Here she is!

As I write this, Meti is sleeping in our hotel room! What a long but glorious day. I have been trying since about noon back home to post her pictures but I have not been able to get to the blog site.

We had a wonderful day. Leigh is feeling better and so we met our friend, Seble, and her brother for breakfast. It was a traditional Ethiopian breakfast and it was delicious. Leigh is enjoying the coffee very much since it is one of Ethiopia's main export products - it actually started here and was taken to South America.

After a relaxing breakfast, our driver, Tefasse, picked us up and drove us to the Gladney foster home. It was about 30 to 45 minutes away on the outskirts of Addis. Sort of like driving to Duluth. Once we got away from the central city area, the roads really open up and there are construction sites everywhere. What used to be countryside is being engulfed in the spreading out of Addis. And there are people everywhere along the roads - some with stands set up to sell small trinkets, others selling food items - tomatoes, corn or potatoes, others selling wood, and still others just wandering around. Like China, the roadside is the bathroom as well.

When we (Seble joined us as well!) arrived at Meti's foster home - Gladney just opened a 2nd one for children over the age of 1, but they kept Meti in the younger home since she had been moved so often already in her young life - we were escorted inside along with our 3 big suitcases of clothes for the orphans and diapers and formula and wipes and the one filled with stuffed animals and gifts for the caretakers. We, along with belay, sat in the living room area - the house looks like all of the other homes along this street - and Ryan brought Meti downstairs to meet us. At first she was very tentative and cried, but Ryan put her down and he and Belay left us alone with her and she eventually stopped drying - I think the toy phone that Isabella and Talia sent for her to play with helped. We showed her pictures of her sisters and talked about how much they were looking forward to meeting her and having her live with us forever as a family. She held the pictures and would not give them back. We stayed at the house for about an hour to an hour and a half before we left to have lunch. We did get to tour the house and meet several of the wonderful caretakers and see many of the other babies that will soon have a home.

We left the foster home and drove to a restaurant that overlooks the city's east side with all of its new growth. Meti ate some of Leigh's lasagna along with some pineapple juice. We then drove to the U.S. Embassy and finalized all of the paperwork - or at least we hope so. we pick it up tomorrow for you, later today for us.

Then we visited and toured the Holy Trinity Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is actually part of the Russian Orthodox branch. This particular church is located near the Ethiopian Gov't Bldg where Hallie Sellassie ruled. He also attended this church and when his remains were discovered, they buried him and his wife in this church. Hallie Sellassie was the last king from the line of Judah. It is said that when the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon that she was so beautiful that Solomon wished to sleep with her. She refused but Solomon said that if she took anything of his, then he could take anything of hers. After feeding her a feast fit for a Queen, but with a lot of spices mixed it, Queen Sheba went to bed. She awakened thirsty and went out into the courtyard and drew water from a well. Solomon was nearby and pointed out that she had taken something from him and now he wanted something from her. Nine months later, back in Ethiopia, she gave birth to a young boy who became the first Solomonic King of Ethiopia - Menelik I. It is also believed that as a gift to his son, Solomon gave him the Ark of the Covenant to hold in Ethiopia where Ethiopians still believe it lies in the City of Kings - Aksum.

Semegn, Meti's primary care taker travelled with us to the U.S. Embassy and to the church and she gave Meti a little traditional outfit and head wrap. She also wrote her a beautiful note that we shall cherish and place in Meti's keepsake box.

After this, we went back to the hotel where we relaxed and then went to dinner - I had long pants on so we were able to get in. Meti ate extremely well - a trait it appears she learned before considering how healthy she looks. She ate watemelon and cantaloupe, caulifower and pasta, and of course rice. It will be interesting to see who eats more between Talia and Meti. We gave her a bath and rocked her in our arms and now she rests.

We cannot tell you how grateful for all of your prayers for her accepting us. They have been answered so much. Meti has been comfortable being held by both Leigh and me.

Since I began this, Meti has awakened a few times. She sort of screams out like she is having a bad dream but when we rub her back and speak softly to her, she rolls over and goes back to sleep.

Thank for the words of support and encouragement that so many of you have posted. We cannot read the blogs but Jonni has been cutting and pasting them to us in e-mails. Believe me, your prayers are carrying us.

I did get to speak briefly with Isabella and Talia tonight. They sound so happy and are having so much fun with Nonni and now Aunt Lynne and Uncle Vann. Thank you guys for being there with them and giving us such a peace of mind with being half way around the world away.

Bella and Tali, we are missing you so much and waving the love sign and blowing you kisses everyday. It is 3:45 a.m. and Daddy's going to bed. Loving you.