures and video in my inbox.  This video came from a traveling family.  We can’t post photos of Sunshine until we pass court but this was too sweet not to share (and there is no identifying information anyways)….she is one of these sweet voices!!  If these little voices don’t grab your heart…nothing will!

The reinforcements have landed at our house.   Only five more days left until my better half returns!!