What an amazing privilege and joy it was to be able to see, hug and talk with Almaz - our agency's Ethiopian Director! As I wrote before, she was visiting from Ethiopia and many of the Washington and Oregon families got to see her at a picnic put on by All God's Children!
So my friend, K and I decided that we would take our two babies down to Battleground, WA thinking it would be a fun 4 hr. drive that resulted in a 3-4 hr. visit w/ Almaz and many other families. We did have a blast talking and hanging out, but as we reached Seattle the traffic began to slow and stayed that way all the way until just north of Kelso. We were stuck in traffic an extra 2 hrs. Now you may be thinking, that's not too bad, but when your babies scream for the last hour and a half it's NOT fun at all! Both Abraham and her daughter K were seriously playing off of each other that entire last hour and a half. One would calm down and just at that same moment the other would go into hysterics! It got to the point where we were laughing uncontrollably b/c if we didn't we would seriously be crying. K was laughing so hard she actually was crying! We finally arrived at the park just in time to hear my other friend yell, "Kristin - come over, they're taking a group picture!" The party was supposed to go from 4-7 and we arrived at 6:30!! The plan was to change the kids (Abraham had literally thrown up on himself, had no pants on and both kids were all puffy in the face from crying - K still had tears streaming down her face too). It was quite hilariously ridiculous!
We sprinted over and everything changed - Almaz saw Abraham and the glow on her face brought me to tears. She held out her arms and began calling him, "Abraham, Abraham - oh my goodness you are so beautiful and big." She held him, kissed him, played with him right in the middle of when we were supposed to be taking the picture. It's like nothing else mattered to her but him. I could NOT believe the love she had for him, but as I watched her - I saw just how amazing her heart is. She is that way with EVERY SINGLE child!! The heart of this woman is nothing other than an extra blessing from God for her love for him and obedience!
When asking about Abraham, she knew everything to ask. She knew that he was a bit of a fussy baby while at HH, that he was behind developmentally, that he was exceptionally small and that he wasn't babbling much at HH either. She asked about each of these issues (these are the issues that we have dealt with in Abraham), thus showing how much she knows and cares about each and every child that walks through those doors! In each area, Abraham has made leaps and bounds and when I told her about each one, she would light up as though this was her child making the progress! I can't tell you how comforting and wonderful it was to talk to her and to tell her that Abraham is not only adjusting, but THRIVING!
We had such a wonderful time connecting with so many families and seeing all of these beautiful children home with their forever families! Everyone got a turn with Almaz and she was so gracious to each of us. She would talk to families who had their referral and tell them all about their children. She would talk to families on the waiting list and reassure them. She would ask those who were home how everything was going. She wanted to hold and play with each and every one of them!! She kept asking all of us to take pictures for her - she wanted to show all of the special mothers and staff just how well their "babies" are doing!!
Another amazing this is that we got to meet the Beazleys (the founders of AGCI) and their daughter Hannah - the inspiration behind Hannah's Hope. Jan Beazley was running around taking pictures of all of the children, Almaz, the families and Hannah with each of the children from Ethiopia. It was such a wonderful thing to get to meet this amazing family!!!
We ended up staying until 8:30, Almaz finally pulling herself away from all of the kids! K and I changed the kids and got them back in the car - each with a bottle in their mouths. We were the last ones out of the park and the sign said they closed the gate at dusk - it was well past dusk! We were laughing again saying that it would be hilarious and beyond belief if we got stuck in the park. We'd just have to off road in the Civic we were in - can't you just see that!! We needed to stop for gas and while going to the bathroom, K looks at me on my way back and says, "You're not going to believe this." I walk over and Abraham has literally thrown up ALL over the place drenching pjs, blanket and car seat. I pull him out, change him in the middle of a gas station, K cleans up his seat and we both are close to hysterics again (laughing of course)! We finally got him back in and both kids passed out! We stayed at K's sister's house in Seattle and thank goodness we were able to pass out and sleep!
I am SO thankful that Almaz made the trip to the US and that we had the privilege of seeing her again! She is amazing and such a gift from God. She will always be an integral part of our lives because of the part she played in our son's life. Thank you Almaz!! We love you!
Almaz holding Abraham - look at the delight on her face.
Happy!!
This is how she looks at each and every child!
Don't you love the smirk on his face. She told me he would be a lady killer - My response - "I know - we're in trouble :)!"
I wish my whole family could have been there, but I love this picture of the three of us!
