Family Day

We met Peanut one month ago. We became united as a family. We had been a family for many months but we were finally physically together. May 8th will forever be Peanut day in our household. So for this post I will look back on the day we met our precious little girl.


It was a Friday morning in Ethiopia. We had gotten little sleep as we arrived late the night before. All the families gathered for breakfast and then we headed out to the main office for a brief orientation.

Honestly, I remember very little about the orientation other than them telling us how friendly and affectionate Ethiopian people are and that if we needed anything at all to ask the guesthouse manager. I found both to be very true statements.


We then herded back on the bus for the short drive to the care center. I was nervous, excited and already on the verge of tears. This was it. I was finally going to be able to hold my daughter in my arms. I have dreamed of this day for many many years.

We waited our turn and went up stairs, the tears rolling down my face. I had no idea what was about to happen and then we got to the 4th floor and walked in the room. I saw her immediately. She was on the floor doing tummy time. Our social worker bent down to grab her and I remember that Peanut spit up. We got that cleaned up and then our social worker handed her to me. Oh my goodness. Never has anything felt more perfect. It was like she was made just for us. She just fit so perfectly in our arms. I didn't really want to let her go but at one point turned to my husband and asked him if he wanted to hold her. Duh, of course he did. I could see it in his eyes. And what a beautiful sight it was to see Daddy finally holding his little Peanut.


I remember that she was so smiley at first and then got really serious. She wasn't sure what was going on. She was so alert and so aware that things were a little different now. I will forever be grateful that we have our first moments with her on DVD. I have watched it twice now and it still gets to me each time and I am guessing it will get me every time I watch it.


These are moments that will forever be ingrained in my head and my heart. The months of waiting had come to an end. Finally meeting Peanut made all of those long months make sense. I hit a really rough spot emotionally during the wait in November of 2008. Little did I know that during that same month my daughter was born and her mother was facing a very difficult decision. God definitely had a hand in Peanut finding us and in guiding her dear birth mother during this difficult time. There are no words to ever be able to express my gratitude for this beautiful gift of a daughter.


This whole journey to Ethiopia has forever changed my life in ways that I cannot even begin to express. My life isn't just about me or us any more. We are now a family of 3 and still growing.