Overlap

A serious day today when our little Kaloo said goodbye to her old life and the people who have loved and raised her for the first almost year of her life. It also saw the end of the at times seemingly insurmountable paperwork this adoption has involved. We got the Italian visa!

The coffee ceremony was only later in the afternoon so this morning Cindy and I ventured out to say we ran in Africa while mama and baby had a nap and prepared for tonight. Our driver brought us up to entoto mountain and told us to go! The air was so thin that we walked up to the top and jogged down. It was so strange to see what a difference the altitude made on our ability to run. Still, it was beautiful to see all of addis spread out below us and to see the ladies carrying huge bundles of wood on their backs down the mountain. Then we went to see where the women who used to carry the wood now make beautiful woven scarves. We both loved getting out of the city and so glad we went.

The afternoon Was filled with love, laughter, prayer, and tears. Germatude picked us up at 1:30 and brought us to the orphanage. Elizabeth greatest us when we arrived. A great meeting of two woman who love this baby so very much but who have never met. She brought us to the school room where every child from the orphanage came trickling in, in traditional Ethiopian garb. The ceremony started with a Pationate prayer that everyone participated in. The children proceeded to entertain us with different songs and dance. As this was going on a woman was roasting our cerimonial coffee beans... Heating them up and fanning them... The Aroma filled the room. The children then presented Kaloo with drawings filled with messages of love. We were then presented with our traditional coffee, lovely treats and goodies... Including a traditional sweet from Harare that everyone said was a "secret" recipie. As this was going on Kaloo was kissed and hugged by every child and adult in the room.. The love was genuine and felt deeply. It was also very apparent that Kaloo knew her her mama was as she surched her out in the crowed and would beem and put her arms out when she saw her. After eatting, a dance party insued... The children of the orphanage are all well versed in the "macaraina" now.... We wanted everyone to know that Kaloo was coming into a family full of joy and laughter and dancing. It was then time to go... All though it was clear that everyone's hearts knew Kaloo was where she was supposed to be it was VERY difficult to leave... These people have loved her her so very much for the first year of her life... And we already love her so much... This overlap of love was difficult to separate. There was a lot more kissing and crying until we were in the truck... Some more tears and love exchanged and then it was off... Officially to kaloo's new life... The ritual was beautiful and we feel so blessed to have been a part of it.... Shannon was so great full and overwhelmed by how much her baby is loved...
All right, we are now at the end of a very emotional day and preparing for the next leg of the "carnival" Italy !!! We enjoyed a lovely treat of a Sheraton buffet tonight to unwind.
But first Kaloo's first swim in a lovely warm and exotic pool tomorrow... Life is beautiful.