Isaiah and Kaleb's Birth Town

Last week we visited Isaiah and Kaleb's birth town. It was a great day and a hard day. Isaiah was great! He was really looking forward to it. It had been over a year since he had been there. He was bouncing all over the guest house in the morning. As we were driving there, he kept asking "how much longer?" Once we got close, he started to recognize places. He knew the towns that were close by. Right on the edge of town is a dirt road and he said "this is the way to my school" and a couple of roads later he said "this is the road to my father's house". He was right! We got to visit both of those places later in the day. I want to keep most of the details private for the boys sake, but I wanted to share a little bit too. We got to meet several members of their Ethiopian family and many more friends that kept coming by once the word spread. Every single person we met gave us a kiss and said "thank you". I really didn't know how to respond and I really didn't expect to be thanked. We are grateful these boys are our sons. I was afraid it might be awkward since we love these boys and they are our sons now, but it wasn't at all. Everyone kept saying that we are all family now. Which is so true, we will never forget the people we met this day. These people helped make Isaiah the wonderful kid he is today. Their birth family is so kind and full of love. We are grateful they had so much love in their lives before we knew them. The day was overall great! But when it was time to say goodbye, I lost it. And I looked at Brad and he was bawling too (this doesn't happen often). I was hugging these people telling them we love the boys and we will take care of them and raise them to love Jesus and they were hugging the boys good-bye, maybe forever. We plan to bring the boys back here someday in the future, but there is a good chance many of the family members might not be alive next time. It is something that I will never forget. Adoption is such sacrifice. They were all so strong hugging us with smiles and with hearts full of gratitude. They were so thankful we took the time to come and meet them too. Kaleb didn't really care for any part of the day. He didn't remember anyone. He was less than 1 year old when was taken to the orphanage. He kept reaching for me or Brad whenever someone took him from our arms. This was great to see that he has started to bond with us (he usually could care less who held him) but it was hard to see him not want to hug anyone from his first family too.

At lunch after seeing everyone Isaiah said "it was a really, really, really good day". We were worried how his heart would take it all, but he just loved every minute of it. He said he was happy he has an Ethiopian family and an American family. I'm thankful he has a strong heart and could handle everything from this day. He was hyper, the most hyper we have seen him, when we got back to the guest house that night.

Isaiah's school

Isaiah was so happy when we pulled up to this gate

Isaiah inside his 1st house


Isaiah's old shoes were still on the floor of his 1st house


Waving good-bye from the van as we pulled away