So since finding out about our court date it has been plan, plan, plan. We have tentatively made our travel plans!! In two months, Matt and I will be on a plane to Ethiopia or hopefully in Ethiopia. Ahh I can't believe it. I am ready to hold and love on our baby boy. We will do the scheduled Gladney events and when Gladney is finished hosting us we plan to travel to Awassa where Solomon is from and visit his birthplace. We get to travel with another Gladney family...who I can't wait to meet in person!
Once we get back from Awassa we plan to take placement of Solomon immediately and begin being parents. Matt will stay for another couple of days to be with Solomon and then he will go back to the USA. I will stay in Ethiopia with Solomon until we get our US Embassy appointment in Ethiopia. This appointment will be 3-6 weeks after our court date (once we go to this appointment we may leave Ethiopia with Solomon). But I will not be alone the same family who is going to Awassa with us will also be staying (the mom and her new baby that is)!!! We plan to stay at the same guesthouse as we remain in Ethiopia awaiting our embassy appointments. My mom and mother in law will come over the last week I am in Ethiopia to help me on the plane ride home with Solomon.
I know this will be an emotional and life changing trip on so many levels but I can't wait. The hardest part is that although these are my plans..it doesn't really matter. It all depends on if things go smoothly on our first court date on October 7th. (the one we don't go to) If things go well then we get to travel as planned, if things don't go well then our travel plans could be pushed back to another date. All of this unknown is stressful, but I feel as though I have planned for what I can. I have to keep telling myself that God is in control of all of this.
To get ready for this trip I have been re-reading lots of families blogs who have previously traveled making notes of places to visit and eat at while we have free time. I am still trying to figure out which guesthouse to stay at. I want to stay in the city where we can walk to things and really see what Addis Ababa is all about. I am also trying to figure out airlines and what will be best on the way back home with a one year old...doing several layovers or one really really long flight. I am hoping to get tickets soon. There are so many little questions to figure out such as how many diapers do I bring since I really don't know my return date, what will Solomon be eating, what will I be eating, will he be on a bottle or do I bring sippy cups, etc. I know all of these questions will be figured out and slowly things are coming together as we have gotten more tentative plans. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
The Trinitarian Life of the Church
5 years ago
So excited for you! Thanks for the update! We will continue to lift you up in prayer. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help! Jo Anna and Scott Crawford
ReplyDeleteEverything WILL work out! I know you know this but make lists of all of your questions. I'm sure there are other adoptive moms out there who have been down this road and would love to help you! If I can help at all please let me know! This is so exciting Laura!!!
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful, Laura!!! I am so jealous you will be spending an extended amount of time in Ethiopia. I miss ET and can't wait to go back. And can I just say how AWESOME it is that you're willing and want to stay until embassy. Wow. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND Susan Parr Travel to make your travel arrangements. They are wonderful and very professional. They specialize in adoption travel. We flew Ethiopian Airlines and had a great experience. Long flight but you get home quicker. Don't sweat the flight home. The babies do better than you'd think. It's harder on the adults!! If you have any questions email me at abbylwasson@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteohh... I'll be following your journey-- and hopefully close behind you!!! We flew Luthansa (3 years ago) and plan to fly them again-- great flights! Our "plan" is for me, my husband, and oldest son, to go to Ethiopia for the court date and then I'll stay with our new son and wait for the Embassy date, and then my dad will fly over for the end of the trip and fly us home!!! :) We used Susan Parr as well.
ReplyDeleteFUN FUN!!!!
Laura, one more thing about Ayat--I don't know if they have any kind of highchair. Didn't matter for us because my babes weren't eating solids, but you might want to pack one of those seats that clips onto the table (or something) if you have room!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I am encouraged by your post. I am thinking about staying in ET while waiting for embassy appointment too. (our court date is 10/12) Could we talk via email? my email is cmathews AT mail DOT com.
ReplyDeletehey! im sarah hurst...i grew up going to hickory grove with the capps family. i had a couple questions i wanted to ask. what agency are you going through to adopt your son? my husband and i are beginning to start the adoption process and we interested in all the different agencies we could work with. also, i think its so exciting that you're getting to stay in between the court date and then when you get to bring your child home...how is that possible and what did yall have to do to make that happen? i ask all these questions because we both feel called to adopt internationally and want to adopt from ethiopia. knowing that staying in between trips makes things sounds so much better and keeps me from thinking of how difficult it will be to meet our baby and then have to leave him/her behind....
ReplyDeleteThat sounds wonderful! Who is the other family? Joe and I stayed in ET for 4 weeks and LOVED it!! Actually 32 days! Stay at the BeJoe- they are so wonderful and will feel like family. Close to restaurants, activities, can walk out for coffee, etc. We can give you lots more tips about food, restaurants, what to bring, etc. Email me! janetbelleme@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteS is SO cute! I remember him being so smiley, too! :)
Hi! Just found your blog. We are also in NC and a little ahead of you in the process. We have already been to Ethiopia for our court date and should travel back soon for our Embassy appointment! I can't wait. I'd be happy to share our experiences with you. You can leave your email on our blog.
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