We Knew it Would be Short Notice, but wow...

When we first got matched with Saryn in May, we knew it would be a tight schedule for us to travel before the courts close in Ethiopia for six weeks in mid-August. We really wanted to travel before the court closure so as not to have two months pass without seeing her. Plus, if we can make that first court date, then the process can continue (after Ethiopian court, her case is passed for visa processing to the US Embassy, which does not close for Ethiopia's "rainy season.")

We've spent all summer scheduling only a few weeks at a time as we kept getting updates of our progress suggesting we MIGHT travel before August. We got the notice in late June that the Ethiopian court announced their last day of business as Tuesday, August 6th. We figured we'd have to hear by early July in order to travel in August. As we resigned ourselves to an October-November date in mid-July, our caseworker mentioned that we might still get squeezed in, after a last procedural on July 30th. July 30th came and went and we again prepared for a later travel date.

On our way to visit Christian's mom on Friday, August 2nd, our caseworker called to say that our court date was to be Friday, August 9th! We were elated, but didn't think they could make the window that short. Adding to our stress was that, contrary to what many families do, we would remain in Ethiopia for the 7-12 weeks between this court date and our US Embassy appointment, which grants Saryn the visa to travel to the US with us. In other words, we had about 3 days to plan for a 2-3 month trip, as we were headed the wrong way!

We actually continued on to Mom's in Springfield to see her and my sister and family, taking the long stretches in the car to make endless lists, book flights, and plan what we could. It was a quick but enjoyable 36 hours in Springfield, then a long haul back to Fort Worth via a very needed pit stop in Tulsa where Wes and Joan graciously hooked us up with a bunch of things we needed for the trip. Then it was basically non-stop packing from Mon morning on until we boarded the plane Tuesday afternoon.

We flew to Addis Ababa through Dubai on Emirates, highly recommended to anyone making a similar trek. Beyond Emirates' stellar service, they put us in a hotel for the 22-hour layover in Dubai, giving us the chance to arrive not completely exhausted (a shout out to Clayton and Margo Faulkner for telling us about traveling to Ethiopia with this airline). Ally used the afternoon for a fat nap, but Reece and I took the Metro to the Burj Khalifa, currently the tallest building in the world. The next day, it was a short 3-hr flight to land us in Addis on a Thursday afternoon.

Now to go get that girl!

Reece enjoying the hookup of kids goodies from Emirates.

Reece eating a cream-cheese laden bagel we got from DFW before taking off. The picture doesn't capture it, but he was basically a wreck waiting to happen, squirming constantly in his seat with that weaponized cream cheese!

Try as I might, I couldn't get a pic of the Burj Khalifa and Reece with light on his face. Well, there you go: the world's tallest building and Reece in silhouette.

Cruising through the palatial Dubai airport.