April 28, 2008
On this day one year ago, we had traveled to Africa to pick up the newest member of our family. We had no real expectations, we were overwhelmed and exhausted and completely out of our element. In fact moments before we were just happy that the smart couple with us knew how to get water and willingly gave us a giant bottle before we passed out from dehydration. World travelers we are not!
We had been picked up from our hotel and deposited in a large van with overwhelming diesel fumes that were made worse by the diesel fumes from all the other vehicles on the road as we traveled down the packed streets of Addis Ababa. What felt like hours later we pulled up in front of a gate with high walls all around that were topped with barbed wire and broken bits of glass. Our driver gave the ever useful Ethiopian horn honk and the gate slowly opened.
Inside those walls was a sight that I will never forget. Standing in the court yard were nannies and workers holding babies and toddlers in their arms. More holding the hands of young children. Bouquets of flowers in every hand. There was a pause, like the intake of a breath held, while all the new parents in the van took in this sight. Most of us sitting as still as statues wondering what we were supposed to do next. What did etiquette demand?
Then our driver opened the doors and out into the courtyard we went milling around like sheep who didn't quite know what to do. In what seemed to be slow motion and quite surreal our Ethiopian wonders started moving. Each one knowing exactly which family they should be walking to. Taking the precious person from their arms and transferring them to ours.
That is how we met our Emersyn. On a beautiful day in Ethiopia surrounded my families just like ours, with hopes just as high as ours, and a dream that had finally, amazingly, become a reality.
She was shined up for the day. With those wild curls of hers slicked down and smoothed. Dressed in her best right down to the shoes. Looking at us with a look that she still gives us when she is annoyed. Our lives changed that day, in ways that we never even imagined when we started on our path to her. She changed us, she changed our family. Such a big thing for such a little girl. Looking at her now, a year later, I wouldn't have it any other way.
'til next time
me
Posts
