Far Far Away

We made it home in time for Christmas! What a huge blessing to be able to wake up on Christmas morning and be with our kiddos. We had a relaxing day just being with one another. However, it's becoming more and more apparent as time goes by that our family is just not complete. It was such a gift to be able to hold Kai, to snuggle and kiss him. But my heart just aches knowing that he's on the other side of the world. I don't doubt for one minute that he is getting good care-at least the basics of food, clothing, shelter. But I ache to be his mama, to hold him when he is crying, to share in his sweet laughter. Since we haven't posted any pics of Kai, it probably is apparent that we didn't pass court. We were missing our MOWA letter (Ministry of Women's Affairs). I guess I don't even really know what this letter says, or why the court needs it, but I do know that we won't pass court until they get it. If it is ready within a couple of days after court then the court will go ahead and pass us and if it is not, then they will have to reschedule a new court date for the addition of the letter (probably late January is what we were told). I really and truly hope that this is not the case because it lengthens the time until our paperwork can go to embassy, which in turn lengthens the wait for a travel date until Kai can come home. Please pray for this letter to show up and for us to pass court as soon as possible.
The court process in Ethiopia was really different. All the adoptive families were piled into a room with all the birth families at the same time. The judge would call the birth families into the room and ask them questions and then she would call in the adoptive families and ask them questions. It was heartbreaking to see some of the birth families exit the court room in tears. It's awkward to think that someone's biggest heartache can be someone else's greatest joy. We did not have the gift of meeting Malakai's birth parents since he was abandoned. Other families in our group did have the amazing opportunity-as hard as it was to hear some of the stories. There were also families in our group that did not get consent from the birth families to adopt. It was a roller coaster of emotion to go to court and see the weight of the world on these people and then go to the orphanage and have to say goodbye to Kai. There is a piece of Ethiopia that will forever be in my heart-the need is so great and it brings new perspective into my pampered life. Even the bad days look pretty good comparatively. I'm sure the events of our travel will be swirling in my mind for months-bittersweet really, really.