Can't Stop Lovin' You!

Waiting for you...

Waiting for you... still we are!!! 

 Another Summer, another Winter

Although we yearn for your presence,

we have learned to abide,

trying to imagine the impossible...

How's it going to be? that day,

Will we see you smile..?

will you be frightened..?

will you cry..?

will we..?

We ask God

these and many more questions

about you..

HE SMILES...

-That's it? a smile?? we say!

Then...

He gives us this...

A BIGGER SMILE!!

finally we say,

THANK YOU LORD!

Our heart feel at peace...

Some of the last events!!

Well, to state the obvious... I'm being a bad Blogger! I'll spare you from reading what you might think are silly excuses; so let's talk about what happening with the Lopez Gang.

Carlito and Mekdes are getting to know each other better everyday; at first it was a little difficult for Lito to accept having to share the love from mom and dad with somebody else but as time goes by their relationship has gotten better, they play together more and fight a little less --they are still brother and sister though--

Last November Mekdes had a chance to visit with her little friend "K" with whom she had spent some time in Ethiopia and now lives about 2 hrs away from us, they are a great family and has been a blessing to know them.  Talking about reunions... in December we went to visit family in California and had a chance to meet with one of the great adoptive families and travel companion that we love so much. They happen to be on vacation in CA as well, so Mekdes and Carlito got to have dinner with their friend Bereket and family! Carlito got to know Bereket during the week that we all spent in Ethiopia and they have established a great bond that we hope will continue for life. It was great visiting with them! We only wish to have the opportunity to spend some time with the other families this year, God willing!

We also did the baby/child dedication for Mekdes at our church, asking God for protection over her and the whole family. It was a very nice event since we have a nice support from our church family.
Oh yeah, also, another dental appointment for Mekdes!

 

                                     
                                             Here are some pictures to show all those events!

Thank you Lord!!!

I could mention many, many things that I'm thankful for... but today I want to say, Thank you Lord for my family!

family!

We are still here!!!

Orlando, FL

Oh my... the blog!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AISHA MEKDES

This beautiful girl is 3 yrs old today! time goes fast... she came to our family only 2 months ago and she is three now!!??  Well, the love we feel for her is like if she had been with us for many years.

Her life and our life is like water from two separate rivers that one day merge together... blending in such a way that separating them is rendered an impossible task.

 

Thank you God for this beautiful family!!!

Day 2 and 3 and more!

Our second day in Ethiopia, after a nice breakfast and good coffee, we had some time to play with our little guys. On this day we finally got to see a smile from our daughter!!! it melted our hearts. Later we went on a nice tour through the city of Addis Ababa. Ficker made a very good tour guide. One very important stop on this tour was at the coffee shop, we got to try a great machiatto and buy a few kilos of Ethiopian coffee to bring to USA. I don't know if it will last until next time we go!!

Finally smiling... she is even more beautiful!

The roads were shares with donkeys and goats!!

One of the very nice couples that share this experience.  Their new son: Abel, beautiful, blessed Abel.

The new Lopez family!!!

Evan enjoying their son Finn!

Carlito loving his new sister Mekdes.

Addis Ababa University

Some quality Mom and Daughter time!!

At the zoo you could (if you didn't mind loosing your hand) pet the lions; I didn't see anybody try though.

One of many "furniture stores" found on the roads that we traveled.

Playground at the zoo.

Not on a smiling mood, but posing nevertheless!!!

The proud mama!!

Ethiopian young beauty!

Here kitty, kitty!!!

Some Ethiopians enjoying the zoo... and their parents too!!!

A month after we came back from Ethiopia we got to celebrate our wedding anniversary.  Before this picture we had a romantic Japanese dinner for four.

Ethiopia Day 1

After some 24 hrs of travel… we arrive to Ethiopia on Saturday 19 at 6:45 PM. The driver from CHI (adoption agency) was already there waiting for us and other 2 couples coming on the same flight. All 7 of us, plus driver and 2 other passenger got in the van, the about 20 pieces of luggage was place on top of the van and there we go!

It was a rainy night, the air in the city had a very peculiar aroma, thick and wrapping like a blanket that you could feel covering you as soon as you walk outdoor; certainly we were in a far land!! After a short drive we were at the House of Hope 2, the guest house set up by our agency, and we all settle in our rooms; happy after we were told that we didn’t have to wait until Monday to finally have our daughter in our arms.

We were exhausted after the long flight but still, by 5 AM we were up and ready to go. By 8:00 AM breakfast was served and we were enjoying crepes, juice and great Ethiopian coffee.

After breakfast we were on our way to the House of Hope 1; the transition home, were all of our children were waiting for their respective parents. On the drive there we were planning how the “transfer” should go. [From this point everything was like a dream we were in a daze for a few hours that day] Once we got there it was nothing as planned; the two older children (one being our Mekdes) were in the toddlers’ room having a snack with other maybe ten children. We were trying to take some pictures through the window for a few second until we were told “you can go in” for a second or two we didn’t know what to do, finally we reacted and went into the small room [here we really were in the deepest part of the dream] I kneeled down a few feet away from Mekdes, called her name and extended my arm… and she did… she got up an came to me!! Then I gave her a big hug and kept her close to me for a few moments; How I kept myself from crying like a baby? I’m not sure; I think the stupor of the moment blocked all my other feelings for that time. After a couple of minutes I gave our girl to my wife Patricia (who waited patiently) our son Carlito was happy but kept a cautious low profile. He went in also and gave her a hug and a kiss, a few minutes later he was playing with a soccer ball at the patio.

We took some pictures and video, toured the house, I hope we said thank you! After that we were taken back to our guest house to enjoy our children, play and and enjoy great food and traditional Ethiopian coffee.