Leaving on a Jet Plane

Between loving on our girls, running last minute errands and loads of laundry, our bags are nearly packed. We even set up webcams and mics (thanks Clopton's!) on our laptop and the grandparent's computer so we can see and talk to L&C while traveling. It has been a long day and we are both ready to hurry up and leave. The build up to our departure has unfortunately ehightened the anxiety L&C are feeling about being apart from us. I think that anxiety goes both ways as we will miss them so much.

Joy

Although our travel dates are mere days away, Gladney was kind enough to provide us with an update on Zane. We were told “Zena is full of joy lately. He just doesn't stop grinning. He is very playful and interactive. " What fun news to hear, especially that he is joyful. Gladney also provided a weight/height update so we can pack clothes of the right size! Our little guy has put on 2.5lbs in the past 6 weeks and is up to 25 inches in length. Chris is already planning Zane's marathon training.

3 more days

With just days to go until we board an airplane that will take us to our son, we have so much going through our heads. There is the last minute "to do" list like putting a hold on our mail and mowing the lawn. There are our mixed emotions about leaving so soon - excited to hold Zane in our arms and very sad to be leaving L&C for so long. We are packing bags and weighing them to make sure we don't exceed the limits. We are printing copies of passports and adoption papers, confirming flights and hotels. The list goes on.

Sweet friends joined us this evening after L&C were tucked into bed. We shared dessert, wine and talked about this adoption experience to date and all the incredible ways God has made us see how real and how BIG and how good He is. We were reminded that it is God who has given us this intoxicating love for adoption and that we can't not do it. We can't imagine our life any other way and we feel so fortunate to build our family this way and experience the adoption of our children. It is truly an adventure! Mostly these friends came to sit and pray for us. For many years prayer simply felt like an evening ritual - like brushing my teeth. Yeah, yeah, I know I'm supposed to and it's good, etc. But not until these last few years have we both come to understand how real it is --- that we are coming before our Heavenly Father and that He longs for us to spend time with Him, to ask of Him, to praise Him, and to share with Him. AND that He hears and responds to us. We are richly blessed to have sweet friends that love us enough to pray for us. What peace we have in knowing as we travel that there are so many people praying for our family. Thank you.

ET Factoids

Counting down to our departure, thought we would share a few interesting Ethiopia facts with you:

• Ethiopia is the only African country never to have been colonized, although it was occupied by the Italians in the 1930s until 1941.
• It is located in eastern Africa, just west of Somalia.
• Ethiopia is slightly less than twice the size of Texas.
• Terrain consists of a high plateau with a central mountain range divided by the Great Rift Valley.
• Amharic is the primary language although 70 different languages are spoken in this country.
• Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia. Addis holds about 2 million people. Ethiopia's total population is 76.5 million people.
• Life expectancy is about 45 years.
• Ethnic groups that make up the population: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%.
• Coffee, thought to have originated in Ethiopia, is the main export.

TREASU(RED)

The "RED" campaign is now making clothes for Baby Gap as well. I saw this and could not resist. You can click on the photo to enlarge. The text across the picture of Africa reads "Treasured" - so very true of our baby Zane!

Growing Zane

Today we received a great surprise via email - this new photo of Zane. He looks so happy and like he has put on weight! The green blanket with brown stripes pictured here is the one we sent to him. Ryan and Abby Brown are on staff with Gladney and moved from Dallas to Ethiopia one year ago to work with the orphans and also host families as they travel to pick up their children. They were recently in the U.S. and we sent this blanket back with them to Zane. They visited Zane yesterday and reported he was very happy and making lots of silly faces. The initial paperwork we read on Zane did say he was quite the charmer. We are counting days until we can hold out little guy.

ZANE IS OURS!

Just got the call! Court went great this morning! Our adoption of Zane is legally approved and finalized by Ethiopia! Wahoo!! We leave August 12 and will spend a couple days in Rome before arriving in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on August 15. We return August 24.