TWO years ago today.....

2 years ago today my good friend Maureen left for Ethiopia to meet her son Biniyam. Maureen and I met through a WHFC group and became instant friends. We knew Biniyam and Fasika were at the same orphanage and probably knew each other. It was comforting for both of us. Together we anxiously awaited the "travel to Ethiopia" email. When she got it, and I did not, I was heart broken.... I had prayed we'd travel together to pick up our children. For the next weeks that followed we talked every night and into the early hours of the morning, packing and unpacking our bags. Maureen offered to bring a package to Fasika and promised to tell her that she had a mommy & a daddy and a brother and a sister waiting for her. I couldn't wait to put together a package for her, I spent many nights at the mall looking for the perfect things to pack! We send her an outfit, slippers, crayons and a coloring book, bubbles, a photo album of our family and a bunny with a voice recorder that we put a special message on for her, along with a few other things. I was so thankful to Maureen for delivering it to her! By the time Maureen and Biniyam got home the following week, group #62 was announced, and we were in it!!!!!

Biniyam and Fasika!

And two years ago TOMORROW!!........ "4/12/08 What an amazing surprise this a.m.!!! Today at about 9 a.m. I got a call from an unknown number. After quickly debating weather or not to answer I picked up. I was shocked to hear Maureen (a friend who is in Ethiopia now) on the other end. At a rate of $8.00 a minute I surely wasn't expecting to hear from her while she was gone. Anyway, she says "Valerie, I have someone here who wants to say hello to you" Instant tears of course, I knew it was Fasika-- I could barely speak!! I heard her chatting with the nannies and laughing. Maureen kept saying "VALERIE, talk to her!!" Finally after a minute or two I was able to get my composure and tell her that i love her and that we'd be there soon to get her. It was amazing to hear her little voice and listen to her giggle-- I couldn't have asked for a better start to this sunny day!! "

I'm so lucky to have an amazing friend like Maureen and for Fasika to have her sweet little friend, Biniyam!! We are hoping to spend lots of time together this summer!!!