Thanksgiving...and Thanksgiving

Mark and I had a wonderful surprise on July 16th...we were given a court date for August 3rd!  So, Mark and I flew over to Ethiopia on July 27th then drove to the boys' orphanage on the 30th.  The drive was bumpy, strenuous...and beautiful.  More beautiful, though, were our boys!  Mark got to meet them for the first time.  He is quite smitten with both of them!  I feel very blessed to have had such a quick return trip.  It had been just slightly more than a month since I had last seen them.  It was such a fun visit.  They are both very happy boys.  Very loving and very smiley. We are so thankful for these two boys and for this chance to play with, and hug and snuggle them.

We had a very emotional goodbye as the orphanage nannies had to release several babies they had raised and loved for many months.  The love the nannies have for these precious children is very evident in the way they interact with the children, but was demonstrated that day in the sobs and tears as they hugged each child.  We are thankful that our boys have been so loved!

We then traveled back to Addis with one of our boys - the one who will come home first.  More fun, and snuggles.  We settled him in at his new temporary residence. Over the next two days we were able to visit with him there...we even got to see some of "S's" first steps!  We are thankful for these sweet moments with "S" and for the people that will be caring for him over the next few months.

Court went well then we headed home late that night.  We are now awaiting an appointment with the embassy so that we can bring that sweet boy home...we are hoping he will be home by Thanksgiving...which would be fitting...for we are very thankful!

Thanks again for your love, prayers and support.  This is an exciting part of this journey, we cannot wait to bring "S" home!  We will not be completely settled, though until both boys are here with us.
 Keep praying...
...nothing would hold up either case on their current course
...that God would supply the remainder of the financial needs
...transition for baby "S"
...transition for all Steimers
...wisdom about who will travel for each of the 3 remaining trips (one in Nov. and two next spring/summer)

In closing...as I reflect on this summer I continue to be amazed (and, yes, thankful) at the family that God is weaving together.  Through the ups and downs of last spring we often could only see the "underweave" of the tapestry that God was working on.  Now we get a glimpse of the other side and it is beautiful!