It's Thursday!

Good morning from Ethiopia! We are so glad it's Thursday! We have been so glad to have the extra time in our daughter's birthcountry, but we are thankful to be leaving tomorrow for home & the boys & everyone else. Tuesday was our toughest day. We were just emotionally drained & I think that's why we had tummy aches. It didn't feel like travelers sickness...thank you, God! Yesterday (Wednesday) was wonderful. We let OE play at HH while we went to another orphanage to hand out candy, clothing, & shoes. As we walked through the gate, I said to myself, "Thank you, Lord, for HH & AGCI". Any frustrations we have had with AGCI along the way have melted away. The care & love the children receive there is beyond description! We may not get court dates, but our children are cared for better in ways that seem humanly impossible in the midst of a country filled with such despair. God is all over HH! Almaz explained to us that there are really no state run orphanages b/c there is no government support for orphan care, so all orphanages are privately run (just some are better managed & run than others ;-) ). The most memorable moments at that orphanage came from going through donations to find shoes that fit for the children. One boy, was insistant that a pair of tennis shoes would fit him even though it looked to be a tight squeeze. I brushed the dirt off his fit & squeezed them in. He was so excited. Later, N noticed he had on a St. Louis Cardinals shirt, so they became buddies (Go Cardinals!). After the orphanage, we went shopping. We were so glad that Eyerus was able to be playing at HH with her friends, so we could concetrate on shopping & gathering little gifts for OE from her birthcountry to give to her throughout her life. My favorite purchases were some jewelry that we plan to save for her 16th birthday, wedding day, etc. I liked one shop in particular & the ladies in there told me I was their favorite customer & gave me a beautiful basket for a gift & gave N a keychain (N said, "I bet your their favorite customer ;-) ). Afterwards, we went to a wonderful restaraunt for a delicious lunch of foccasia & pizza! Yummo! It was at an art gallery & I found the most amazing piece of artwork for our room. I have had a picture in my head of a beach picture I would want for above our bed & I found one that is just what I envisioned (color & style), but it's of an African village! Wow! We splurged & got it! Although, I was sick when we left, as we drove away with all the hungry women & children reaching into the window & begging for food. That darn painting would have fed them many meals! Hmmm...lots to take in & digest. We love the families we are traveling with & have laughed & laughed with them. The guys all have the same sense of humor as N, so we are having a blast. Okay, I must wrap this up. We are off to HH to help Almaz organize clothes (Yes, she is a woman after my own heart!). Then we will go back to the art museum for another familiy to look for their own Ethiopian art treasure. We will go to Kaldi's (the Ethiopian Starbucks) on the way home to eat hamburgers & ice cream! Boys, we can't wait for you to meet your sister. She is soooo much like you all. We are going to have so much fun together! Get ready & rest up. She has as much energy as you boys do!!!!!! We love you & will see you so soon!!!!!!!!