Meetcha Day

After a 14 hour flight we landed in Addis Ababa at 8:30am. We were picked up by our driver and taken to Yebsabi guest house where we told we had 30 minutes to freshen up before we would be taken to meet our daughter! We were so exhausted from traveling but I think our adrenaline kicked in and we were too excited to be nervous. We stood in front of the doorway of the transition home where I have seen so many pictures of other families meeting their children. Couldn't believe it was finally our turn to stand in that same spot and meet our daughter for the first time! She walked right out the door with the cutest smile on her face and immediately came over and put her little arm around me. We had been told she was shy so we were surprised that she came right to us. I love how she is checking me out in the picture below. The first thing her daddy told her was I love you and she grinned again. So sweet! 

First moments with Nara

First family photo

She loved having her nails painted!

Can't get over how beautiful she is...

Nara and her coco doll. One of the very first things we bought her when we first decided to adopt. 

We have a very sweet video of our first moments with Nara but we are going to save it for a later date. Some very special friends of ours who are photographers have asked if they can put together a video of our story from when we started the process until we bring her home. Actually it isn't our story but His. As Donald Miller put it ..."If I have a hope, it's that God sat over the dark nothing and wrote you and me, specifically into the story, and put us in with the sunset and the rainstorm as though to say, Enjoy your place in my story. The beauty of it means you matter, and you can create within it even as I have created you." Nara matters and she is a daughter of the king. Can't believe I get to be her momma. So glad God is still in the business of placing the lonely in families and that we listened to His call. 

I keep thinking about the lyrics from the song by Audio Adrenaline that someone posted on my facebook page last week...

"Boys become kings, girls will be queens

Wrapped in Your majesty

When we love, when we love the least of these

Then they will be brave and free

Shout Your name in victory

when we love, when we love the least of these!"

Meet Nara!

Meet our daughter Nara Thomas!!!! We passsed court last Tuesday and are now waiting to be submitted to Embassy. In the next few days I'm going to work on blogging about our trip to Ethiopia to meet her. Until then I wanted to share this sweet and precious little face! Can't wait to bring her home!

Long time coming....

It's been about 4 years since I last stepped foot on the continent of Africa while on a Mission Trip with my church. On that trip to South Africa was when God truly began planting the seed of adoption on mine and Ryan's hearts. Little did I know that the next time I visited this beautiful place called Africa it would be to meet my daughter. It's been a long road with lots of ups and downs but I know without a doubt that the journey has molded and shaped me for my greater good. There are so many emotions as I type this. Tomorrow we leave for Ethiopia and I am still trying to grasp what is about to take place. For the last 2 1/2 years not a day has gone by that we haven't prayed over and thought about our sweet girl. One of the first gifts Nara ever received was a frame from her Grandma Tammy. She gave it to us not long after we started this process so we could hang it in her room. The frame has a saying on it which reads..."Before I knew you, I loved you." This saying couldn't be more true. Now it is hanging on her wall with this sweet picture in it. 

I have died everyday waiting for youDarling don't be afraid I have loved youFor a thousand yearsI'll love you for a thousand more
One step closer....next stop Ethiopia!