So Proud of Annaliese

Oh my goodness – our baby girl is growing up way too quickly!! Look at these math problems she is working on with today’s homework!! So proud of how hard she has worked over the past 2 years : )

Family Portrait

So glad this came in the mail today! A big thanks to Beth Cupitt (another AWAA adoptive mama)!!

 

Service Project

So proud of Annaliese's class!! They were featured on the school's website today:

https://sites.google.com/a/unity.k12.il.us/unity-east/spotlight/1stgradehelpschildrenhalfwayacrosstheworld

Getting Ready

Just bought a wardrobe for our sweet little guy. Had way too much fun!! Here are a couple of my favorites...

 

Here is one Annaliese picked out - she remembered seeing it on one of his friends (Aseb) in a picture of them together : )

 

 

And here is Annaliese's favorite...

 

 

Can't wait to have him home : )

Home

Made it home safely!! Rudely greeted by single digit temps : (

So happy to see our baby girl, but of course missing our new sweetie across the globe. Prayers for being united quickly soon!!

One Flight - Check

Headed out for the last, but longest, leg of our journey home. It sounds like we will be greeted by some amazing weather : )

Goodbyes

Said goodbye to some amazing people this evening – Champ (AWAA guide), Johnny (driver), and Yonas (AWAA guide). So fortunate to spend the week with these guys : )

Last Day in Ethiopia

After a restful night's sleep, we were able to do more in Bahir Dar (the capital of Gojjam) than we expected to be able to before we left to return to Addis.

We first walked to a stadium, which is in the finishing stages of construction (primarily to the outside). Our guide, Yonas, told us that it will be the largest stadium in Ethiopia once open, holding up to 60,000 people. Jonathan is already dreaming of he and Gojam attending a soccer game at it someday :

 

 

 

 

 

There was a festival happening, hosted by the Ministry of Defense, which has occurred in other regions in years past. It showcased the Ethiopian military and their various capabilities. It included military aircraft fly-bys, martial arts, and sparring (of sorts). It was really neat to see and ended with the playing of the Ethiopian national anthem. What an event to witness!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then headed out of the stadium, which had TONS of people.

 

 

We walked for a bit until Yonas hailed us a taxi. We have seen these taxis throughout our Ethiopian travels, but never expected to ride in one – what a treat!

 

 

Finally, we headed to the airport and returned to Addis.

 

We were able to go to the transition home to see Gojam one last time for this trip. He was as excited to see us as we were to see him. Before leaving, we introduced him to punch balloons and play-do : )

 

 

Even Champ enjoyed the play-do : )

 

We said our final good-byes with great expectation that the time until he comes home will be minimal. 

 

Tonight we head home to see our sweet girl, Annaliese. Please continue to cover our family with your prayers : )

In-Country Travel

We arrived safely in Bahir Dar to begin our travels to Gojam’s birth region today.

You know you're going to have fun when your driver shows up with a land cruiser and 2 spare wheels “just in case!” No tire changes needed, but it sure was a bumpy ride (my Fitbit registered over 22,000 steps & 317 flights of stairs)!

 

Just to give you a small taste of how the ride was : )

 

They are in the process of constructing a paved roadway, but it's not quite done. It will be amazing for the villages in the region once it is : )

Done

 

 Under construction

Along the way, we saw a variety of things of interest, including many hardworking Ethiopian natives, huts, local militia (those authorized by the government to help keep peace), hyena roadkill, and an area impacted by WorldVision Ethiopia. How neat to see lives being changed because others are choosing to be the hands and feet of Jesus!

 

 

After a tremendous day, we will get a good night’s sleep at the beautiful guesthouse where arrangements have been made for us to stay.

 

 

 

In the morning, we will head back to the TH to see Gojam once more before we head home tomorrow night.