Two years ago in Armenia…we awoke in Yerevan and made ourselves a cup of Armenian coffee. Okay, we made several cups.

Next we had breakfast: Matsun (yogurt). I heart Matsun.

Omelets (nice work Big Papa!)…and more Armenian coffee. of course.

Then we walked down the stairs of our apartment and waited for our taxi and translator.

We don’t look nervous, do we? But we were!

Our taxi took us to the Ministry of Justice, where we could see all of Yerevan and Mt. Ararat. There, we expressed our intent to meet and register a child for adoption.

Next up was a taxi ride from Yerevan to Gyumri. It’s a long, desolate highway but I love the landscape, stark and lovely.

Until our taxi got a flat tire. Not so lovely.

But after the flat was fixed, we made our way towards Gyumri. There were one or two unplanned stops along the way.

Finally. Gyumri!

We drove through the city.

Past old buildings,

monuments,

churches,

and people.

Until we reached the blue gate at the orphanage, where you lived.

We went inside and waited, and waited, and waited.

Staring out this window,

looking at this cup,

and intently watching this door, because this is the door you would come through. Time passed slowly. At one point we got very excited, because one of the nannies brought in a baby. We jumped up, but it was the wrong baby! So we sat down and waited some more. We waited for nearly an hour.

And then there was you…

There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No, I never saw them at all
Till there was you

~Beatles

To Baby Bird and Armenia: both in my heart forever.

Take the road less traveled, Beth