here.

waking up in addis wears the scent of coffee and dust and miracle.

given the last-minute nature of this trip, i ended up with The Route of Mammoth Layovers, and i'd have to say the easy pace was much kinder to my blood pressure than last trip's sprint through terminals-passport control-visa line.

highlights from the trek over: a chipotle burrito with a party of veggies (and sizeable enough to function as both lunch and dinner during my 7.5 hours in dulles); getting to know my seatmates' stories on the first two flights; receiving an unexpected verbal blessing from an ethiopian grandma (instant tears on my part); spending this morning with other adoptive families in the guest house.

tomorrow those of us newly arrived will have an orientation meeting and spend some time with our children. i'm chomping at the bit.



ps it's not likely i'll be uploading/posting photos while i'm here; i promise to make up for it with a landslide when i return.

pps at breakfast i met a little boy who lived for a few months at the same care center as mine. he kept calling me m's mama, and my heart has been swollen ever since.