I’m not sure I could even say what my expectations for today would have been.  How can you predict what the feeling will be like to meet your daughters for the first time?  You build up ideas in your mind and it doesn’t even compare to the wonder of the moment.

We started our day with our paperwork party getting everything completed for our Embassy appointment.  After paperwork, we had lunch and prepared for what our visit would involve.  Then it was time to go to the Transition Home.  The van ride there was forever.  My stomach was doing flips and my palms were sweating.  What would it be like?  What would Meron think?  Is she excited too?  Will she like us?  Will Hadley cry to come to us?  Will she want us to hold her?  The questions and thoughts in my head were endless.

We pull up to the gate with the America World sign out front.  Once we go through that gate, our lives will be changed forever.  The van pulled slowly through.  The van carrying the other families was already there and they were unloading.  We pulled up to park beside the front porch and saw some sweet little faces peeking over the end rail.  They had all of the older children waiting for us on the porch.  I looked up and there was our Meron with the biggest smile on her face!  My heart melted.

We quickly assembled our group and got ready for the first family to get their kids.  Since there were just five families, our time came quickly.  We were actually trying to pass off our camera to someone and turned around and there stood Meron looking at me hesitantly yet expectantly.  I took her in my arms to hold her for the first time.  It was exactly how I had imagined and more than I had imagined.  She was perfect!  Right behind her was Hadley.  They had given her to Dalton to hold.  How incredibly beautiful they were.  It blows my mind that God had these girls planned for our family before time.  How could we be so blessed?  What if we had now been courageous to answer God’s call to us to adopt.  We may have missed this!

We had the next few hours to hang out with our girls and consult with the physician on staff about medical info.  Meron and the boys had a blast together.  They were running races, playing catch, playing soccer, coloring, etc.  The boys are head over heels for their new sisters!  Afternoon is nap time for the babies so Hadley slept most of the time.  Dalton carried her around for the longest time with her asleep on his chest.  When it was time to eat, I gave her our first bottle.  She is such a big healthy baby!  My arms got tired.  I am going to have to pull out that carrier and work on the biceps!

The time to go came much too soon.  I didn’t want to give them back!  The good news was that we only gave Hadley back.  They had a ladies outing planned where we got to go and have massages or manicures/pedicures.  The older girls got to go with us!!  This was Meron’s first manicure.  She had her nails painted red with silver star bursts on them.  She was so proud!  I got to relax with an amazing massage.  Hoping that translates into a wonderful night of sleep.  Especially since Hadley’s schedule is getting up three times during the night!  Hello sleep deprivation again!

After all the girls had been pampered.  We went to a traditional Ethiopian dinner.  There was traditional food, music and dancing.  The older girls also got to come with us to dinner.  It was a very fun evening!

This day was better than I could have imagined.  Today we received our daughters.

“For this child I prayed; and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of him”   1 Samuel 1:27