PROUD MOMMY

I got the following update from Jessica at Gladney:

"Belay said he saw Beamlak yesterday and said she was all
dressed up to go to the airport to meet the Head of
State that was arriving to hand out flowers.  He said she
looked very beautiful and that is why she was chosen to
do it.  He also said she was on TV!!  I thought that was neat.
It sounds like she is doing very well and I'm getting
very exciting for you as your court date approaches."

That's my girl :)  I wish I could get photos and the video
footage of the presentation, what a wonderful memory
for her to have!  She has presented flowers to Heads of
State in the past as well and Nesredin tried to get the
footage from the Government-run media company but was
unsuccessful, I'll have to beg him to try again :)

One week!  Court is in ONE WEEK AND ONE DAY!  I have a feeling
I won't be notified of anything until Dec though because
Friday is a holiday, but gosh!  Finally...  it's just amazing
to think back to a year ago, having just recently returned
from Ethiopia I was completely devastated and though I wanted
her home so badly, I couldn't even function. It took everything
to get out of bed in the morning and I admit, it's still a
struggle some days.  But she is SO close to coming home forever! 
Just keep moving!

Wow!  I still am not thinking straight.  One week and one day...
One year ago, I began this journey knowing that there was only
a slim chance that I would be able to bring her home, and
we've gotten so close!  It still amazes me.

Above is a picture I received along with the update. 
Bamlak looks so much like her first mom in the photo it
is amazing!  It was the first thing I noticed, besides
just how beautiful and healthy she is of course :) 
I am eternally grateful to Roza and Maeza (two girls at
Kechene) for caring for Bamlak over the last year. 
Almost every photo I receive Bamlak has her hair done
and oiled up, her skin is no longer dry and she
looks like she is finally putting on a little weight
(even though she is only 42 lbs still).  But she's now
3 ft 6 in, which is just amazing to me!  She's growing
up so fast.

I am very blessed.