You Gotta Smile
August 12, 2010
Deanne’s Top Ten – You Gotta Smile!
#10 This entry could have been entitled You Gotta Smile or You’ll Cry. On my first night in Addis, I took pictures of my room to share with Ryan and the kids. See if you notice the difference between the pictures.
TDS Hotel bathroom
TDS Hotel bathroom Take 2
If I had paid closer attention, I would have taken a hot shower versus a rather chilly one. I neglected to plug in my hot water heater!
#9 Do you think Vidal knows these are still being used?
the Professional 1600
#8 Being in Ethiopia, where they speak Amharic, and the girls turning on the television to see and hear this in ARABIC!
#7 That no matter where in the world you are, a child can figure out electronics long before an adult!
Flip
iPhone
#6 Knowing that your daughters’ Ethiopian friends are just a Skype or a summer vacation trip away.
Bereket, Konjit, Tenaye, Fikirte & Meheret (Illinois & Pennsylvania)
2 of the Mott 4 & 5 of the Sweeney 9 (Illinois & North Dakota)
#5 The inability to speak one another’s language doesn’t dictate your newest friendship!
Uno with Fikirte, Mason & Reagan
Konjit & Ellie
a scoop of strawberry ice cream in a cone
#3 A boy turns into a young man waiting for a family, but God’s perfect timing gives him and his new family exactly what they had prayed for.
the Raymer Family minus a few state-side members
#2 A daughter’s reaction to hearing that she is leaving the transition home to be united with you forever!
#1 When a father is able to hold his daughters for the first time…
The pictures are beautiful! Praying that all continues to go well, and your entire family can be together soon.
How lucky you were able to capture the girls with Ryan. It brought tears to my eyes but also made me smile. Thanks for sharing your private moments with us.
Awesome list. The last video is so great.
I smiled…but it didn’t keep me from crying. This is so wonderful!!!
Oh Deanne!! Lots of tears!!!! I am so honored to have been on this journey with you! We have many adventures yet to come, my friend!
How exciting! We continue praying for you and your safe return home with your girls!
[...] Our friend Deanne has been in Ethiopia for the last few weeks waiting to be able to bring their two new daughters home. Their Embassy date has finally been set for the 18th which means they are hopefully a week a way from their family being whole. Ryan just went over a couple days ago. This is the video of Ryan being greeted by his new girls for the first time. You can read the whole post on their blog. [...]
Love, love, love this!! Hope the English lessons are going well:) We’ll miss you on our return trip to the Yebsabi!
Counting the days and missing you guys! So happy you’re together and we can’t wait too see you all!
oh, so sweet! so happy that you all are united and that the embassy date has been set!! i’ll be praying for a safe return home to prarie winds!!
Oh Deanne, how wonderful! I was crying of course! Can’t wait to meet your girls. Beautiful family!
Oh my goodness…I can’t believe it took me this long to see this post, but I am in tears at the last video of daddy meeting his girls! Congratulations!!
Such a precious video of Daddy meeting his girls! Very touching! Hoping all are doing well and adjusting superbly! Love is a universal language, understood by all! May your family be basking in the love for eachother and in God’s love!
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