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When I seek a calming influence, I look at this picture. They are so incredible to me—three little people, three huge spirits, who have endured enormous losses and somehow manage to find the clear path to joy. What amazing teachers we have the opportunity to experience life with.Over the last couple of weeks, I was feeling way too crazed to write a post, but now I'm finding that I need an outlet! Everything is in high gear, ramped up, loud, fast, uncomfortable, messy... On Monday morning I learned from our adoption case worker that we have a tentative travel date of Dec. 16th. Whoa...last time we talked, December was out of the question and we were looking at January. Sascha & I are both thrilled and stressed beyond belief. I extended my work schedule to mid-December and now I need to cancel everyone after Nov. 30th. That is, if there is any hope of getting through our Immigration paperwork & house/travel/medical prep. We are working hard to carve out a few days in Addis before we meet the kids...to unwind, show up, get over our jet lag and altitude sickness (Addis Ababa sits at about 8500 feet. This was a problem for Sascha last time we were there, but I was miraculously unaffected—and I was amused because he is the mountaineer! However, I shall not take that for granted. This trip we'll be packing Diamox for two, just in case.)
In all likelihood, we will leave Seattle on Saturday Dec. 12th, meet our children for the first time on Dec. 18, have our Embassy appointment on Dec. 22, and fly back on Christmas Eve to arrive at home on Christmas Day. AND we get to fly home on the same airplanes as our new friends from Alaska (the ones adopting the two sisters who are our girls' close friends at the orphanage, where they have lived together for well over a year...)
Wow. Is this really MY life? It's a terrified wonderful (yes, I am still terrified!)-- hard to describe, really, but I'm trying...
Please send us strength & supportive thoughts... and THANK YOU for being with us on this great adventure.
