SHE IS OURS!!

We heard on Monday that our daughter had finally made it through court and she is legally ours! Yippee! Our friends in Mekelle took her by car to Addis and sent us a couple photos from the trip, and said she is really easy to get along with...this was a nice thing to hear 2 weeks before becoming her full time mama. I have spent the week packing, finalizing travel plans, and feeling quite giddy as we make preparations to bring this new one home. Two days ago I heard that she was enjoying her new care home in Addis because they have lots of clothes. Great...all girl! I can handle that! I have been busy the past few days painting her dresser so she has a place for her "own" clothes. Apparently this will be important! I leave one week from today. A simply amazing thing has been seeing the gifts of money and encouragement coming in for my trip. I am blessed to be travelling over with one tiny bit of clothes for she and I, and two large duffels filled with cameras, voice recorders, laptops, software, clothes, audio books, braille books, items for friends who need things, etc. I am thrilled to get to be a pack mule for these projects. I am nearly giddy thinking about that first morning, Monday Feb 4th when I get to pick up my daughter in Addis and know that she is staying with me from that point forward. I wonder if she will be scared, or happy, or tearful, or just as excited about going to a new place. I'm preparing her backpack this week with coloring books and a journal for her to keep during our time there, and fun little surprises to make her smile. I hope I can blog from Addis or Mekelle, but if I remember right, it took 20 minutes to open up this site, so maybe not. Countdown to Eyerusalem...8 days! :)