Princess Rahwa

(WORDS BY MEGHAN)

We never thought about adoption... we had a family of 4 and 3 animals... 2 being dogs and they were already a hand full... but our best friends were in the middle of signing up for the foster care system and we were watching them be in that process.... As a family one night we went to a 91.9 Christian concert and having a great time... but it was crowded and we thought to leave early from it so their wouldn't be so much traffic and we could get home in decent time... when we walked by a booth of packets of children and adoptions... Me and my brother immediately picked up a packet thinking that we could give it to our friend's family... but instead we picked up two packets and asked our Mom to read it... funny how things happen... ;).... so my mom read it and she said that she would pray about something like this because even if we would be on board (THE CHILDREN:)) we really weren't thinking about how much money it is to adopt and the thought of having another kid... we were just thinking about how fun it would be to have another person to do things with... so my mom was researching things on the computer... youtub-ing videos of course!!! and that's when it hit her.. seeing those kids faces on the youtube clips with their adoptive families... it melt her heart in a way that in indescribable and after praying about it she brought the idea to my dad... My dad has always been the person to think things over a lot more then even my mother.. because he is the provider and all... well after also watching some videos my dad's mind became open... NOT  like yes adoption is the first and only thing for me... but open and that's all GOD ASKS FOR:)....

Over the next couple of months my whole family was looking at different adoption agencies... first off... we had no idea of what to do for adoption.. because all we had were those simple papers... second... its a HARD time consuming process... then one day... something finally stuck.. it was a picture of a 10 year old girl... Always when you first think of an adoption you think of a foreign baby from somewhere. Nope, that isn't who stuck with us. A ten year old girl from Mekele, Ethiopia. She was a full orphan... given to the orphanage by her older brother (18yr) who couldn't keep her. She had beautiful curls that framed her face so perfectly... and we put in a referral immediately.. we were hoping that the agency with her would get back to us quickly... and yeah..they did not as quickly as we hoped since we were already so inlove with her and we didn't want anyone to get her first. One day in late April my mom had a phone call on the way to my soccer tournament...Their it was the referral.. if we wanted Rahwa... did we say yes? well it wasn't that simple.. the lady said that a couple families were already looking at her but since our paper work was the first done we had the first chance to get her if we truly wanted her.. It was a rushed.. we couldn't even think of anything else... but YES! we wanted her.. and there you have it we said Yes to referral.. 

RAHWA was getting put on HOLD for US!

We are off on a new adventure as the slusarski family is growing from 4 to 5:) its quite a long journey from america.... all the way to Addis, Ababa, Ethiopia... but it was a trip that will never be forgotten and much love was left in ethiopia....(: 

So Little Brother's room, Ethan, became baby sister's room:) All the blue was switched with pink and the  surfing quilt was switched with a flowered one(: 

Finally there in ethiopia... meeting her for the first time and sharing first kisses and hugs... giving many gifts and sharing videos from the loved ones at home... coloring books and crayons... candies of all colors and shapes were new things to the kids in the orphanage...(: Peeps... weren't their favorite...

They exchanged laughter and smiles... while eating.. well.....who knows what that really is.. but Rahwa liked it so I guess that is all that matters... After the first meal they were scared they wouldn't be able to eat much over there... and they had to be there a whole week with this new kind of food....

til... they saw this burger! Yicks.... and this order of fries.... it could fill our whole family!!! There was no starving in Ethiopia in this restaurant for sure... maybe a little ALOT overstuffing tho;)

The joy in Rahwa's face when she opened the presents were priceless... but taking the wrapping ribbon off the paper and wearing it in her hair was a whole new thing.... She said, "its curls like mom".... and wore those curled ribbons for days after the gifts were distributed...

The barrettes made from SweetPeaDesigns were clipped in the girls' hair right away... and as you can tell by the smiles.. they were a HUGE hit:)

She even likes Fanta Soda(: who knew!!!! Orange flavored soda bottles were everywhere... must be the "thing" over there... I remember it being my first soda when i was little... guess its hers toooo:D

Posing shots with Ato (MR.) Teklu.... the room is colorful... makes me happy just looking at it.....

The hugs begin... and you just never want to let go:)..... close your eyes and let them last forever

It was time to go because the week was up.... still wearing the beaded necklaces that they made the 2nd day... it was a sad day.. but they knew they'd be back again.. and told Rahwa over and over that they loved her and that they would come and get her very soon... 

THE STORY OF GETTING PRINCESS RAHWA:)

story... will... continue...