For Danna and family

Somehow I had written her departure date on my calendar, so she's been in my thoughts. I'm so excited for them!

to all the family, including the new addition

every ounce of happy, supportive thoughts can only help.

and this is apparently National Adoption Week in the US too btw...

wishing Danna and the whole family all the strength they need to make Abrehem truly part of the family.

Kerri.

Danna, have a safe trip! I am so happy for you and your family that you finally get to bring Abrehem home.

And prayers to the ancestors and spirits said. Danna, we're with you on this trip.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

Thank you, everyone. That really warms my heart.

I don't have much time to write but I wanted to let you all know that things are going very well. Danika and Abrehem hit it off very well (the first thing they did on meeting was hug and kiss) and have been playing nonstop. I think my house will never be tidy again! Abrehem is eating well (he'll eat ANYTHING we set in front of him) and sleeping well (although he fell out of bed twice last night ... he was sleeping with Frank in Danika's bed while I slept with Danika in our bed). We're amazed at how smoothly everything is going. Even if this is the calm before the storm and the proverbial hit is about to fit the shan, we're glad to have this time to take a deep breath and relax.

The trip to Ethiopia was very smooth. The Ethiopian representative was a dream, and everything was very well-coordinated. The hotel was comfortable, the staff was friendly, the food was excellent, and nobody got sick. Addis is a growing city, although it has its share or extremely poverty-stricken and unhealthy residents, as well.

We visited with the girl that TNH sponsors, and I will be sending out pictures of that visit to those who have sponsored her within the next few days. Please let me know if you are expecting pictures and don't get them ... I may have lost your email address. The girl is stunningly beautiful and very friendly. She was a bit shy at first, but she quickly warmed up and enjoyed laughing at Frank's and my bad attempts at speaking Amharic. She drew us some pictures and showed us her bed and her school books and her school uniform, and we played soccer with her and some of the other kids (and Frank and I certainly noticed the altitude then!). She served us cookies, and she LOVED the doll. She asked me what its name was and I told her that the box said Kayla but she could name it whatever she wanted. She decided on Alison. The doll was a hit with all the kids, and our girl was very pleased that she could take off the doll's shoes, dress, undershirt, and underwear.

We made a $100 donation to AHOPE so that they could take the kids to the local rec center for an ice cream party. Sidisse, the director of the AHOPE facility in Ethiopia, said she will send me pictures of that party.

Danika and Abrehem are fingerpainting right now.

I'll update when I can. Thanks again for your good wishes.

Danna =]

Danna, I have chills. Congratulations! What a happy time!

Kelly

on your new bundle of joy. Enjoy