The beautiful Sunday sunrise from our hotel room in Ethiopia.

We arrived in Ethiopia last night - finally making it to our hotel at 11:30 pm ... after our 20 hour journey from Chicago.  Sasha and I are traveling with two of our children Jonah (13) and Cara (11) - both have been wonderful & helpful in our travels across the globe.

Physically we are tired from the long journey and 9 hour time change ... emotionally we are expectant and excited - now only one day away from meeting our dear son, Joseph for the first time!  Underneath our tired eyes and travel worn faces - we are smiling ... with a profound sense of God's perfect plan and provision in our lives.  Each of us seem to be quietly processing this entire experience ...  marveling at how God has carried us to this place - thousands of miles from home - to demonstrate His unending love for all of us, His adopted children.   Sasha and I have been reading and reflecting on Isaiah 46 in recent weeks, verses 8-11 read, "Remember this and stand firm ... for I am God and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish my purpose', calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country.  I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it."

Indeed, there is none like God ... He has spoken ... and He is doing great things!  God is clearly working in ways that only He can orchestrate.  We were reminded of this yet again, in wonderful surprise during our layover in Frankfurt, Germany yesterday.  As we approached our gate, sitting in a chair near the ticket counter was Gabe ... our dear friend who runs the orphanage in Mekele with his wife Connie and has cared for our son Joseph for the last 5 1/2 years.  What an unexpected surprise as we embraced and expressed our mutual praise to God ... "from whom all blessings flow".   It was wonderfully encouraging for all of us - as God continues to show us that He works "all things according to the counsel of His will" (Ephesians 1:11).

We have one day here in Addis Ababa to adjust and explore the rich culture, contrasts, and history.  Far from home ... we are resting and rejoicing in the truth that God is indeed the "Father of all nations" and making all things new in His marvelous work of redemption.  We travel by plane to Mekele tomorrow where we will meet and embrace our dear son Joseph for the very first time.  Tears fill my eyes as I write and reflect on this journey.  What a God we serve ... "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.  God settles the solitary in a home." Psalm 68:5-6

Thank you to all of our dear friends and family who have been holding us up in prayer throughout this journey - we miss you all and we are so grateful for each of you.   As you wake up back home on this Sunday (we are 9 hours ahead here in Ethiopia) - we pray that the promises of Ephesians 1 will bring fresh encouragement to each of you this morning ... He is the God of adoption ...  who has rescued us and redeemed us ... and lavished us with the riches of his eternal grace!