Not much sleep this way, during the night we were interceding on behalf of Patty and Paul. Our new friends that are adopting two boys. They were in a tough spot, a place of doubt had found space to rent in their minds. A spirit of confusion had robbed their joy after their 1st meeting with their boys. David and I were sent an email from Patty in the night asking for prayer! We began praying and realized quickly this doubt was NOT the plan of Gods, but was the enemy trying to halt this adoption. I remember laying there, wide awake heart sick for our new dear friends...David prayed a beautiful prayer and began calling out all the wonderful characteristics God had designed in these boys and then prayed against the spirit of deception and confusion! We knew this was a matter of eternity. So as we prayed into the early morning hours we decided to lay there awake in the dark of Addis Ababa and Delight in the reality that in just a few shorts hours Sintayehu would become a Bond. Legally ours <3
We joined the others hoping our appearance was much better than how we were feeling. We were thrilled that Patty and Paul had a great night of sleep and woke up with Peace! Praise the Lord!!! Of course God...God delivered, HE never ceases to amaze me! HE is WHO HE says HE is! THE GREAT I AM! He brought HIS peace beyond understanding...and we see it all over our friends AND they too will head to court with us and witness their boys become their sons "officially". After a beautiful breakfast and a gross amount of much needed coffee we were ready to go for our morning visit. We couldn't get to him quick enough! To cup his little face in my hands and stare deep into his glorious eyes! His eyes that tell his story...To hear his precious language that I don't understand but causes me to beam..I can't believe were HERE! In the flesh we are finally here holding our boy, holding all those prayers, holding all the "paperwork", Holding our Wait. Our dreams are unfolding. The morning visit was SO great! He is so yummy, full of tenderness. He is very content to just sit with us. We brought little markers for him to color, and boy does he like them. He is inking up his clothes and little body with much delight. I am now proud mother of new ink all over my forearm :-)We also brought back the mini soccer ball for him. It's his favorite, and he is very content just hugging it ever so tight into him, while still white knuckling his markers. It was during this visit(3rd one) that we kept calling him all the names we have considered this far. We really believed his name would be Ty. Shortened from his Ethiopian name, or even Tyson...We had talked about Beckham last fall, but thought too much..too much propaganda to the name...hmm. He paid no attention to names we were trying out, UNTIL we said Beckham. Immediately he repeated the name, "Beck-Hem" he said with a smile. We were floored! It was in that moment we knew Sintayehu had just chosen his name. We have decided on Beckham Luke Sintayehu Bond. Here is the meaning of his full name(Homestead, bringer of light,what my eyes have seen and where I have been.) We left that visit knowing when we returned for the afternoon, One that he wouldn't just be our son in our hearts, but legally he would be a BOND, and Fatherless NO MORE~My heart...is Exploding beyond a 4th of July night!
1 pm~ In court in Addias Ababa
To much time needed to share the next story, so I will spare you..However I will say there was about 50 people in the court and on the wall it says SILENCE...Well us Americans, along with our driver got the giggles over a mispronunciation of mine, and the fact I was calling our lawyers assistant by our Lawyers name! I truly was confused and thought the assistant was Mr. Alemu..So when our driver Eshetu says that is Mr. Encharda(sp) It sounded like he said Mr. Enchilada...They let me continue calling this poor man Mr. Enchilada until they could Laugh No More! The laughter was much needed for the nerves! The judge called us in and it was in those moments behind closed doors we answered all the questions of why we believed we could parent Sintayehu, and got to tell her our heart for adoption and how much we had already bonded with him...- A few questions from the Judge~
Have you spent time with Sintayehu?
How was your time with him?
How long has your adoption process been?
Do you live in a diverse area?(We smiled as we live in North Idaho)It will become diverse Lord willing!
Have you learned about the Ethiopian culture?
Do you know other families that have adopted from Ethiopia?
Do you understand that after I sign this paper, Sintayehu Tirit will be yours under Ethiopian law and there is NO turning back for any reason?
...Sweetest words. I believe instead of saying yes to all the questions, my response was Glory...We thanked her very much as the tears spilled down our faces!
After court we headed back to visit our son! I scooped him up only to intercede him reaching out to his daddy, (whom he calls Abba, My Abba to be exact) and announced to him you are a Bond!
I'm sure he knew...no papers were needed for him to know that...After we went back to the Guest House and celebrated with bottled Pepsi..The best soda I have ever had!
Pictured from left is Paul, Patty, Eshetu, me and my sweetie
Coffee Ceremony Celebration
Here we are celebrating with the beautiful staff at the Guest House...Family
