The gift she gave us is a view of the other side. The other side of the baby boy photos we look at every day. She gave us the photos she and her coworkers took in their Ethiopian travels. They are photos of vibrant people with strong spirits living in towns and villages that are likely very similar to Bear's.
The photos helped us connect with where Bear comes from as we spent part of the weekend writing a letter to his birth mother as well as preparing a list of questions for her. I also prepared a photo album for her that contains referral photos of Bear, of us, and where we live. After deliberating a while, I decided to include a picture of a rainbow that appeared over our house one day last summer. I have no idea if rainbows have the same sentimental significance in Ethiopia, but I wanted her to feel like there is something beautiful, something hopeful on the other side of her difficult decision.
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If things go as planned, these will be presented to her on Monday when (could be if) she arrives in Addis Ababa for court. I wonder if she's been contacted. I wonder what she is thinking about as she prepares to travel a long way to Addis. I wonder if she has been to Addis before. I wonder if anyone will go with her, if she will travel alone. We found out today that, at the very least, an agent from the regional orphange where she took Bear will accompany her.
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I wonder if she can sense my prayers for her. Maybe she is praying for us. For Bear.
Julie said it would be ok to post some of her pictures on the blog from time to time. These faces and places are too beautiful not to share. So I will conclude this post with a picture.
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Thanks Jules. Love ya sister.
Thanks too to Pells, Gothros, and Easts for help with the letter. So appreciated.
Praying for your court! Can't imagine writing that letter...you know I just want a number;)
ReplyDeleteThe letter was really hard for me to write, and I'm already dreading this second one! I think the pictures you are sending sound perfect. I'm sure it is hard to see the "other side," but good, too. Ethiopians are beautiful people-- inside and out-- and I feel so honored to be the mother of 2 Ethiopian girls.
ReplyDeletePraying for court! That letter makes me cry....Jason had to write the last one...I would start....and just couldn't do it. My heart just would break open.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post. I'm thinking many of those same things about Melia's birth mother. What an amazing gift she's given us. What a blessing for us to forever be connected the the beautiful Ethiopian culture. Bear is blessed to have you as a mommy, praying for his birth mother, hoping for a rainbow in her world.
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