Rick's Ramblings - 04/09/2013

Emily and myself made it home safely last night.  The travel back home was long and exhausting.  We're taking it easy today to try to rested up for the rest of the week.  It's become a very busy week.  I've already got 7 photo shoots scheduled and I've been awake for just a few hours.  I'm praising God for all the work and am happy to have it.

We really enjoyed our first two flights on board the Ethiopian Airlines 777.  Talk about comfortable flight.  The bad part was that as we got closer to home, each plane was smaller and more cramped.  So as we're getting more tired, the planes were more uncomfortable.  Too bad all flights couldn't be a 777. :)

Please pray for Connie.  She is still suffering from hives on her entire body and is trying everything.  She went to a well known Swedish physician there in Ethiopia today and was given a couple of options.  I'll be following up locally with our family physician as well to see if there is anything else to help with it.

Connie and Pop pop have been staying pretty close to the hotel the past couple of days as they get use to having Chloe in hand and become familiar with her schedule.  They went out to dinner today with a couple of families that are adopting.  I wish I could've been there.  They all went to Avanti's Italian Restaurant together.  Avanti's has amazing food.

I'm glad to see that both of these families have loved using our friend, Joel, as their guide.  We had such an amazing experience with him and it sounds like both of these families have enjoyed their time with him as well.  If you're traveling to Ethiopia, be sure to look up Joel.  Click Here for his business page on Facebook for his Sightseeing/Tour Guide business.  He also has a guest house that he's promoting.

Connie told me today that it's looking good for them to be coming home by the end of next week.  IAN has been working hard to get them home quickly and have been really going above and beyond.  What an amazing group of people there.

Emily and I are tuckered out and she's sleeping on the couch right now.  So I'm off to take a little nap with her.  Please continue praying for Pop Pop, Connie and baby Chloe.

Rick's Ramblings - Day 11 - Sat, 04/06/2013

I took a shower and came out to this

We've had a busy past couple of days.  Yesterday as you all know we had court.  We passed and Chloe officially became our daughter.  What a joyous moment in our lives.  Court was very quick and was a very similar process to that of China.  Tesva and Brook made it very simple for us and everyone at IAN has been so helpful.  Thank-you to everyone at IAN for helping us with this amazing journey.

As we were leaving court, it began to rain.  Like I said before their light spring showers are like our heavy rains.  The water was running into the lobby of the court house.  We saw Brook in the van waiting for us and we opened the court house door.  The rain drops were the size of honey bees back home.  We made a run for it but I was soaked head to toe running 15 feet.  Luckily with my light cotton Ethiopian shirt and my light weight REI pants, I dried quickly.  The rain was actually refreshing and I enjoyed it.  We've had a bit of rain each afternoon for the past 4 days now.

After passing court we hurried back to our hotel, changed and then went to the care center and loved up Chloe and all of the other children.  Then back to the hotel and packed up to move to the Selah Guest House for Saturday morning.

Two of many excellent
staff  members of the
Addis View Hotel

On Saturday morning we woke up and hurried to finish packing and getting ready to move.  After a lot of prayer and a lot of encouragement from Connie, Pop Pop decided to stay during Connie's extended stay.  Connie, Chloe and Pop Pop should be home in approx 2 weeks.  Emily and I will be anxiously waiting at home.  They've also decided not to move to the Selah Guest House.  Now that there are two of them, the guest house would be $10/night more and there isn't much within walking distance of it.  So they will be staying in the same room at the Addis View that we've been in the past two weeks.  It's becoming home and there are restaurants, shops and everything they need within walking distance.  The staff at Addis View was very excited to hear that they would be staying there.

I'm actually very envious of them staying another two weeks.  I've fallen in love with the Ethiopian people and their country.  I would very much like to stay for a long while.  But there is work and bills waiting for me at home.  :)  Emily loves it here too and would like to stay longer as well.

Unpacking Food

After reorganizing the room and getting everything together, we went downstairs to wait for Brook to take us to the Care Center.  While sitting at the outside cafe downstairs we ran into Kelly and her mom, Jill.  Kelly is adopting a little boy.  It was great meeting them and learning about their story as well.  The Coates were down there getting ready to go to Awassa as well.  And my new brother, Joel, was their guide.  So I had the opportunity to say good bye to him as well.  He has become a great friend in such a short time and I'll truly miss him.  But at least we have Facebook to keep in touch.

This afternoon, we went back to the Care Center.  It was the last time for Emily and I to go.  We loved up all the children for a couple of house and then loaded up Chloe into the Ergo and brought her back to the hotel room with us.  She is so sweet.  She has been smiles all evening.  She has also been very clingy to mommy and doesn't want to be away from her side.  But she says "Da Da" all the time.  :)

Mother & Daughter
ready to go

We ate dinner here at the hotel.  I had the Ethiopian Tibes (Tibs).  I've seen it spelled both ways.  It is very spicy and you eat it with Injera.  It has become my favorite dish.  Fir Fir is my second favorite then the Shiro.  I am going to miss the Ethiopian food.  There aren't any restaurants that I know of in Boise that serves traditional Ethiopian cuisine.  We bought all the spices so now we have to learn how to make it ourselves.

Emily and I are all packed for our flights home.  We have approx 24 hours of travel time begining tomorrow evening.   We will be arriving in Boise at approx 9:40p on Monday evening.  We will be very tired and ready to climb into our beds at home and sleep for a day or two.

Lightning over Addis Ababa

Tonight while I was typing this we had a huge thunderstorm roll through with some lightning.  Here is one photo that I captured.  I was hoping the storm would move more in front of my balcony, but no such luck.  I was only able to capture about 3 photos with lightning tonight.  But I do like this one a lot.    Enjoy todays photos and I look forward to having full internet again and seeing everyone back home.

End of a long day

Rahel loves Emily

At All-Mart getting stuff for Chloe

Chloe with one of her nannies

This lady is so sweet

Lots of love from big sister

Adored by big sister

Yes, babies like to pull on necklaces

Such a good eater

Such a happy girl

Nannie with a newborn

so cute

This nannie became teary eyed when we started to leave

Last time for me to go to All-Mart

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Introducing Chloe Davis