Tess and her new big sister in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, JULY 2008. Tess had no siblings so she was very happy to get a houseful!!
Tess and her new daddy at the Sheraton in Addis Ababa.
I LOVE this photo! It is the first photo we ever took with Tess!! This was in our hotel room right when we had gotten back from picking her up at the orphanage. 
At breakfast the following morning at the hotel. Tess has her new doll. The first toy she ever owned!! SHe named her MIMI.
Some of the street kids with Christine. We will never forget their faces!!
Tess and I at the market buying Ethiopian art.
More street kids...
The happy new family! We were so excited to get back so Tess could meet her brothers too.
What a year it has been for us! We have come through the most amazing journey! A year ago this past week we were in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia picking up Tess. I look at these photos and she looks like a little Ethiopian girl. She did not speak a word of english! I can hardly remember what that was like...we must have all just been in survival mode. I look at our daughter now and she is very much an funny, giggly American girl and an absolute part of our family. I thank GOD every day that she has been able to adapt so well, with her personality and Joy intact! She has learned so much and yet so have we!! An entire new world opened up to us. We have met such amazing people and families with a heart for helping orphans! Our journey took 4 years from filling our first paper to meeting Tess...I am greatful that God put adoption so firmly on our hearts that we just conintued to be open to whatever was meant to be. There is no doubt now that Tess was to be our little girl.
As our daughter Christine explains...
" I get why our process (of adoption) took so long...God sent us to China first to pass some time because Tess was still with her mom when we started in 2005. God knew she was meant for us and so when she needed a family, her photo was sent to us and we just knew. The timing was perfect because we went to get her within 4 months of learning about her. God had us on hold until he was ready for us! It was the plan all along!!"
AMEN!!
2 comments:
We remember well meeting all of you--with our new daughters--at the Blue Top Restaurant!!!! I love the small world that is the Body of Christ!
Jonas Family - We are amazed that it has been a whole year with Tess, yet it feels like she has always been here. We have thoroughly loved getting to know your family through our beautful Ethiopian children. They are such blessings! Tess has grown so much over the last year...physically, emotionally, spiritually, and culturally. She is an amazing spirit and I can't wait to see where GOD takes her!
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