An Unexpected Journey

When, Why, How? These are the questions we seem to get daily when we tell someone we are adopting again!! I thought I would take a minute and journal just how this blessing came to be and also why we are FUNDraising so fast and furious!!

T**** is 5 years old and lost his hearing at age 3 from illness - Shortly after losing his hearing he was placed in the orphanage in Addis - from there he was placed in the transition house for America World and it is there he met Tariku - by all reports those two boys were joined at the hip from day one!! When T**** was enrolled at the school for the deaf in Addis he was scared (and righfully so) so Tariku offered to the teachers to go with him so he would not be alone. When we would receive our monthly updates Tariku would talk about T**** and about the sign language he was learning and how he wanted to keep signing when he came to America. Kenneth and I really did not think much about it other than to say oh that is so sweet he has a friend!

When we arrived at the transition house and first met Tariku the first thing he wanted us to do was to meet T****

Fast forward 3 months (that is how long we have now been home!!!) After much praying, counsel and thought Kenneth and I decided T**** was to be our son. Now we realize this will not be without it's own set of challenges but we also know that these two little boys that met thousands of miles away are already brothers in their heart!

So why the plea for FUNDraising - well since we have been home such a short time with Tariku the adoption agency is able to use all of our current information (YEAH no paperchasing!!!!!!!) and because of the unique situation around him - we are not going to the end of the line for a court date instead we are going before the judge who has been over this case for the last year. All of this to say we could be headed back to Ethiopia anytime now!!

Since we had not planned on this second child so soon we had not put funds away for a second adoption ( we were thinking number 2 would be in a year or 2) but alas God has another plan for our family and we are following his!

So that's it! That's the when, why and how of this second adoption! Our I-pad giveaway raised just over $2,000 and we are so very grateful to all that participated! If you did not get in on the give away but still wish to donate we would be most grateful!

Our goal is to have T**** home by the end of the year!!!! Imagine a family of 2 to a family of 4 in a year! We are beyond blessed and so grateful to all that are following our unexpected journey

Wishing you a magical day ~
Courtney