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We got back from church camp last evening. I wrote on my other blog about my stint as camp cook. I came home limp as linguini after all that work. But this is what I came home to.
Yes. Letters. SIX letters from our girls in Ethiopia. And five pictures. And a necklace. It was the most incredible thing to read the words they had written (with the help of a translator.) The excitement that they felt about having a family just seemed to burst off the page.
Our younger girl (age 9) said she’s glad we live on a farm and she’s excited to share a room with her five year old sister and that she thinks that her two year old sister is really cute. Very touchingly, she said she is going to be wearing “very nice clothes” when we come to get her.
Our older girl (11) said she’d been hoping she’d have both brothers and sisters in America. She gave me a necklace and said I was beautiful and that she liked the gifts we sent. She said that she and her sister both believe in Jesus and that they are praying for us, and are hoping that we can come get them very soon. They both said that they will help me learn to cook Ethiopian food, which delighted me.
I can hardly express all the emotions that came to me as I read their words. There is so much hope shining in their words and in their faces. I am praying that when they get here there will be a feeling of rightness– that their expectations and the reality will somehow match up. I want them to look forward to coming, but I don’t want them to build up a Utopia in their heads that will be crushed the first time their brothers pick a fight with each other or I growl at a child for a filthy bedroom.
We’ve been able to send them three batches of letters so far, and in the letters I’ve tried to mix excitement and fun with reality. I talk about going camping and swimming and playing in the treehouse. But I also talk about sharing rooms with siblings and weeding corn and working together in the house. I’ve told them that we aren’t perfect parents and that we’re not expecting them to be perfect children. But I’ve also emphasized there is a lot of love around here ready to envelope them. I am just praying that somehow they’ll get a sense of the real us.
We finally got to see how THEY spell their own names. A peculiar issue many people face is that the various info you get on your kids all tends to have different spellings of the child’s name. So it was neat to see their names written in their own handwriting, and also to be relieved that the spellings they are using are a variation that should be pretty easy to sound out in English.
Only four more days until our court date in Ethiopia. And only five weeks till we leave for Ethiopia if court goes well. Our family is buzzing with anticipation — from both sides of the world.
Related Links
Older Child Adoption
Older Children: First Days Home
Older Children: Writing Letters
It is just wonderful that you have been able to communicate with them!! They are simply beautiful girls!
How awesome is that??? Both girls sound incredible and since I saw them in person – I can truly say they are stunning, stunning, stunning!
Mary, your excitement just pours through this post! Your girls seem so lovely! You are such a gifted writer, I’m sure you are able to convey a real sense of home to them through your letters. Of course nothing will compare to actually being in you arms, but each new letter gives them something to look forward to–weeding and all!
How wonderful! And what a nice reward to come home to after all of that work this weekend!
Oh wow! Your post gave me goosebumps to start with and misty eyes to finsih. I’m so excited for you and all of your family.
Tamatha
So happy for you all!
First I want to say what I’m posting is NOT meant to offend anyone. I’m a 43 yr old adoptee in search. Please know I am NOT against adoption. I am not angry with my birthparents. I am however shocked at how very little people know about “Michigan Closed Records Adoption law.” Meaning (michigan) individuals born between May 1945-Sept.1981 CANNOT gain access to their birth records, biological info, birthparent info, pregnancy info.etc, etc. The ONLY way a person like me can gain ANY pertinent info ABOUT MYSELF is IF my birthmother gives consent for me to do so. When people learn I’m adopted, the first thing they say is “Why don’t you just go to your agency and get your personal info?” Then when I tell them what a predicament I’m in, they simply can’t believe it!! People can’t believe in this day & age, this type of thing still exists. My question is, What makes those 36 yrs SOOOOO different from all others?? And how many birthparents were or have ever been notified or advised of the right or the need to enter a signature of consent?? Remember back in 1940,50,60, unwed mothers weren’t as easily accepted as today. Young moms were usually told to “forget it ever happened, go home, get on with your life, this is for the best.” and While in many cases it probably was the best, here I sit @ 43 yrs of age, as do thousands of other ADULTS, trying to grasp the idea of going to our graves possibly never knowing who gave birth to us, what nationality am I? “Does heart disease run in my backgrnd? I have 5 siblings and will never meet them, will never knw what they look like. Where did I get these eyes, my characteristics, things that are bred into us, not taught.” The public simply MUST be further educated of this and how VERY important it is to OVERTURN this law of yesteryear. People over age 18 are ENTITLED to whats theirs !!Reality is, I know more about my dogs backgrnd than my own!!Thats just not right!! ITS TIME TO EDUCATE AND GET CURRENT !! Thank you for your time & consideration. Your support is needed and EVER SO DEEPLY APPRECIATED!…
ah mary, i am (as always) so happy for you and them. tears are in my eyes. you are going to be overcome with the love of God through parenting those beautiful girls.
Mary we will be bringing a 7 yr old boy and a 10 yr old girl home hopefully in Oct or Nov. I would LOVE to hear how your family adjusts. Things you find helpful and things that upset the children. We have 4 bio kids ages 7 to 13 we know we are in for an adventure, but we also know that this is what God wants for our family. Thanks for all your posts I find them both up lifting and educational.
I can soooooo relate to your excitement! Every phone call & every letter is a treasure that I replay over and over in my mind! We don’t have a date yet, as you do, but it’s so close & I feel your joy!
this post is so sweet. thanks for sharing this terrific news. i love the pictures.
I’m sitting here misty eyed too. They’re gorgeous and they sound like really wonderful girls. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
It’s wonderful to see that the girls share your excitement about joining the family. What a special package to receive.
So amazing to see how well you are preparing them & the journey that they are on. I am simply soooo excited for you all!!!