First visit

We took naps after being dropped off at the Hilton.  We had cookies and fresh roses delivered to our room?  Not sure if that is from the Hilton or who?

Then had to leave by 230 to be at Tikuret by 3.  Tikuret is the name of Yosef's orphanage.  On the way there we noticed there are a tremendous amount of construction going on in the city and it's all formed concrete structures. Lots of older cars, beeping horns, crazy driving- just like South America, Puerto Rico, New York.  However this many seem contradictory but the people have all been so, so friendly to us!

We were welcomed in by friendly workers off of a very bumpy road.  The orphanage was VERY clean. We recognized a lot of the rooms from the pictures we have been sent.  We had expected that we would only be able to interact with him in a group setting however the social worker went and got Yosef and brought him into the sitting room just with us.  We were pleasantly surprised..  She told him to shake our hands, which he did.  She told me to kiss me on both of the cheeks which was also adorable.  He stayed near me a lot and lots of looking at us.  She also let us stay for almost 2 hours when we were only supposed to be there for 1.

The social worker talked to us about him some and then went to do some work and floated in and out of the room.  Dereje stopped by (over the adoption process in Ethiopia for Gladney) to talk to us about how court will go tomorrow.  We have to be there at 9am with him in front of the judge.

Yosef looked very healthy and clean.  Even better than the pictures we have been sent.  A nurse came in and introduced herself to us.  Another worker made fresh coffee for us right in front of us.  She roasted the coffee beans and then ground them down.  It was a 30 minute process that was special and we drank from the authentic pot.  Josh hates coffee but he drank it as to not insult.  They served us cookies and also bottled water and Yosef immediately wanted mine.  So he got them :)  It was such an honor for them to serve us in that way.

Naturally he was standoff -ish at first but he sat in my lap a lot as time passed.  He looked at Josh a good bit but when Josh tried to play with him and a stuffed bear it didn't go well.  He clung to me.  So the bear went away.

We got a tour of the whole orphanage which like I said was very immaculate considering the circumstances.  I could take pictures of all the rooms and items but not the kids.  We went into the special needs room with kids that have cerebral palsy, blindness, etc.  That was very eye opening.  We saw Yosef's room and bed as well as his play area.  Yosef shares a room with 3 other boys all in their own toddler beds.  There are three other toddlers in another room.  Only 1 of the 7 is a girl.

I still cannot include any pictures of Yosef, but here are some from the orphanage.  We were impressed that there is a nurse on staff and a pediatrician that comes each weekend.  She showed us Yosef's file and lots of the food items that he eats regularly down in the kitchen.  I looked at his clothes which I believe are not the right size.  Shirt was 18-24 months, pants 9-12 months (too small), shoes were 8 but too big.  Not sure on diaper size.  He was fascinated by looking at himself on the Iphone.

We felt so welcomed and left very optimistically.  Not that this is going to be all roses and perfect, but that no doubt God has his hand on this and he has been preparing our hearts and Yosef's heart for this all along. Many of his caretakers lovingly call him Yosie.  We will take out two suitcases of donations tomorrow to the orphanage.

Josh talked a lot with Dereje, a native Ethiopian, that works for our agency.  He will attend court with us tomorrow and help us with all the details.  You will see him below talking to Josh in the picture.  He was a sweet man too.

After the orphanage we went and eat at an Italian restaurant, stopped at a grocery store for bottled water and now are in the hotel ready to pass out!!  So thankful for our driver and he even gave us a cell phone to call or text him.  He's coming to get us at 730am for court at 9am.  We need breakfast and don't want to be late!

Once again my body time is all screwed up as we are 7 hours ahead so forgive me if I repeated myself or left out something.  Court is 9am tomorrow which means it's 2am time in NC.  Hopefully when you wake up tomorrow Yosef will officially be ours!!


Orphanage coffee table

 Looking outside from orphanage

 Where she was roasting beans

 Then grinding

 The coffee

Josh and Dereje

 Yosef's bed

 The sweet nurse we talked to a lot

 Looking out

  Not paved roads here

 Toddler play area (sorry if I accidentally repeat a few pics...getting sleepy)

I thought it'd be fun to watch Josh drink coffee...haha

 In the kitchen

 Laundry room

 Leaving from Tikuret

 This is what we are riding in

 Dinner for us.

 Quick swing by grocery store

 Flowers and cookies from hotel we think?