A Prayer for Coming Home

Kim's dad substituting for the usual bloggers again ... their access is limited and their hands are full with more important tasks.

I talked briefly yesterday by phone with Kim from their hotel room where they've spent the last four nights with their boys. Kim sounded much like a new mother who'd been up most of the night nursing a newborn ... something I've observed a few times, though it was over 30+ years ago ... she was exhausted! It is confirmation that taking care of two toddling boys in a small hotel room is hard work, especially with the limitations of language and without the routines of structure so important for that age.

There is a nine hour difference between Addis Ababa and Kansas City so as I'm writing this blog at 5:30AM they are in the middle of their last afternoon in Ethiopia stuffing their backpacks and toting two wonderful bundles of adventure and joy who have no idea where they're headed nor what lies ahead. The Lovitt trek home begins at 10 minutes to midnight on a Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) flight to Amsterdam and then on to Detroit (where the boys will become U.S. citizens as soon as they are on American soil), and then finally touching down in Kansas City around 2:30PM CST (almost 24 hours in transit!). Given the challenges of flying in a heightened security environment for that many miles for that many hours through that many airports with two small boys, a prayer seems in order. Join me, if you'd like.

"God. Creator of the skies and the earth, Giver of every good and perfect gift ...
Grant to John and Kim your gift of strength so they, like the airplanes in which they shall fly, can 'mount up with wings like eagles', so they may 'run and not be weary and walk and not faint' as they tend to their sons down cabin aisles and airport corridors. Grant them the gift of rest, however brief the moments may be, to fill them with your restorative power. Grant them the gift of increasing love, which you placed in their hearts from the moment they first saw the boys' pictures last summer, to sustain them in the stressful task of parenting during extended travel. And grant them all the gift of your traveling mercies to bring them safely home to the warmth of Lovitt Manor. Through Christ, your most perfect and complete gift, we pray. AMEN.

There are many more prayers in their futures, I know. But for now, getting John, Kim, Seth and Colin safely home with body, soul, and mind reasonably intact will be enough.

Back from Durame

Kim and John wrote this morning from Addis Ababa after returning from Durame where Seth and Colin lived for the past year. I'm quoting their note:

"We're back in Addis Ababa after an overnight trip to Durame. It was much more rural than what we have seen so far. It made for beautiful countryside but rough accommodations.

This was also our opportunity to meet the birth mother. It was an emotional day and one we will never forget. We hope we'll someday be able to convey to the boys the great gift that was given to them by their mother.

We visited the care center where Seth and Colin lived. The highlight was meeting the head nurse that care for them. John asked her if she remembered our boys and before we could even get the full names out she grabbed him and squealed with delight. She then turned toward me and hugged us both, telling us what wonderful children they are.

We pick the boys up in a just a few more minutes for our first night together as a family. Should be interesting."

We've posted three pictures sent with the message. Don't they make an adorable family?

Quick Update

We have a very short time to post an update.

We're here safe and sound. We're on day two here in Ethiopia and have so much fun with the boys. C is active and happy. S is somewhat cautious but warming up to us well.

Today S was stacking big blocks. I started counting them 1...2...3...and then heard a quiet little voice pick it right up from there "4...5...6" he said. I smiled and he kept going "7...8..9...10". I smiled more and so did he.

We head to Durame (where the boys have been for the last year) tomorrow. It's a long drive.

We'll try to post more but getting internet access has proved rather difficult.

Thanks for all the support. We know there are many prayers and good thoughts coming our way and we're grateful.

News from Addis Ababa

From proud grandparents and aunt Kelly...

We got a phone call from Kim and John, as they don't have access to a computer yet, they are elated.

They were able to spend an hour with the boys. Seth, age three, is smaller than the eight year old that they had imagined. Colin, age 15 months, is bigger. John played a rousing game of catch with Seth and grandpa should be proud -- he has a great arm. John and Kim took video of Seth playing and while Colin was sitting on Kim's lap she played back the video for Colin. When Colin saw his brother, he pointed to him on the camera screen. Kim replied, "that's your brother." The boys gave Kim and John a hug after some nudging from the nanny. This could very well be the best Christmas gift of 2009.

Upcoming events...
- more visits with the boys, hopefully longer.
- a visit to the care center where the boys spent the last year.
- an appointment at the U.S. Consulate to obtain visas for the boys.
- the trip back home

Preparations

Here's what's happening at our house today.

Almost ready...

Adjustment

People ask us how we think Sheena will adjust to the change that is coming to our home.

See for yourself...

Thanks for Following Along

This blog has been set up to keep our friends and family updated on our adoption adventure.

We're not sure what type of internet connection we'll have or how reliable it will be but we'll do our best.

Our departure date is Wednesday 12/23 and we're scheduled to arrive home in Kansas City on New Year's Day.

Keep checking back here for updates on our travels.