It’s been 2 1/2 weeks since we welcomed Feven home! I fully intended to write this post sooner, but….with 3 kids, 3 horses, 2 dogs and our new crazy life, well, I just haven’t quiet figured out how to get everything done yet. Hopefully this gets better with time.
Anyway, this post is about Feven’s Homecoming. Let me start back to the week of July 15th. Looking back at the blog, I remember how desperate we where. That was the longest week of our lives. All legal documents from our attorney had been submitted to the US Embassy. We went Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday without hearing a word. Basically Wednesday night we were being prepped for the next steps. We were being prepared for Feven’s case to be denied. Thursday comes and we picked our heads up knowing, whatever the decision is, we continue to push on. We will bring our daughter home. It seems so surreal…she cleared! With tears of joy and praises to God we quickly packed Jeremy as fast as we could and on Saturday July 20th, Jyaden, Judah and I said goodbye to him at the airport.
That week was crazy busy with me being a single mom of 2 kids while working and getting everything ready for Feven at home. (cut me some slack, I’ve only been a mom for 3 months at this point and am trying to figure it out, I know lots of people are single parents and are fantastic at it).
Friday July 26th finally arrives! Today is the day! I remember running around the house like a crazy person. Laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping. I wanted everything to be perfect. But most of all, my anxiety and excitement were through the roof! Even Jayden and Judah knew. In Judah’s words: “Feven Home! Yay! (clapping his hands). That morning Feven and Jeremy landed in DC and for the first time I was able to see her and speak to her by Face Time. Jayden and Judah giggled and laughed seeing her. For me, seeing her face next to Jeremy’s made me speechless. Our fight was over, she was on US soil.
As I laid Judah and Jayden down for a quick nap, I hopped in the shower rushing to get ready. Everything is such a blur. I laid out my dress, Jayden’s dress and Judah’s suit. I had planned this all along. I was saving our outfits for this moment. While in Ethiopia in April I had bought traditional Ethiopian outfits for us. Jayden and Judah had no idea. But oh the excitement they had once their clothes were on. All Smiles!
Out the door we went. Technically I left in plenty of time, but we made a pit stop to buy roses for our girl. Well, when you have to lug a slow moving crew, I went into panic mode rushing to make it to the airport. For anyone who knows me, I HATE being LATE! I was terrified I was going to be late for my own daughter’s homecoming! AHHHH!!!!
My heart raced. Due to arrive @ 3:50pm on a Friday, I fully expected most of our friends and family not to be able to make it because of work. As I walked towards the gate my heart was full. So many people and they just kept coming….many took off from work, others worked through lunch…all to be present and welcome Feven home. I have never felt more blessed than in that moment.
New friends, old friends, Ethiopian friends all piled in. My heart raced as Jeremy called to say they had landed and were on their way out. Then I heard someone yell, “I see them.” I took Judah in my arms and Jayden by the hand and slowly walked out from the crowd. As they came through the gate, I hear Judah, “mom…dad and Feven.” 
I’m not sure I can describe this moment for you. I can say that I hugged her neck so tightly and we both cried. I cried because for a while I was scared that we would never have this moment. To have her here, in my arms felt like a dream. I cried tears of joy, tears of relief, tears of hope, tears of praises to Our God who is merciful and mighty to Save.
This picture tells it all. My happiest moment. My Family of 5! Hand picked by God himself.
But it doesn’t end here. It’s only the beginning.
Thank you To all Who made this possible!
