The second best day of my trip

When we were called I immediately started to cry. I was completely overwhelmed by what was about to happen. It is Mother’s Day and I am meeting Zinash, the woman who gave me the greatest gift in the world.

We walked into the room and I immediately asked if I could give her a hug. She let Dave and I both hug her. She was a little shy and quiet. She was grateful that we were there and loved having the picture of Peanut. We promised her that we would make sure the frame we left behind would get to her and she said she was grateful.

We asked her a few questions and she asked us a few. It was a brief meeting but the best meeting of my whole life. She is truly a beautiful young woman and I can’t wait to tell Peanut all about her.

After our meeting we were able to go outside and take pictures. We have a few on our camera and the CHSFS staff took a picture of the 3 of us together and printed it out and gave it to her right there. I thought that was really great. We are also blessed to have a professional photographer on our trip and he is taking some amazing pictures and is going to share with all of us. He is traveling with another couple and we are all so glad that he is here.

Once the meetings were complete, we had a beautiful and emotional prayer exchange with the birth families. Tears were flowing around the room. The birth parents said a prayer and then lit a candle and gave it to us and then the adoptive parents said a prayer. The whole ceremony was so touching. After that we had to say goodbye to the birth parents.

Zinash came forward and we hugged and cried and hugged some more. We hugged so tight I thought we would never let go. She hugged Dave and then she was off. I feel so fortunate that we were able to have this experience. Today was definitely the second best day of the trip. I have so much to share with Peanut when she is ready and I have these amazing pictures of the most beautiful woman to show her.

It was very obvious today that Zinash loved Peanut very much and to see and hear all that she said touched my soul. I walked away from this meeting knowing that Zinash will forever be in my heart and I owe it to her to make sure that Peanut knows just how much she is loved here in the US and in Ethiopia.