Family picture as we picked her up from the care center.
Playing at the hotel.....
She loves looking at herself in the mirror!
Feeding before bed......
Sleeping.
Yes, the Moses' basket is too short!
(These two are from Saturday.)
Drinking juice from a cup:
We will not be continuing this practice yet ... too messy!
Big smiles! :)
Monday, November 29, 2010
"Gotcha Day"
Well
Everyone –
We got
her! Mandy and I have officially taken
custody of our baby girl. We got
her. At 5:30 pm (Ethiopia Time) we
walked over to the orphanage, but this time it was different. We went into the waiting room, and then they
brought her out to us. She had her hair
done up in little poufs, and she was wearing a purple sleeper.
I had the
camera rolling during the moment when Mandy and I took custody. (Sorry I had to downgrade the quality a
little bit…It took 2 tries to get the file uploaded to youtube from our sketchy
internet connection).
Here’s
the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBc-MhsIx6g
Today (Nov.
29, 2010) is our official Gotcha Day! It’s
the day we finally got her. In fact that
was the first thing I said to her. “I
Gotcha.”
We didn’t
have to stay at the orphanage care center very long though. We left shortly afterward and we brought her
back to the hotel. We played for a
while, had our first bath time, and now, as I write these words, Mandy is
soothing her and getting her ready for bed.
(oops…I’ve just been told that she’s already asleep). :)
(For the
record, Mandy and I have no idea what to do with her hair tonight. Should we leave it down or put it up? I think we’ll end up leaving it down tonight and
we’ll see if it’s tangled up by morning.)
Well, I
think I’m going to go down to the hotel kitchen, try to order us some pizza,
and then we’re going to try and get some sleep.
It’s strange…I’m one of those guys who doesn’t cry…I just don’t…I don’t
have a problem with tears, and I don’t see anything wrong with crying. It’s just that my emotions tend to express
themselves through my mouth long before they express themselves any other way. But today I cried. (good tears though). It only took a daughter to get me to cry.
Thanks
for all your prayers, support and love.
Joel &
Mandy and Kiera
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Birth Mom Meeting
Today we drove to Durame where Kiera is from. We got to see the first
orphanage she was in and meet her nannies and the head nurse who
admitted her. This was great.
But the best and hardest part was meeting Kiera's birth mom. She is a
sweet woman and truly loves her daughter. This will be something
great to share with Kiera as she grows up.
We are resting now in preparation for tomorrow when we take custody.
From then on it will be the three of us in the hotel.
Blessings,
Joel and Mandy
orphanage she was in and meet her nannies and the head nurse who
admitted her. This was great.
But the best and hardest part was meeting Kiera's birth mom. She is a
sweet woman and truly loves her daughter. This will be something
great to share with Kiera as she grows up.
We are resting now in preparation for tomorrow when we take custody.
From then on it will be the three of us in the hotel.
Blessings,
Joel and Mandy
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Glorious Curls in Cornrows!
Hey everyone - We made it to the hotel last night at about (11pm Ethiopia Time). We enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast of Granola bars, and crackers with peanut butter). Who needs turkey?
Anyway, we got to see her this morning. She reacted in exactly the same way as she did the first day we met. She was stunned by our presence, and we were stunned by her. Her curly black hair had gotten long enough to be braided. She is adorable. Her's are the most beautiful eyes I think I've ever seen. Anyway, after about an hour or so she became inconsolable. (it was nap time, but she didn't feel sleepy). So as we tried to play with her, the nanny's came and tried to put her down to give her some space to collect herself while we got lunch.
We went back this evening, and she was so much more attentive and playful! We love her so much. One thing I can say about Kiera...she's got rhythm. She and I were banging our hands on the floor...she's a natural. I think I'll start out by teaching her drums first and then maybe piano and after that she can start guitar.
Love you all! Thanks for the prayers!
Joel and Mandy (and Kiera)
*side comment by 'guest' poster...aka: Chris (friend, that is good friend to Mandy & Joel)
Oh!MY!Goodness!Gracious!
Is she not the most adorable baby girl you have ever seen??????
I mean, really!!!
Congratulations, Mandy & Joel!!! :)
Anyway, we got to see her this morning. She reacted in exactly the same way as she did the first day we met. She was stunned by our presence, and we were stunned by her. Her curly black hair had gotten long enough to be braided. She is adorable. Her's are the most beautiful eyes I think I've ever seen. Anyway, after about an hour or so she became inconsolable. (it was nap time, but she didn't feel sleepy). So as we tried to play with her, the nanny's came and tried to put her down to give her some space to collect herself while we got lunch.
We went back this evening, and she was so much more attentive and playful! We love her so much. One thing I can say about Kiera...she's got rhythm. She and I were banging our hands on the floor...she's a natural. I think I'll start out by teaching her drums first and then maybe piano and after that she can start guitar.
Love you all! Thanks for the prayers!
Joel and Mandy (and Kiera)
*side comment by 'guest' poster...aka: Chris (friend, that is good friend to Mandy & Joel)
Oh!MY!Goodness!Gracious!
Is she not the most adorable baby girl you have ever seen??????
I mean, really!!!
Congratulations, Mandy & Joel!!! :)
We are here!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
We finally arrived in Ethiopia about 1 hour ago. We had our Thanksgiving dinner on the plane (Beef and pasta). We unpacked and are hoping to get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow we get our orientation and schedule and them get to go spend time with Kiera. I am so excited I can hardly stand it.
We are thankful that you are all in our lives. We love you!
Joel and Mandy
We finally arrived in Ethiopia about 1 hour ago. We had our Thanksgiving dinner on the plane (Beef and pasta). We unpacked and are hoping to get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow we get our orientation and schedule and them get to go spend time with Kiera. I am so excited I can hardly stand it.
We are thankful that you are all in our lives. We love you!
Joel and Mandy
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
On our way to bring you home ...
It is finally here. We leave today. I cannot wait to see our little Kiera again. And this time we get to keep her and bring her home. Everything is ready (we think) and so are we. I hope we didn't forget anything. I can't put into words how thankful I am for every one of you that has prayed with us and for us. We love you! And we will see you all soon!
Joel, Mandy and Kiera
Joel, Mandy and Kiera
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Back to Africa
We finally got to news on Friday, November 5th that we are in line for the embassy appointment on November 30th. They told us to book our flights to arrive on the 25th, Thanksgiving day. What an exciting way to spend Thanksgiving.
So, we booked the flights and will be leaving on the 24th and come back on december3rd with our baby girl. We cannot wait.
Thanks again for all your prayers everyone. Our family has been so blessed by all of you. I will Try to keep posting when we leave, but like last time it will not b everyday so keep checking.
Blessing!
Joel, Mandy and Kiera
So, we booked the flights and will be leaving on the 24th and come back on december3rd with our baby girl. We cannot wait.
Thanks again for all your prayers everyone. Our family has been so blessed by all of you. I will Try to keep posting when we leave, but like last time it will not b everyday so keep checking.
Blessing!
Joel, Mandy and Kiera
Monday, November 1, 2010
Wait
I was organizing some books to make room for the baby books for Kiera and I came accross a poem book by Russell Kelfer call "Wait." I re-read it and found God speaking to me in the words. I have been getting so impatient these last few weeks (as it has been over a month since I have seen my daughter). I needed to be reminded that God is in charge and he has a reason for our wait, even if I don't know what it is.
Thank you Lord!
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
Thank you Lord!
Wait
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."
"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.
"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.
"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.
"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.
"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.
"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.
"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."
by Russell Kelfer
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Selam (Hello)
Here we record our adoption journey ... 7728 miles to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.