Well, in case you missed me shouting from the off ramp of our airplane or from the open window of our car as we drove home from the airport nearly 7 weeks ago, WE ARE HOME WITH RUBY!!!
There are so many things I could share and would love to tell you, like...
How it was nothing short of an actual miracle that the embassy granted us an appointment when they did--it was.
How when ruby was finally placed in our arms, she screamed and kicked and wanted nothing to do with us, but then 24 hours later she was calling us 'mommy' and 'daddy'--it's true.
How when I finally had her as my own I looked at her and for the first time in my life I finally understood the way the God sees me and was so grateful for my redemption--I was. I am.
How I grieved in a way I could have never imagined as I sat in a restaurant in Ethiopia and realized that ruby would never grow up to be an 'ethiopian' woman and later how I cried as we drove to the airport to take her away from the land where she was born-- oh, how I did.
How she pooped at least 25 times on the 17 hour plane ride from addis to Washington and I was panicked because we ran out of diapers--it was awful.
How joyful the moment was when we drove up a red-balloon lined driveway to our little house where our three older children waited with open arms for their new sister--it was amazing.
How jet lag and the reality of life almost got the best of me, but the saving grace of a freezer full of home cooked meals from our loved ones literally got me through--they SO did.
How one day the decision to love a little girl gave way to the pell- mell, rumble-tumble feeling of actually falling in love with her--so thankful.
How full and crazy and wonderful our home is as a family of six--I have a little stash of wine;)
How one day shortly after we arrived home I learned that ruby's Ethiopian name, which I thought had no significance whatsoever actually means "from death to life"--seriously.
These are the things would tell you in detail if we had hours alone in a room together. I would also tell you how I look back at the last year and see the fingerprints of an amazing God who brought our family together so strategically and accomplished far more as He did it than I could have ever imagined. We are a different family than we were before we began working to bring ruby home. Some of it has been painful and some of it has been thrilling. I can now say that I am thankful for all of it.
My next Goal on here is to actually post pictures and update our timeline... I would like to close out this year by putting this blog to rest... Thanks so much for checking in with us!
