Are These The Same Children?

An update has finally arrived from Beth. Thank you to all who have contributed comments on the blog, Beth has received them and is so thankful. I am also very thankful for all of the love and support that everyone has shown. I hope you all enjoy this latest entry as much as I did. Without further delay:


I am laying here listening to the sound of three sets of lungs breathing in the early morning air. One set I have heard my whole life, the other two I will listen for the remainder of it.
We traveled south yesterday, visiting the region where the girls were born and I have to mention that Ethiopia is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I know many families say that, but trust me when I tell you that the pictures and the video will NEVER do this country justice. There is poverty beyond anything I have ever seen, but the graceful pride these people carry, as well as the land itself, is a humbling reminder of what can be made of this life and what God's definition of beauty really is. If I could bottle it up and bring it home to share, it would put most Americans to shame. There is something different here. Something that is in the hearts of these people, in the way that they are loved and love one another. It is seen in so many things. Men holding hands in friendship and solidarity as they walk down the street, the prideful smile of a mother as she watches her children play barefoot in a field. It is in the eyes of young and old alike, this knowledge of something bigger and the gift it is to live in the moment with hope for the little things that the next day might hold.
I would not give up today and all that it held for anything that this world holds. It was beyond words.... and that was BEFORE we even got back to the guest house.
We returned to the guest house in the late afternoon, showered and headed to the care center to see the girls. They were waiting when we arrived and while there were pouty faces and a few tears shed the time with them was much better.
Whatching them listen to different voices and interact with us new faces seemed to be a bit overwhelming. Some quiet interaction took place before Macie's fascination with the camera turned the corners of her mouth up and I saw the beginnings of an ACTUAL smile! The heavy sigh of a 3 year old girl, escaped Macies mouth as she resigned herself to starting over. I heard so much of myself in that quiet breath that my eyes filled with tears. This was MY daughter! This was my little fighter, and I could see so much of my own spirit behind those twinkling young eyes.
The rest of the evening was unbelievable. It seemed like every minute the girls were doing something different, saying something new, learning a new english word.... Ella was reaching for me when she was uncertain of something and Macie was giggling and showing us how to count.
Mom and Marcy and I glanced at one another in tearful disbelief as the girls uncertainty disolved and they revealed the best parts of themselves. Please and thank you's were being said and before I knew it, the day came to an end.
Never in a million years would I have expected the miracle of last night. Never would I have guessed that these little lives full of so much hurt and pain, would cling to me so quickly after the all the sobs, kicking and screaming I saw over the last couple of days.
There are no words to write, no term to define the fullness that my heart feels as I sit here just listening to my girls as they sleep.
I have no idea what today holds. I have no expectations of the girls or even of myself. The week is only half over and the emotional exhaustion is bound to catch up with us all. My hope is that we bond more because of it and that the girls find comfort in these arms of mine.
All of that said, let me share with you one last thing. It is without a single doubt in my mind that my girls and ALL of the children in the care center have been well loved and cared for. There is a light in their eyes and joy on their faces that can not be forced or manipulated. Watching these children, anyone could see that there is reason for the deep connection between themselves and those that have cared for them. Without the love and attention these children, my children, got while in the center, I am not sure they would have ever been capable of connecting again. I have never seen anything like it and could not have asked for more loving men and women to be involved in this difficult period of the girls lives.
Let me encourage anyone waiting for their travel date, waiting for referral, or processing all of that paperwork so that they can be waiting.... your children are loved. They are waiting for you and anxious to come home, but in the mean time, they are VERY, VERY loved!
More soon...