The Longest Day of our Lives

This post is mostly for myself...So I can alway's look back and remember our last day and the marathon flight back home. I know it's taken me awhile to post this, but you'd understand if you were exhausted, sick, trying to catch up with laundry and loving on 3 kids.


Friday started ok, but by mid-morning, Abram had another melt down that lasted awhile. Later on we tag teamed, so that we could complete our devotions, personal time and packing. We headed out for lunch at Subway and then on to the market place and the pedestrian street. Once again, we needed to keep busy to help pass time... But, Wow!! The streets were packed!! Way busier than black Friday shopping!


We got back and checked out of our hotel and were shuttled to the airport. Our 1st flight was the longest, 12 hours and didn't leave until 9:45 pm. Abram slept for all but 2-3 hours of this flight! The beauty of a night flight! He did a lot of tossing and turning and even fell off the seat once, but at least he slept! We arrived in L.A. at 5pm....Friday night...talk about the longest day of our life! Going through customs and immigration was a nightmare with this little guy who had been already cooped up on the plane!


One fun perk to this 6 hour lay over was that Jeff's cousin and her husband and children live in L.A. and made the trip to the airport to see us and pick us up cheeseburgers on the way! A taste of America and California! They just adopted 2 from Ethiopia 2 months ago, so it was fun to hear their stories...just being a bit ahead of us in the journey.

It made the layover, so much more enjoyable and our travels, that much more fun!! Thanks Brian, April, Judah and Addise!

Our next leg of the trip...L.A. to Chicago...4-5 hour trip.....went horrible! Abram wasn't content, he only wanted Jeff to hold him (standing up). Finally, after Jeff was so exhausted (physically and emotionally), he handed Abram off to me. He screamed, cried and thrashed so hard, that I struggled to keep ahold of him. For as many condensending glances I got, I was able to remain calm and kept whispering words of love and softly sang to him. Finally his body gave in to sleep, as I held him and kept rocking him. That was the worst of that trip...but it still wasn't smooth sailing with Abram, as he would wake up crying off and on for the next hour. I look back and have to thank God for his provision for us emotionally and phyically. Thank you for praying.


Arriving in Chicago was the most pleasant sight to behold. Not only where we in the US, but we were in Illinois and our last flight would be short!


O'Hare airport has a small children's discovery/playground area that we headed to right away when we got there! Abram loved it! It was so good to let him burn some energy. The 3 hour lay over seemed to fly by between the playground and getting some breakfast.


Before our last flight took off, Abram fell asleep in Jeff's arms. Shortly, we landed home, as our anticipation peeked and we couldn't wait to reunite with Chase, Aubrey, family and friends. As we opened the door to leave the security area, the applause and cheers could be heard throughout the airport of our family and friends. What an amazing moment to see Chase and Aubrey, to see the excitement of everyone in the room! I thought I would be a complete emotional wreck at this point, but I wasn't. The excitement to see everyone and appreciation for all they had done welled up inside me. It meant the world to us, to see our family and friends come meet us on that Saturday morning!


How can I begin to express our appreciating for those of you that prayed for us (prayed and prayed some more), that gave to us financially (to help us bring Abram home!), that sent us encouraging notes, email, comments on the blog, made us meals....the list could go on and on. I've loved sharing this adoption with you! It's been so special to include our family, friends, and church family in on this process. What a blessing you've all been to us!


I sometimes wonder how long Abram had been "up for adoption", how many families had seen his file, how long would have it been for him to have a "forever family", if it wasn't for all of you. God choose us to parent him and for the body of Christ to support us. It has forever changed our lives.


Now the blogging is done for me (for the most part) even though our adventure is just beginning.(and let me tell you...oh the tears we've had with all the kids!) We still have doctor's appointments, surgery's and more adjusting. If I let my mind wonder too much, I begin to fear that Abram won't make it through his surgeries...but I can't let my mind go there. For right now, this is where God has us. For right now, Abram Zan Tao has a family that loves him. For right now, I need to praise HIM.

(Playing Peek-a-boo)

("What'd you say?!" )

(Entertain Abram with a balloon at the airport. Desprate times, call for desparate measures)

(Chase excited about his new brother)