THURSDAY, MARCH 25TH

Photos of the streets in Addis Ababa

Doing the Hokey Pokey

Today was our BIG day! We had our Visa appointment! We were told that it was at 1215 so we were waiting for our driver at about 11:30. When he didn't come...Lisa called him and he told us that he received a call and that our appt. had been changed till 2. We ended up getting to the US Embassy at about 1:45. We waited in a fairly small room with at least a dozen other families. They had a teeny tiny play area that about 15 kids were using. There was a young couple there that was adopting two teenage kids...i thought that was great. Our agency rep, Samira, met us there. They went over the specifics regarding why Maura Genet was placed for adoption. The US Embassy officials ask you to tell them why your child was placed for adoption. They want to make sure you know the facts. LiLi, Lisa, Maura Genet and myself went up to the window when we were called. They did indeed ask me to tell them the specifics. They then told me that at her US Embassy doctor appt a couple of weeks ago...that the doctor said that there was a good chance she may be a little bit older than 5. They asked me if ,"we were okay with that". I was like seriously..of course it is. Apparently some families have denied keeping a child when they find out that they are older than they were previously told. When we were walking into the US Embassy, we saw about 25 Ethiopians sitting on fold up chairs under a tent waiting to be called in for their appt. I thought it was kind of sad that they were all sitting in the hot air while we walked right in. Since we had to wait quite awhile...LiLi had to go potty. This was the ONE time that I forgot my toiley seat covers. There was no paper and it was not a place for her to potty at all. She took one look and said.."I'll hold it". :) That's my girl~



It was good to hear the lady tell me, "your daughter's visa paperwork has been approved". After the appt., we headed back to the hotel for the pool. It was a great afternoon!



Our driver picked us up at 6:00 to go to dinner at Cara and Jason's house. They are also a Nightlight Christian Adoption family who is actually living in Ethiopia right now as missionaries. They have 2 daughters who are 5 and 7. They have court next week for their two boys, I think they are 1 and3. They are a great family. We had a great dinner with them. The kids loved running around outside, as well as, playing Barbies inside. Cara and Jason had been to the orphanage several times to visit their boys. While there they played games with the children...so we all played a game where you skip around a circle with a stuffed animal under your shirt and then you drop the stuffed animal behind someone and they have to throw it and try to tag you. The kids, and adults, had a blast playing this and the hokey pokey. Don't worry..pictures to follow!



We had a GREAT day.