HAPPY GOTCHA DAY GRACE!

Today is the anniversary of Grace's arrival home. On one hand it seems like she has been with us forever, and on the other, it is as if we were just in Ethiopia meeting her.

The past year has been filled with so many new adventures.

We have been able to witness milestones with Grace and have made lifelong friends through our adoption journey.

We are beyond excited to see what lies ahead for our sweet daughter. Grace's given name, Hiwot, means "life." We know that she has lived a grace filled life already and God has so many big plans in store for her.

Happy Gotcha Day Grace Hiwot!!!! We love you!

While we were in Ethiopia, we bought some things that we plan to give Grace on her "gotcha days." I couldn't wait to give her the hand-made doll that I bought from a street vendor in Addis. I was also excited to give her a new Ethiopian dress (planning on going to an Ethiopian restaurant tonight to celebrate!). Little did I know she would grow so much and that she would barely fit into it....

I also finally finished an "ABC" book about Grace's adoption. I have been meaning to get it done for, oh, about a year now (right along with the adoption video that hasn't quite made it to the blog yet....stay tuned for that one...It will be done soon!).

"K is for KVI (the orphanage Grace was at)"

"L is for loved"

"M is for meeting mom"

We also included things like "C is for coffee ceremony, A is for adoption, T is for Tedi (a good friend from Ethiopia), R is for referral, etc.

It was fun to share this special book with Grace. She is having a great time celebrating her adoption this week.

We also found this book on Amazon to give Grace today. It has beautiful pictures of Ethiopia. Check it out here.

"Mosaic consists of multi colored glass and stones, some are broken and fragmented,

specifically placed to make a beautiful artwork. That is how I view adoption. Adoption includes various colors of glass...ethnicity, cultures, families, backgrounds. Many will be 'broken' But God specifically sets them in place...not at random....but with a specific pattern or purpose in mind. What seems like a broken piece of glass, becomes a beautiful artwork."

-unknown