I could hardly sleep last night as I was so excited and nervous about gotcha day! I couldn’t wait to meet our children, and at the same time I was nervous about how they would respond to us and wondered if I would know what to do. I was so restless, I even stayed up and watched the entire final round of the British Open, and I’m not really that big of a golf fan (although, it was actually quite interesting)!
This morning we went to the Civil Affairs Office, and we had to wait for the children for a while in a warm, humid room. The wait seemed interminable, but then the children came from the first orphanage–Eden and the two children the other family with whom we are traveling are adopting from the same orphanage. The two girls, Eden and her friend Bethany, came running in saying, “Mama!” and she came straight to me and let me hug her. I could tell she was a bit scared, but she was very excited as well. It was good to have a few minutes with her before Daniel came a little while later. We gave her a couple of gifts, and she played with them with Lillah and Bethany for a while. I sat next to her and showed her how to use the Etch-a-Sketch. She kept smiling cautiously up at me. She is a very sweet little girl. Her teachers kept telling me what a good, obedient and very nice girl she is.
When Daniel came in, he was confused at first because he thought the other mom was his host mom from last summer, and he kept walking over to her and saying “Mama.” He had his photo album they sent home with him last year, and he showed me the pictures, and told me they were Mama and Baba. I had to show him that Todd and I were Mama and Baba and that they were his friends. The translator helped with that, too. He seemed to understand after that, and he was very happy. He loves Simeon, and kept holding Simeon’s hand and leading him to play. Daniel remembered how to count in English from being here last summer. He can write the numbers as well. The teacher from Eden’s orphanage came over to talk to me about Daniel. She remembered him from last summer, and warned me that he was very active and would need us to be really strict. I assured her that we will be very strict. With 6 boys at home already, we know how to be strict. But we are ready to be stretched in new ways by this active little guy.
When the teachers left, Eden sobbed for several minutes. It broke my heart for her. I can’t even fathom the loss that these children have already experienced in their short lives. I comforted her, and hugged her, and she let me do that. Her friend Bethany came over and showed her a pony game on the iPad, and she quieted down and seemed content.
After we were finished there, we came back to the hotel to rest for a while and get the paperwork ready for tomorrow, which is when we finalize the adoptions. Daniel was testing the limits quite a bit, running around the room, hitting us, and laughing as he turned off all the lights or tried to escape out the door. We had to be very firm with him in telling him no to each thing he tried that was unacceptable. This little boy has lots of energy! The good news is that I can be just as stubborn as any kid out there, so I think he will have met his match!
We walked down the road and got some lunch, which was really good. Daniel piled his bowl full of food. He is so tiny, it makes me wonder how well he was able to eat in his orphanage. He ate everything, but kept adding more before he was finished. We had to tell him to finish what he had first. It is sad to think of all the times he probably didn’t get enough to eat at meals. Eden’s orphanage and the fact that she was in a foster home at the orphanage made her experience different that way, so she doesn’t seem as desperate for food, but she had lots of snacks in her bag, and she ate a lot of those yesterday. Food will be something else that we will have to show them will not be an issue anymore in their lives.
After lunch, we were getting a little bored in the hotel room, so we went downstairs where there is a little play area for the kids. After a bit, Todd went back to the room to get a ball. That turned out to be a huge hit with everyone! Daniel was responding well to some boundaries we set, and his silly personality was shining through as he would dance or pose before throwing the ball. Eden opened up a
lot through playing ball. She was laughing out loud and clapping. It was very good for everyone. I have such a smart husband, thinking to bring the ball into the picture! It was perfect!
We celebrated with the other family with a beautiful cake we got at a bakery down the street. Everyone really enjoyed that as well.
Bedtime was smooth as could be. Both kids took baths, which I was concerned about with Eden, but she seemed to really like it, and she liked her new nightgown we gave her. Daniel couldn’t wait for a bath–he had been asking for one all afternoon! We prayed with everyone, and tucked them all in with kisses, and they all went to sleep just fine. (I included a dark picture of the boys praying because it was so sweet. I will get a better one tonight).
I have been overwhelmed by the love I already have for these sweet children. God has filled me with love, just as if they had been born into our family biologically. It is amazing. I am excited about the journey ahead. We are just beginning, and I know God is equipping us with just what these children need. I pray we will listen for His wisdom as we walk through all the challenges.
