It's Time to Travel (Recapping our Second Trip!)

It was a Tuesday morning. We were hoping that we would hear that day if we were going to be able to travel to Ethiopia for the September 21 Embassy Date. I was getting ready for my small group, and it was actually going to be our first meeting! Raegan and I were just getting home from taking Jackson when the phone rang. I actually missed it because I was on my cell phone, but I heard enough to hear Patricia's (CWA case worker) voice! I quickly called her back, and she told me that we were cleared to travel!!! We had the option to go for September 21 or October 5. Of course, I told her we would go this week! So, I hung up the phone and tried calling Chris. He was outside doing p.e. with the students, so I couldn't get a hold of him. So, I called my sister because she needed to get a plane ticket to come to Kansas! At this point, women were starting to arrive for our small group! Oh yeah. I was supposed to lead a group this morning. Yikes!

I kept trying to get a hold of Chris and finally got him. He was so excited, and he affirmed that we would leave this week. So, I finished leading group and then worked to get a hold of our travel agent to book tickets and start packing. . . our clothes and little boy clothes!The next few days were a flurry as we tried to get organized for going to Ethiopia. Then, on Thursday, Melissa arrived! It was so incredibly good to see her. We hadn't seen her in over 1 1/2 years. (Too long!) She had been waiting with us to get this call because she had committed to come watch our other kids while we traveled. We originally thought this call would have come last year, so the months stretched into 1 1/2 years. So--it was good to see her!

She was so kind to help me with my final nesting project and plant a few bushes. :)

Saturday morning, we were packed and ready to head back to Africa.

Here is our last family picture of 5!

In Washington D.C., we met up with our travel partners and friends from our first trip. It was so sweet to meet again, just 6 1/2 weeks after saying goodbye.

After a long flight, we arrived in Addis. Zewdu picked us up in the CWA van, and we all piled in. He took us all to Ethiopia Guest Home, and we made ourselves at home! We were one day away from getting our kids!