Visit with old friends

We were lucky enough to visit Washington D.C. this past weekend. Rich was running the Army 10 miler which has become an annual trip. He runs in honor of our high school friend, Major David Taylor, who was killed in Iraq. This year, the trip had extra special meaning. We got to visit with 4 of the other families that traveled with us to Ethiopia. Two of the families live in the D.C. area, one came down from NYC, and the other family, from Arizona, was in town visiting family (they arranged their visit to coincide with ours). I feel so lucky to have traveled with such a great group of people. I talked with Rich after our visit and said how strange it is that you are so randomly thrown together with a group of people that will be part of your life for forever. They are such an important part of our family. They provide a connection for Terefech to Ethiopia, a connection for us to Ethiopia and hopefully lifelong friends for Terefech. I tried to describe to Terefech why I was excited to see everyone (she asks why often). I told her how I hoped that all of the kid would keep in contact and that maybe when they were as old as me, they would get together and have their kids play together. She thought that was funny. I know she doesn't completely understand the magnitude of her loss but I am beginning to. I truly hope that these other kids will fill just a tiny, tiny part of her life. They have shared her experience, her culture, her homeland; things I can't do.

It was wonderful to see everyone, see how they've grown, changed, and how they are still the same. The kids send each other drawings and birthday wishes so they seemed to remember each other. Terefech said that when she got there she was a little scared but that then she was okay with playing. She loved playing with one of the older siblings-a big girl! Thank you so much everybody for coming, for hosting, and for being a part of our lives!