One Year Ago..

Eden stepped off the airplane on America soil for the first time and met her big brother and sisters.  For the first time, she rode in our Excursion with our family, for the first time, she stepped into our home and was introduced to her new home and bed.

I'll never forget that night after we got her tucked into bed that the whole room smelled like Ethiopia!  There was no doubt our ET girl was home in her forever family!  For those of you who have not been to ET, it is hard to explain the smell but it has to do with the common spice they use to cook with (berbere) which comes out their pores and breath!  I couldn't wait to get her cleaned up properly, with American smelly soap and wash her hair!  Weird, but I think I thought it would get rid of the smell but it didn't.  The smell lasted for weeks.  For Bereket, it lasted months!

So many emotions were wrapped up in that moment at the airport when she walked though the gate!  For those of you who shared it with us, thanks for sharing our special moment.  So much time had been put into getting her home (from the moment we started the process until she was on the airplane!!).  

I also remember looking at Bella before we left, knowing that our lives were about to be changed forever and that it WOULD effect Bella and my time together, and my other children.  Little did I know or even begin to be able to comprehend....

My Bella Boo all excited about going
 to bring Eden home!

at the airport

some of the special people that were there!

Katreese and Treva w/ their cousins / friends to share in the excitement

Mitch and Nancy, who very graciously
stepped in to take picts / video for us!!

Grandma and Cy

waiting for her to come through the gate!

We see her!!

It was hard to believe after waiting for so long..!

leaving the airport!

My first pict with all my kids together after
 Eden was home!  Monumental!

This was also a monumental moment!

 Now, looking back, I know even more about Eden and what she was feeling at this time!  She can tell you every detail about what I was wearing and what happened.  She told me I looked "different."  I think it had to do with the boots I was wearing... I don't know!  Our little African girl with her afro was coming home and we could not have been more happy or proud to have her be a part of our family!!  When I snapped the picture of her sleeping in our car, I had one of those moments where I had to pinch myself!  She is really in our car and she is coming home now forever!! 

With the challenges we have faced with Eden, it has been rough and trying, and it has tested our love but there is still not a moment where I wonder if we made the right choice to have her in our family!  So many times when she brings up things that happened in Ethiopia, she says, "Mommy, I just wish you and Daddy could have been my Mother and Father then too!!"  My heart continues to ache and grieve for her for all she has been through...  I hope and pray she will trust us... and let go of all she is holding onto in order to move on and heal!  It is essential for her well being and for her to function through her life!

I give thanks again that this sweet girl was chosen for our family!!