Sage’s Mind

Hello Family and Friends… I am home! I brought with me lots of fun traditional outfits, tasty snacks, videos and pictures galore and a huge case of jet lag! My goal is to stay awake past 7pm and sleep in until at least 6am.

Ethiopia was everything I had expected and soooo much more! The people were very friendly. The city is rough, but it has so much culture. I was blessed beyond measure because another adoptive mother named Julee was there in the guest house with me. She and her husband are such an inspiration. We played, talked, ate and cried together. Thank you Julee for taking such wonderful care of me! We also had the most wonderful driver named Ketema - he is just a wonderful person. He took such good care of Julee and I. I really enjoyed talking with him about Ethiopia and his beautiful family! What a blessing to have him be a HUGE part of this experience!

Most of my days there were spent not sleeping… or waking at 4am like today! Then, I would cram down a power bar so I could walk the 5 minutes to FF’s orphanage. That is the most wonderful orphanage… the caregivers/guards treat the childeren like family! Lots of love flowing though that place. The door to the orphanage is bright blue and everyday when I would reach that blue door I would get so excited!

FF was really afraid of me. The Social Worker told me that she has a fear of white people. Well at this point living in Utah, I couldn’t get any whiter! So, needless to say the first day sucked for both of us! We worked really hard at “space” and “time” and before I knew it she was in my lap laughing. I think the HUGE bag of MnM’s might have helped a little!

FF is soooo beautiful. She radiates confidence and has a 4 year-old’s silliness! She loved my camera… everyone there loves to have their picture taken. Thank goodness for digital cameras. I was so popular… lots of “ME”… “ME”! Giggles and screams were hard to miss after ever picture!

There is so many really neat kids at this orphanage. One little girl about age 10 or so really caught my heart. She was very loving towards the other kids and a HUGE help. From what I think I heard about her she hasn’t been there very long. Another little girl had the best laugh. She would cackle at Julee and I for hours. I espescailly cracked up when she would sit between Julee and I for a few minutes quietly. Then, seriously out of no were she would repeat what we had said while using hand gestures. She ROCKED!

So every morning I would play with the kids until lunch. That was so much fun to watch… these kids are rockin’ eaters! I tried some of the food… holy HOT! It was way spicy and WAY yummy! I kept thinking about my 4 boys at home and how it would be kinda fun to watch them HAVE to eat like this! Our kids are spoiled! Then, after lunch every child takes a nap! That was my time to go and play! I love the Ethiopian food… really… I craved it! So Julee and I would have lunch out or just hang at the Guesthouse.

The kids usually are allowed out of the room at 3:30 or so. So I would usely head back to the blue door then. That’s when the little 4 year old girl side of FF would come out. Usually I would get a HUGE attitude right at first. HUGE… with “space” and “time” she would come around. In Ethiopia the shrugging of the shoulders means NO! Well it took me days to understand that. Now watching the videos I laugh so hard!

We worked through the language thing. It really isn’t hard to let a 4 year old lead you by the hand. FF is so bright and healthy. Really healthy. Like a big girl healthy! Her hair scares me a little but I think with other mom’s to show me the girl hair way we’ll do fine!

I missed my Hunny… he rocks people! Really… 5 kids for a whole week and our house was soooo clean! I hate to brag… Na I love to brag… STEVE is the most WONDERFUL husband and DADDY! I am really spoiled.. I LOVE YOU STEVE!

My kids were all alive and happy when I got home. Miss Maya makes me happy! Being with the kids from another orphanage made me think of my own baby girl. As nice as many of the orphanages are it’s no place for mass amounts of infants or toddlers. A home with a family is really what our Heavenly Father had in mind! I must say that the childeren are loved and cherished in Ethiopia. This is a land where children are precious. I wish I could say that about America!

It’s now 4:25 AM so I should try to sleap again.

I’ll post more soon!

Hello faithful Sage blog stalkers… I talked to Sage today about her exploits in Ethiopia and am happy to report she is absolutely having the time of her life. She has been able to spend the last two days with FF and just found out they are going to keep FF out of school for the next week because her “momma” is there to visit.

Yes… she already calls Sage “momma”. Sage said it took FF a little while to warm up to her, and has an occasional “mood swing” where she will get a little shy, but all-in-all FF is “FABULOUS” - in Sage’s words.

They’ve been “playing” all day… dancing, singing, playing… and dancing… and playing… and dancing. Sage says she’s had more exercise in the last two days than she’s had in the last two years.

She says FF can count to 10 in English and that she knows a few English words and understands quite a bit.

6 days and counting… we’ll see if Sage actually gets back on a plane and comes home.

She says the jet lag is crazy… and that her sleep patterns are all messed up. She’ll be just getting use to the 10 hour difference about the time she has to come home.

… I’ll keep you all posted when I hear more. Oh, yeah… I almost forgot! WE HAVE OUR COURT DATE! January 16th will be the day! That means if FF passes through court, we’ll be traveling in mid February to pick her up! Holy cats! That is only 2 months away!

- Steve

 

Yup it’s true I leave on Thursday! This is ONLY a “visit” trip but nonetheless I am over joyed!  Ethiopia has seriously been controlling my mind for months! This picture is not FF but I loved the innocence in her eyes. The hope she shows on her face!

 

 I’m staying in Addis Ababa Ethiopia for a whole week at the  Addis KIdan guest house. I am very blessed to have another mother who is also traveling for a visit staying at the same place. She is very familiar with Ethiopia and actually has a plan. 

So far I know that FF has school all day. So that leaves the whole day for lovin’ on the little kids! This will be so amazing…

Amazing but scary and sad all in one big trip. I have been asked “how will I be able to just let her go”… well you do what you have to when you have no control RIGHT. Really I know it will be hard, I’m not prepared for that hurt but I know we will be together very soon. I just know that this trip is necessary for now and for the years to come! What a blessing Really what a MAN I have! What incredible boys to make this sacrifice. They are such good boys I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. Then little Maya, her mommy will miss her way too much.  I have complete faith in Jana (my Friend here in UTAH) she is my hero for taking Maya during the day! 

We also have a wonderful compassionate service woman/friend. She has agreed to bring Steve and the kids meals all week! She also loaded me up with NEW clothes for the big kids at the orphanage!

Have I told you that I’m a lucky girl…. yup I am! Steve honestly has worked so hard to give all of us such a great life! We together have accomplished so much in 15 years. If this is just a small example of the next 15 I’m ready Baby!!! I love Steve with everything I have!  Steve really loves me, he really loves our children! I’m THE luckiest woman ever!

We had a great Thanksgiving week… food and family my two favorite things!

The sharing of food and fun was hosted by Michaeline and Norman! THANK YOU GUYS!

This was the best Thanksgiving ever… Ian came on Wed. night since he is a lone man these days check out his family blog. We also had the pleasure of having Stacy, McKay and Brylynn Cosper for a few fun filled days. Friday Stacy and I took our kids to Kanab to re-home her wonderful dog. It was an amazing experience. Hours in the car with a woman I respect and LOVE was wonderful. I think the kids did great. The highlight of the trip was taking a tour of the Best Friends Sanctury  in Kanab. I highly recommend a stop and a tour it was amazing!

 

 

 

The boy in a cat house!

 

 

 

We made it home only to find that Stacy was really sick! I’m sooo sorry Stacy… I hope you get better soon.

I just thought I would post some fun pictures! Better late than never!