It's Official

It's official, we're a family of six!

Yes, I know that I've said it before as we had passed court back in July and that we visited them then too...but Ella and Isaac officially have the Knight last name!!! They were issued their Ethiopian passports as well as their Ethiopian birth certificates, both with our family name on them!!! Hooray!!! These documents were the final hurdles to bringing them home!!! On a bit of a side note, both of the kids have Josh's name as a middle name right now: Miheret Joshua Knight and Yonas Joshua Knight. Talk about a patriarchal society!! When they come home, they will be provided with their new given names.

But many of you want to know when the official family of 6 will be together...under one roof!!! We finally know that answer too!!! Josh and I will fly out of Lansing on August 23rd and arrive in Addis Ababa on the 24th. We should have the children in our care on the 25th. We have a US Embassy appointment to solidify the VISA and paperwork on behalf of the USA on the 26th. Then we fly out of Bole International Airport on the 28th late at night and will return to Lansing on SUNDAY AT 6:30!!!!!

You are invited to come to the Lansing Airport, if you feel so inclined, to welcome us home and greet the children! I am hopeful that Leah and Logan will be simply awed with their new new sister and brother!!!! Our flight hopefully will arrive at 6:30 pm from Chicago (Lufthansa) but we still aren't sure if we will be going through customs and immigration in Chicago or in Lansing. So, know that although we arrive in Lansing at 6:30 it may be a bit of a wait for us to be cleared from the officials if we have to go through all of that in Lansing. We love the idea of many of you welcoming us all home and seeing us become a family of six!!!

Please know that we will not allow you to hold Isaac. Touching, caressing, and hugging is fine! But he needs to know that he is safe and not being passed from us to MORE people. He will just be beginning the bonding and attachment process with us...so mommy and daddy only. And Ella...well...we're going to let her lead us in how she responds. If she is clinging to us, please respect her space and her need for us, the 2 she knows!!! If she is wild and crazy in this celebration...give her hugs and celebrate with her!!! Just try to read her emotional state...if you will!!!

So, this week is devoted to our family of 4!!! We have been swimming, painting, face painting, playing Polly Pocket, coloring, tea partying, eating ice cream, and all of the fun things that summer can bring!!! Good times have been had by mom and dad just as much as by the girls!!!

Leah and Logan have been champs through this process!!! They are thrilled with the idea of having a baby and a little sister! Logan has learned the concept of giving and sharing with others in need. She helped fold some clothes that will be given to the kids at the orphanage. While doing so, she even offered to donate one of her lovies to the kids at the orphanages...*tear*...I didn't take her up on the offer!!!! So, if anyone should be hugged, cuddled and loved-on Sunday night when we arrive at the airport, it should be Leah and Logan, they are two amazing little girls whose worlds are going to change, for the better, but albeit, change. They will be needing some extra attention from those they love and love them!!!!