Monday

Arriving in Ethiopia after a 20+ hour flight was glorious but nothing compared to having a beautiful little girl standing at the doorway with roses dressed in her pink smocked dress. She said "Hello Mommy" and then ran to give me a hug. The tears just poured. She is EVERYTHING I could have imagined. She has not left my side since we arrived. I believe everything has gone so well because you prayed. Our embassy appointment is in the afternoon tomorrow and I meet Ruhama's birth mom sometime Friday or Sat. Please pray for both of us - that I will not weep during the whole meeting and that God would comfort her heart knowing that I will take care of her precious little girl. Thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray for our return flight home. Until Dec 20th Beth

Thursday

Our Embassy appointment yesterday went great and I have just returned from picking up Ruhama's visa today. Thank you for your prayers. Sunday is the day that I will meet Ruhama's birth mother. Please pray for us. The many first that Ruhama is experiencing is amazing and how I love being apart of each of them. Riding in the car and watching donkeys caring hay and women caring fire wood, to the beggars in the street, eating in a restuarant. Ethiopia is an amazing country and Addis is an amazing city. Lots more stories to share once we get home. Thank you for the continued prayers. Beth and Ruhama.

Ruhama sends her big sister lots of love. PS she loves cocacola and cake.

Here's her mug shot

Here's my doll baby. I just wanted the world to see what my princess looked like. Isn't she adorable? Can't wait to see her in person.

She is officially mine

November 13, 2007 Anna Ruhama became my daughter in the courts of Ethiopia. The day before I got the call that told me that her new court date had been rescheduled for the 13th November. Not three weeks prior her court date had been cancelled due to a document that was signed by a lower ranking official in the region of her first orphanage. When I received the news four days later I just could not shake the disappointment. So bang this came out of the blue. Isn't that just like God to bring it all together without you ever knowing that He is working behind the scenes.

Gracie's Birthday

Gracie turned 20 this year!! She is in her second year in college and has many plans for her life but she can not seem to decide to one yet...She wants to travel the world as a teacher, she loves history and literature, she is majoring in English.

Anna's Room is Ready!

~The First Step in an adoption journey is to do paper work however the fun part is creating a room that Anna Ruhama will love...~

~ With all the hard work that went into this room its only reasonable to thank my sister who put the room together...~

~There are people who cross our lives in the briefest encounters but they leave indelible mark on our hearts and minds...~ Mrs.Palfrey at the Claremont (quote from a wonderful movie)

Adoption again and why?

Why adopt and why now? As an advocate for adoption I have shared Gracie's and my story many times. As some of you know Graciela is a burn survivor and my commitment to help her was a major part of our lives. She is now 20 years old in as much as burn reconstruction is never complete, her major reconstruction is, she's in college and doing well. About three years ago I felt God's nudge about parenting again and stuffed it down thinking that is crazy. Last October I was listening to a radio broadcast -The voice of the Orphan -Focus of the Family, and it was here that my heart burst wide open for the millions of orphaned children around the world and felt God's call (this time it was more than any nudge). The first thing was to share all this with my family. Graciela was over the moon, she has wanted a little sister for years. Now to tell my Mom and sister.....just like God, He had already prepared them for my news and aspirations of becoming a mother again. God has placed in my heart the desire to be a mom and now He has given me the opportunity and privilege to be a mom not once but twice. Some might wonder why Ethiopia? However, Ethiopia has been a country that has been a shadow in my life. When God called me to ministry it was to Ethiopia; however some how God saw the need in another continent, South America. It was there that He brought me to Graciela and now to be to go back to Ethiopia is like I'm finishing a path in my life that was never completed. Adoption for me has and always will be beautiful. ~Beth~