Seven years ago today, we met Andrew and Annabelle for the first time (Yecheneku and Hamelmal respectively). We had waited for so long to welcome children into our hearts and home. We prayed and waited and prayed and waited. Those around us prayed and waited. When we got our referral (May 27), we saw their pictures and fell in love with children we had never met. Those of you who know us joined in praying them home with faces attached to those prayers for the first time. On June 14th they went to court in Ethiopia with our lawyer and became Sanborn's in the eyes of Ethiopia. We felt a sense of relief for about 10 seconds and then the panic set in...
What were we thinking??!! Two babies?! IN ETHIOPIA?!! But as first time parents we convinced ourselves we could do it. We had no idea!
Neither one of us slept the night before. We were up and ready by 6:30am when our appointment at the orphanage wasn't until 9:30. When we finally pulled up to the facility I felt these crazy waves of emotion. Some of it was relief, some pure nerves and I now know part of it was fierce protection of these sweet babies we had yet to meet.
Then it happened. In slow motion. The nannies handed Andrew to me and Annabelle to Bill. I burst into tears, and Bill got a little misty as well.
We were holding our babies. The little ones God had intended for us from the creation of the world. A.MA.ZING. And now, God (and the country of Ethiopia) was entrusting them to us. More panic! Then we sat down in the "Family Room" at the orphanage and took it all in. Both of those sweet babies locked eyes with us and we were ruined. Every tear, every sleepless night, every struggle, every bit of heartache, every penny, every piece of paper was totally worth it in that split second when our eyes met theirs.
Thank you Lord for the privilege of raising these sweet children. We will never take for granted the miracle you have been working for the past seven years. Andrew Jess Yecheneku and Annabelle Cate Hamelmal, we love you more than words can express!
Happy Gotcha Day!
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| Not so sure he likes this "meeting the parents" business |
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| Why is no one holding me?! |
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