Christmas is in 4 days.  I get on a plane to bring my daughter home in 4 days!  I have discovered that either one of these would make life full with 6 kids, therapy, etc......but add the two together and it has been extra exciting around here! I will say I am loving this advent season.  As we are preparing our hearts for the coming of the Christ child, our Redeemer, we also prepare our hearts for the addition of our daughter.

This will be my last post from here and I hope to be able to update while in country!

I would really appreciate your prayers for several things:
1. For Gigi, that the Lord would knit her heart to ours.  That she would feel loved, secure and safe.  She has had multiple transitions in her short 17 months.  She has been loved and we are so thankful for the care she has received! Now she needs to learn that we are her family and this is the final stop.

2. For my boys back home.  They are excited about all of the "manly" things they will do without any females in the house.  I keep asking to just make sure Abe's monitor is ON! :)  They will have a blast and Abe and Eyasu will get great care.  I'm blessed to be able to get on the plane and not worry about home.  Moody is staying here with the boys, the girls are making the journey to bring their sister home with me.

3. Travel mercies.  Pray for easy flights.  Pray we are healthy.  Pray for sleep.  Pray this would be a special time for Team Gigi.  I am blessed beyond measure that my 12 and 10 year old girls, my mom, and 2 precious friends are headed to Addis to get my girl.  The ultimate girls trip. :)

We arrive back at DFW on January 1st!  What a way to kick off a New Year.  Moody will have the flight info for those that would like to come meet our girl.  We would love to see you there.  Once we are home we will hole up for a bit.  The boys don't go back to school until the 5th and this will allow us time to bond as a family.  Imagine what this little one is experiencing.......everything is new.  New sights, new smells, new people and it will be overwhelming.  She has also had multiple care givers over the course of her short life.  We will be her fourth transition in 17 months.  It will take time for her to realize that we are family, mom and dad, siblings, etc. rather than just caregivers.  The attachment process is just that, a process.  It takes time.  And we are committed to doing whatever we need to do to make her feel secure and safe.

Thank you to each of you that has walked this journey with us!  We are so humbled and grateful by your encouragement and prayers!  SOLI DEO GLORIA