Dreaming....

Kalid's been telling us everyday that he wants to go to Ethiopia. We don't know if it's just something he's saying (he does do that sometimes:)), or if it's coming from some place else in him of really wanting to be there. He doesn't talk about it in a sad way- just that he wants to go. Abuzaid is much more open to talking about it now, which is great. We pray for their siblings by name every night. It has gotten us thinking about how wonderful it would be to go there as a family and experience Ethiopia together. To see where the boys grew up and potentially meet some family. I titled this dreaming, because that's what it seems to be at this point. We know we'd like to wait for the boys to be a little bit older, but honestly, the cost of 6 tickets to Ethiopia along with the travel shots for all might just never be in the budget, and that makes me kind of sad. At least Kalid and Abuzaid would need to go, but I want Jonah and Landon to experience their brothers' first home. Kalid told us tonight at dinner that he would go by himself:).
Anyway- just some ramblings about that.....
Tomorrow, May 4, marks a very cool day. 1 year ago tomorrow, we became the parents of Kalid and Abuzaid!!!!! I remember that day so vividly- it was the last day of MOPS and I was cleaning up after everyone else had gone home. I was in the big fellowship hall with Landon and Olivia (the little girl I used to babysit for) when my cell phone rang. I had been praying to pass, obviously, but when my coordinator told me we passed, I yelled so loudly- I was floored!!! These were the days before you traveled for court, but people had not been passing on the 1st try. It was an amazing feeling!!! I was yelling and truly praising God with every ounce of my being! I called Shane to tell him we had 2 new sons, and then called everyone I could. The rest of the day was a blur, but I just remember how absolutely incredible it felt to know that my boys, who I had been praying for daily for months, were now truly my sons and I would be able to go see them and bring them home soon.
The fact that we passed also meant that our great friend, Hanna, could give the boys their photo albums that we made for them. I LOVE the pictures she brought back from those moments of them looking at it- Kalid was smiling in them and he NEVER smiled in the pictures we have of him.
We've been home for 10 months today- seems like a long time, but it's gone so fast. Such different little boys we have now than who we brought home then. Love how they've grown and changed. Love their personalities. Love them with all my heart!