Our "Addis Ababa"

Our "Addis Ababa"

Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, means "new flower." Here in New Hampshire, flowers are a reminder to us that the long winter is finally over... the waiting has ended. On Valentine's Day, Charis and I arrived in Ethiopia to bring home our daughter, Ati. Now she's home with us! The waiting is over! We thank our Father in Heaven for this amazing miracle!

By the way, I realized what a mistake it is to let months go by without a blog entry! Here's some pics from February to early March. More on the way!

Leaving the orphanage.

The first friends to meet Ati were Tim & Julie, friends from Zimbabwe! What a gift that they were in Addis at the same time as us!

Bonding with Daddy & Mommy

Meeting Nana & Grandpa, and Caleb & Miles at the airport in Boston.

Finally home!

And our first family reading was... about a Moon Pie Adventure??

Miles is now a big brother!

Ati and "Uncle" Chris

Meeting Erica and Wes for the first time.

Playgroup buddies!

EVERYTHING has changed in Ati's life!

"If my brothers can handle this weather, I guess I can too!"

Miles, our wild and free-spirited one... Notice the "I do all my own stunts" shirt!

A wonderful visit from Ouma & Oupa!

Shirt lovingly made by Ouma :)

"Are you kidding me? It's down right balmy out here!"

Ernie and Ati

Marshmallows!

Auntie Ann-Elise brought back rugby shirts from Ireland!

Auntie & Ati

Meeting Auntie Lydia, Annelle and Cohen for the first time...

You try getting a picture taken of six cousins, ages 1 to 7!

Snow Fort!

Trevor with the kiddos.

Miles isn't the only crazy one!

And as the snow thawed,
as the icy claws of winter loosened their grip,
we found ourselves released, also, from a long season of waiting:

A waiting that was at times hopeless,
A waiting that was always painful,
But a waiting that was now over...

Our "Addis Ababa" had arrived.

Thanks, Angela Dube, for doing our photo shoot! (I'll include more of those later!)

The nights of crying your eyes out 
      give way to days of laughter. 

 You did it: you changed wild lament 
      into whirling dance; 
   You ripped off my black mourning band 
      and decked me with wildflowers. 
   I'm about to burst with song; 
      I can't keep quiet about you. 
   God, my God, 
      I can't thank you enough. 


From Psalm 30 (The Message)