We are officially a family of FIVE!

We arrived home on 8/24, exactly 2 months after we received our referral for our dear son Christian. As many of you know, I stayed in Ethiopia between court and embassy so that I could bond with him before boarding a plane and taking him home. Those three weeks were full of FIRSTS! First kisses, first diaper changes, first early morning smiles, first time eating baby food and so many more. 

It's amazing that he is in our lives and he fits in just perfectly. We are often told how much he looks like us and I couldn't agree more. 

He is the happiest baby I have ever seen. He is always smiling and laughing! He rarely cries and he is so laid back. God definitely had His hand is this and I couldn't be happier! 

Our time together in Ethiopia flew by. I had planned on being there for at least 2 months. However, God had a different plan and less than 2 weeks after passing court, we cleared embassy and we were on our way home! Our results are not typical! We know many people that waited on average 8-10 weeks. We know that it was only by the grace and favor of God that our time was accelerated and we are forever grateful! 

For those of you that may have questions, feel free to leave comments or you may continue to email me at kdadoption@gmail.com 

Til next time....

xoxo

Picture from our last plane ride home! 

Update....sorry for the delay!

This has been a very busy week for us.  We were submitted to Embassy on Monday, 8/19/2013 and we cleared Embassy TODAY!!!!  I wish that I could take credit for the quick submission and clearance, but I can't.  God opened each door that we walked through during our attempt to get submitted and He gave us favor in each situation.  I am so thankful for all of the prayers and words of encouragement.  After almost 3 short weeks in Ethiopia since boarding the plane for the first time to see our son, we will be going home! 

xoxo,

Dana

On our way to embassy submission!

In order to be submitted to Embassy, there are a few things that must take place first.  

1.  Obtain court decree---DONE

2.  Obtain birth certificate---DONE

3.  Obtain passport---DONE

4.  Obtain medical clearance---Scheduled for Monday!!

5.  Embassy submission--TBD

Woohoo!!   It's amazing to think that soon, we will be able to leave Ethiopia!  How soon? Not sure, it really depends on how fast the Embassy is processing things.  With courts being closed, we are hoping that this will speed up the process. But we will be happy once we are able to be submitted!  Please keep us in your prayers! 

XOXO, Dana

Introducing Christian K.D.

Christian Fanuel Keane-Dawes.  Fanuel was his name that was given to him by the orphanage and it means Vision of God.  This little boy stole our hearts before we ever knew of him.  This picture was taken the day that we met him for the first time.  It was a day full of so many emotions.  After traveling for almost 30 hours, being stranded at the airport in Ethiopia for 3 hours early in the morning, we headed right over to meet him.  You wait for this moment, and while you wait, you ask yourself what will it be like?  You fantasize about the first time that you will hold him and look into his eyes.  You think about the first time you will kiss his little cheeks and hold his little hands.  You wonder what will his voice sound like.  And if you're anything like me, you have dreams about this moment when you go to sleep, and you don't want to wake up.  When we first saw him and he looked at us with his wide eyes, he embraced us.  He smiled and it melted my heart.  There is no doubt in my mind that Christian was supposed to be our son.  Immediately, he took a liking to us and the attachment process for us has been a breeze.  I can't wait to bring him home so everyone else can meet our handsome prince.  

XOXO

Dana

We passed court!!! Gotcha Day!

Today we passed court!  Glory be to God!  It was quite simple and surprisingly fast.  Right after court, we went straight to the foster home to pick up our handsome son, Christian Fanuel.  He is such a happy baby and we are so honored to be his parents!  They allowed us to take custody of him because I will be staying in Ethiopia until we make it through Embassy. We are praying that the wait time for Embassy will be fairly quick, but we are also realistic in knowing that it could take months.  Either way, I am in it for the long haul!  

With that being said, I have my hands full!  :-)  So until later, I must go tend to my son!  Photos coming soon!

Our first meeting......Metcha Day!

Today was one of the best days of my life.  We met our son for the first time!  He is such a happy baby.  He laughed, played, talked and instantly became comfortable with us.  He is such a joy!  He never cried and he even took a nap right in my arms.  Today was a very emotional day.  After being on a plane for 2 days and being stuck at the airport for 3 hours, to say it was well worth it would be an understatement.  Holding him in my arms and seeing his face made the 2 days of travel feel like 2 minutes!  This little boy is so precious to us and we still can't believe that he is going to call us Mom & Dad!  

Well I am off to get some much needed rest and I look forward to seeing him again tomorrow and every day for the rest of my life! 

xoxo

And we are OFF!!!

I know...I am a day late posting this, but that is what happens when you are packing, repacking, unpacking and packing again.  LOL.  We are currently in Cairo, Egypt for an 8 hour layover before we head to Ethiopia!  We flew out of Atlanta, then to Frankfurt and then to Cairo.  I would have loved to have taken a trip to the pyramids....but just before we left, several US Embassy's closed their doors due to potential threats.  With that being said, no leaving the airport for us!

Words cannot express the feelings that I have.  I have pinched and kicked myself several times to make sure I am not dreaming!  This journey seems like it took a long time to get here, but in retrospect, the weeks and months flew by.  What started off as an application to adopt is now a little person waiting on me to pick him up!  And just to think that when we started this process, he wasn't even born yet!  But God already knew that he would call us his mom and dad.  It is such an honor and a tremendous blessing to be in this position.  A position that I never thought we would ever be in.

As some of you know, my husband did not want to adopt.  It took me approximately 5 years to get him to just take a look into the adoption process and the reasons for adopting.  It started off as a casual conversation (with me already knowing he would say no...AGAIN) and I asked the question, "What if God wants us to adopt?".  It was that day, my life would forever be changed...our lives were forever changed.  God spoke to my husband's heart and here we are!

Our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude and joy!  We are so honor that God chose us!

Until we arrive in ET.....over and out!


xoxo

Dana