And then there were 4!

Today, Courtney, Paul, and Tizita leave, as a family of three, to fly to Ethiopia.  God willing, they will return as a family of four!

As I was chatting with Tizita yesterday I expressed my feeling that I wished they did not have to go all the way to Ethiopia.  You know, I have all the worst case scenarios built up in my head.

In her five year old wisdom (which at most times is well beyond her years) she looked at me and explained, "Well, Grandma if we don't go to Ethiopia, we cannot get Soliana home."

Hard to follow that up with any arguments, but I continued,

"Maybe just your papa could have gone and brought Soliana home."

She answered, "Papa alone with a baby, I don't think so."

Okay, score another point for the five year old.

I then said, "Well, maybe just mama could have gone then."

This is probably her most insightful answer, "Grandma, my mama would freak out all by herself!"

Yes, her wisdom is amazing, her arguments strong.

She won the debate.

Today, someone posted this on FB. 

 As I read it, I couldn't help but think, Courtney has felt every one of those bones break over the course of her three adoptions.

In fact, she has probably felt much, much more pain than a biological mother feels during those hardest hours of labor.

So when she can finally hold this little one in her arms, she, too will feel that relief that we, who have birthed babies felt when that baby popped out and was placed safely in our arms.

 By June 26 Soliana will officially be in the complete care of her forever family.

The care center and the nannies will be a thing of the past for this little one.

And mama Courtney will once again feel that relief after much pain.

 This is what the beautiful family of four will look like.

I cannot wait to greet them as they come off the plane on Friday, June 29.

 These two will be sisters at last. 

These next ten days while they are traveling will be very hard on this grandma.

As I said, I always conjur up the worst possible things that could go wrong.

I have been doing this worrying since my girls were little and I left them off at camp for a week.

I am likening this stretch to those camp days.

Those same uncertain fears creep in especially at night when I miss(ed) them the most.

I know that God is in control.

People remind me of that all the time.

I know I can pray for peace.

I know God has a plan that is perfect for our family.

I know all of this yet the mind plays tricks on me.

In another conversation yesterday Tizita said, "I am so afraid of being eaten by sharks if the plane falls in the big sea."

I wanted to say, "Tizita, sharks will be the least of your worries if that happens."

But I needed to step back and reassure her that all would be fine.

Just as she has irrational worries about sharks, so are my worries irrational, at least most of the time

or at least that is what I am telling myself.

Please continue to lift all of us up in prayer as they continue the final leg of their adoption, bringing Soliana home.

And please, never forget, Natnael, their little boy who never did  make it to their home safely although we can rejoice that he is truly home.