Laughner's Journey to Ethiopia

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We just want to say WOW, what a journey! Since 2007 we have adopted 2 children from Ethiopia! There are 2 less orphans in the world! Thank you God for the blessing we have received! Thank you for never leaving us, for being with us each step of the way! You had a plan and were paving the way even when we couldn't see it! We have had the pleasure of working with AWAA for both of our adoptions! We are so very thankful for the amazing Christian Agency and the wonderful Christian friends that we have made along the way! If you have ever considered adopting please ask us to share our story and please check out AWAA (America World Adoption Agency). We are so thankful to have had AWAA walk with us every step of the way and to know that they always had our back and were handling things with morals and integrity! They truly were looking out for true orphans! The guides and staff in Ethiopia are amazing and we are blessed to have spent time with each of them! Home one month: Well one mo...

Here we are Monday morning, home 9 days! We have been to the doctor, had blood work (which so far has all came back good), gone to basketball games, church, an Ethiopian Celebration, met new people and much more.... On Saturday night we went to an Ethiopian Celebration with a Boston group of adoptive families and our dear friends the Steigers! We all had some traditional Ethiopia dishes and yes injera! They had crafts for the kids, dinner, a coffee ceremony, and Ethiopian music. A nice time was had by all! I took the kids off to church on Sunday morning, while Tom took Michael in to have a strep test. Yes, he has strep! It has been a crazy week with medical issues... Allison has a sprained hand, from a basketball injury and another issue going on. I have to say Tamenech is healthier than some in our house right now. Tamenech is doing great, she is a bit like a toddler. She is very curious and exploring everything. Everyday is more English and a little more independence! She has som...

Monday and Tuesday have come and gone! We are doing great! We need to get over the jet lag (or should I say, I need to). We ventured out to the bus stop Monday morning with the boys, it was -10 degrees. We were freezing. she was a little concerned when the boys got on the bus and left! We then ventured off to the store to pick up a few items. She was happy to see bananas but not happy to put them up to pay for them. She was happy again to see that she got them back to take them home! Daniel and Tamenech rode in the cart together. She did not like the cheese that the deli passed out. We played at home and then headed to the doctor for a check up. She was 44 pounds and 3ft 7 in. The doctor thought that she looked great and at this time has no concerns except getting her used to the office. We headed over to the lab on Tuesday with stool samples and to get blood work done! She did not like the blood work, but who does. We survived it and lived to tell about it! We now wait to see that it ...

We were all up fairly early, but started the day with smiles. We had scrambled eggs and pancakes. Tamenech ate well but is not willing to try milk. She does not like cheese and has tried but not wanted yogurt... hhmmmm not sure what we will do! Time will tell, at least she is eating. Her two beverage choices have been water and pineapple juice. In the morning the kids were running and playing Tamenech was scared of the dog. By afternoon she was letting the dog lick her and was petting her. They are now friends. Tamenech thinks that since Daniel looks like her that he should speak Amharic. She jabbers non stop to him. He thinks that she is being silly so he mimics her. It is funny to listen to them. They must have ran at least 50 laps around the house together. He said wow Dad, she is fast. She loves the phone and wants to call and say hello to everyone! Buttons are still a novelty, the phones, ipads, computers, dish washer, washer, etc. She is definitely curious and exploring. There ha...

Packed and ready to go at the guest house! We said our good byes to the wonderful Coffaro and Ewing Families! It was so bittersweet. We were so happy to come home but so sad to leave them! I really wish that we could of all come home together! These families were wonderful and really helped me out, and watched over me since I was there alone! Tamenech really enjoyed her time with their boys! They had so much fun chatting, playing, and taunting each other! I truly have made new friends. A funny thing is the Coffaro family has a daughter that was born at the same hospital as Allison a few days apart 13 years ago. We were both living in Granger IN, but did not know each other. We are now on the east coast and they are on the west coast! We were picked up around 6:30 and headed to the airport. We were traveling with the Herwehe Family, they were returning from their court trip. I am so thankful that I had their help to make it through the airport! I showed them the way and they helped with...