Lead us to Levi

We have a SON!  It is official.  It seems the enemy is working overtime on this assignment but once again, he is defeated!

We returned to court the next day at 9:00.  We recognized many faces in the crowd as others who had also been turned away the day prior.  We had been told on that day that the judge was frustrated that people were talking.  This day, the room was absolutely silent.  Every once in a while you would see a group begin to emerge as the talkers, however, another agency rep. that my kids lovingly nicknamed "Officer Bob" would go and tell them of the previous days mishaps.  Quickly they would quiet.

After 2 plus hours of waiting we heard the name Shalom ... our orphanage.  Our rep. went in only to return with a shaking head.  We waited and waited and waited with little word of what was happening.  By 11:30 I was beginning to grow weary and disheartened.  The room was still very full and we knew the court closed without apology at 12.  We then found out that one of the files from our group of 2 had "misplaced".  We did not know which one it was, only that they could not locate it.  Our agency rep disappeared for some time.  The room began to empty and we soon found ourselves the only families waiting court with exception to one other family.  Low and behold, it seems our files had been filed under theirs and vice versa.  Once our files were safely recovered we entered the judge's court.  We found a soft spoken, well dressed, beautiful woman.  She asked us a stream of questions and then we heard from her lips "it is approved, Zebene is yours".  I could hardly believe my ears.  As I stood up, I was in disbelief.  I turned to our rep and asked "we are approved, he is ours".  Smiling, he shook his head and said "yes yes".

Both us and the other family we had grown to love, the Borges, emerged from the court as new parents again.  We were all in tears.  All the waiting and heartache and 75 hours of travel quickly became a distant memory ... Zebene Levi Martine was OFFICIALLY an orphan no more!  We have a son!

The past few days have been busy busy since.  We have enjoyed some time at another orphanage today (AHope), an orphanage for HIV+ children only.  We held babies and the kids passed out goodies.  We brought donations of crocs and visited with their program director.

Zebene is a hilarious little guy.  We have learned that he isn't a crowds man and would rather rome freely on his own.  Each day we arrive he is shy and reserved but will find one of us (Doug and I) and reach up to be held.  We love that!  I can't wait to tell him one day how whenever he would see a picture of us, he would call us a forenge (white person/foreigner).  It makes me laugh.  The Nanny's and our guides will correct him and tell him "Mommy, Daddy", and he will give his little nod of the chin and raise his eyebrows as if to say "yes" ... and soon will follow with his own version "Mommy, Daddy Forenge".

There are some points of the day that he will get very animated.  I think in those moments we see a window into his real personality.  Today, we are pretty sure he was telling Doug just how he felt about something.  He was very verbal about something while we were playing on the slide.  He had the kids and I laughing so hard.  We need to get it on video so that perhaps Yonas or Job, our guides can tell us what he is saying ... then again, do we want to know?

We know we have a long road ahead with bonding and attachment.  Communicating is harder than I had expected although I did learn today what "shint" is.  Yep, pee pee.  Got that all important point down.  I am certain that might be one of the important ones.  I think when I arrive home, I will be doing some heavy Amharic studying.

We sure love this little guy though.  He is truly a gift.  Thank you so much for praying us through court.  You know though, your assignment is far from over.  We still have embassy to clear so we can bring him home.

Well, it is getting very late here.  I know all you really want to see are pictures so I will try and post a few.  I have a few with some animated faces of our Z with his Daddy that I can't wait to post when I get home.  I haven't loaded them yet though.  But, I guess this is the big reveal.  Meet our son ..

Zebene Levi Martine

Dakota made a special friend.  I can't show her face or say her name yet as they are awaiting word that they passed court.  But let's just say, language didn't get in the way of an amazing little new friendship.  

The Borges family.  We adored this family!