The McDaniel Memoirs

Well, it's about 5:45 a.m. here now.  I've been up since 3:30 a.m.  We were able to visit the first church and museam in Addis Ababa yesterday afternoon, and then came back to the guest house for dinner.  The food was great, and we were both pretty wasted.  Unfortunately, Joe still had to spend another couple of hours on the phone with airlines trying to figure out who had our luggage and who was going to send it.  Basically, because our itinerary required switching airlines, the two airlines in JFK had been sending our baggage back and forth saying it was the other one's responsibility.  Frustrating to say the least, while we're sitting in Ethiopia with no luggage.  But, at around midnight last night, we did finally get an email letting us know the arrangements for our baggage and the flight numbers.  Lord willing, we should be able to have our luggage tomorrow afternoon.  Of course, we have been given "good" and hopeful news a few times throughout this only to call back to find out "nope, they're still in JFK".  Praising our Lord that we can place our confidence in Him . . . there truly is no confidence in men!

 

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, today we get to finally meet our son!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My heart is filled.  This baggage junk has been overwhelming, and I have been praying for God's grace to "get over it".  Somehow I know that seeing Isaiah's face and holding him will make all of that just melt away!  The plan is to spend a few hours today with him at the transition home where he is living, get to see where he's been sleeping, talk to his nannies and the doctor there.  Then, tomorrow, we take him with us!

 

We came here for our son, and we are so thankful to be here.  But in the details of things, there are many things in our baggage that will be difficult to find while we are here - diapers, meds, clothes, etc. - things we could find a way to do without, but things that make my mommy heart hurt because of the planning and thought that went into them for our son and the other orphans here.  Parents want to make things "all better" for their children.  And while it is only for a time, my heart has been struggling with the possibility of  not having our luggage when we take Isaiah with us tomorrow.  BUT, God is good, He is faithful, and He is in control!!!!!!!!!!  We are still praying for God to get our luggage here, but also praying for His grace to accept His timing and let go of my plans, no matter how "good" I thought they were . . . man, you think I would've learned this lesson by now!!!

 

Thanks so much for your prayers and loving support!  Lord willing we'll have some great pictures to post on here tonight of our beautiful son!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!