The Updates for this post are below in bold…..Keep reading for the good stuff!
This week we got a call from Holt Intl, our adoption agency…..They had the best news we have had yet….Our case was APPROVED by the Ethiopian courts. We are now officially the parents of Kaia!!!! I cannot tell you the flood of emotions that washed over me this week. I just want to run around screaming and yelling at the top of my lungs. I feel like I did the day Allison told me she was pregnant with our first child, Evan. What an awesome day! Needless to say tons of celebration is going on as we speak! (The picture above is the Holt International Child Center in Addis Ababa where we will meet Kaia for the first time in a matter of weeks! She was transferred there from the orphanage in the last 2 weeks.)
Allison and I have had a very strong desire to live out James 1:27 in our lives. Today, we are one step closer to seeing this become a reality. Thank you Jesus for providing for us and delivering another child to our family. God is good!
We have felt the call to adopt as long as we can remember. It is awesome to see the call of God in our lives coming to fruition. I cannot tell you the humbling experience that this has been, and continues to be for our family.
When we go to pick up Kaia, we will have the opportunity to meet her mother. I am not sure exactly what to expect. If you know me, you know that I am emotional….So let’s just say there will be a week of tears shed in Ethiopia. But, they will be tears of thanksgiving, joy and humility for what God has done for our family and for our new daughter. God has worked a complex series of events and opportunities in order to complete our family. WOW! (This is the room where Kaia has been since August when she was given up by her mother to the Holt International Orphanage.)
We do not know our travel dates yet….We should hear in the next couple of weeks the exact times and dates of our travel. We hope to be picking Kaia up in the next 6-8 weeks! Please pray that those dates will come with expediency. Also, please pray that God will provide the remaining finances that we need.
We still really need about $6,000 to cover the final costs of the adoption. God has been faithful so far, and we know He will continue to be faithful.
On Wednesday, February 17, we will be heading to Ethiopia to pick up Kaia!!!!!!!!!!!! YES, we are beyond excited. What began well over a year ago is finally becoming reality. It has been a long, and at times tough, road. But, we are ready to experience the expansion of our family that God called us to.
We arrive in Ethiopia very late Thursday night. We will finally meet Kaia on Friday. I cannot express the emotions I feel and expect to feel in those moments. Then on Sunday we will be heading to Durame, a few hours south, to meet Kaia’s birthmother. That meeting bring tons of mixed emotions…..but the greatest emotion is gratitude. Please pray that we are able to show love and grace to Kaia’s mom.
On tuesday we will be going to the US Embassy in Addis to apply for her Visa to bring her home. If all goes as it should, on Thursday, we will pick up her visa and board a plane that evening to come home. We arrive at the Nashville airport on Friday afternoon the 26th at 4:30 CST. (Feel free to join the welcoming party!!!!!)
We will spend a couple days there before returning home…..that is time for rest and allowing our families to meet Kaia. We cannot wait for you to meet Kaia, really we can’t wait either!
Here’s the big surprise for many………This is Kaia! We felt like we could finally post a photo so you can see our precious baby from Ethiopia!
Thanks for your prayers and support. Hopefully while we are in Ethiopia we will have the chance to send updates and even pictures…….If nothing else we’ll have plenty to report when we get home!
(If you would like to contribute to the adoption you can do so with the option on your right, the PayPal Donation. Also, you can send a check to Impact Communications 106 Glass Springs Lane Franklin, TN 37064. All gifts are tax deductible.)
I am a husband, father and pastor in that order. My heart is to give what I have, all of what I have, to see people fall in love with Jesus. My heart is for God's church, missions and adoption. I wanna see followers of Jesus leave a lasting mark on the culture we live in. 
Sharon on January 9, 2010
Congratulations to you all! We have 3 bio sons and after months of trying domestic adoption just switch to Holt’s Ethiopia program. We are so excited. It truly is like finding out you are pregnant!! So exciting. Good luck to you all.
michael on January 9, 2010
Sharon,
Thanks so much. We are really thankful for the way it has all worked out. God’s hand has been evident in every step. Looking forward to reading more about your family from your blog.
Bethany on January 10, 2010
Hey guys, I found your website from your post on the yahoo board. Can’t really give input to the SIM card question, as we didn’t try that, but just wanted to say congrats on passing court!! That’s wonderful news! We brought our daughter home in October, and couldn’t be more blessed. I noticed that your pics in this post look like the ones I took when we were in Ethiopia… did you happen to get them from my adoption blog? Just curious! If so, I’m glad you made use of them to show off the care centers
I was just surprised when your page opened and I saw them here, ha ha! Unless it’s coincidence… God bless you in the remainder of your journey to bring your little girl home.
michael on January 10, 2010
Bethany, thanks for the congrats! We did grab those pics from your website! The reality is that our daughter was in the take in center while you were there. So, likely you have seen her! That was very awesome to us! Thanks for all you shared. We have sent your blog to TONS of family and friends to read. We felt it was the best insight into the trip. Can’t tell you enough how grateful we are that you were so prolific in writing. I have prayed for you guys a number of times since we found your blog. I trust that little girl of your is adjusting well. She is absolutely beautiful! Have a great week!
Bethany on January 10, 2010
Thanks for all of the prayer – it’s amazing how connected the adoption community is, despite the fact that many of us only “know” each other via cyberspace! The journey is unlike any other, so I guess it bonds us altogether… Anyway, glad you sent folks to the blog and it’s so neat that your daughter was at the intake center when we were there! I will definitely be following your journey from this point, and praying for you guys. Congrats again!
Pastor Lucille on February 16, 2010
God bless you and congrats on your new baby.
I just was reading about the ministry and shoebox4haiti.com
and See the good new about the new addition to the family of GOD.
Katherine on February 16, 2010
AWESOME!! Congratulations-she is beautiful and I know you are beyond excited!! What an incredible blessing for you all! Adoption is an absolutely awesome gift-I know, I was adopted as a baby and have been so blessed by a wonderful Christian family. Your lives will never be the same! I pray your journey is blessed, that meeting Kaia (I love that name!!) and her mother for the first time will be incredible; and as your bring her home to be a Robison, she will adjust well and your whole family will be one!! This is so exciting!!
Blessings~
Chad King on February 16, 2010
That’s awesome Michael. I pray that everything will go smoothly. Congrats!
Chrissy on February 16, 2010
Congratulations!! She is BEAUTIFUL!! Can’t wait to hear what it was like! Also, I will be praying for you when you meet Kaia’s birthmother! that is such an amazing opportunity with SO MANY EMOTIONS!!
michael on February 16, 2010
Thanks Chrissy…Can’t wait for everyone to meet her!
matt on February 19, 2010
Christy and I have been counting down the hours. Last night, we turned to each other and said, “It’s 6 a.m. there. They get to see her today!!” I think we’re almost as excited for you guys as we were for us. Well…almost.
Praying like crazy for your newly-expanded family. We’re looking forward to hearing stories. We’ll definitely have to meet her next time we’re in upper east Tennessee!
Jessica on February 19, 2010
We are so excited for you! I have been praying for you and your family! I cannot wait to see more pictures of her. This is so special Michael. I am so proud of you and Allison for following God’s call. You will be so richly blessed by this sweet little girl!!