It's hard to type out words that describe this day.
Wow.
Even meeting up with all the other families in our group in the hotel lobby...
The Babas were anxious, pacing, checking their backpacks I'm sure for the 5th time.
Camera, check
Paperwork, check,
Gifts, check,
Snacks, check,
Tissues!!!! Yep! Check!
The Mamas were emotional, clearly holding back tears...today is THE DAY!
For one of our families it was their FIRST baby!!! I loved seeing how excited they were!
Sitting on our bus, the seats were full.
Soon there will be full LAPS! Full HEARTS!
Our ride there was harder than I thought.
Tears flooded my eyes.
I couldn't keep them back.
Nate said "oh babe, you're crying."
Yep. Maybe if I got it all out now, I wouldn't scare Tessa Joy with my wailing!
It was about 20 minutes of heavy emotions. Our guide talked to us all the way there, very sweet words about this day.
Honestly, all I heard was Charlie Brown's teacher.
We all knew that we would take pics for each other, we had cameras hung around our necks and hanging out our pockets!
We walked up some outdoor steps up to a large government building, into a small room.
I say small because between all 12 of our families, the officials, guides, orphanage directors, and several other adopting families from other agencies, well we quickly filled every bit of that room.
There was a very small, contained play area for the children too.
We all were wondering if any of our children might have arrived already.
As we walked in, I heard my friend Julie say "it's him! He is here!"
We all went into action!
My heart was fluttering.
My hand was shaking, trying to get pictures for them.
He was scared.
They did amazing with him!
All the other families stood back and let some of our emotions spill out...it would be our turn SOON!
We were taking notes!
I was praying for precious, broken-hearted Silas.
I was praying for Julie, for Jonathan. God gave them just what he needed.
Patience. Love.
A handful of us mamas waited right by the double glass doors to the outside.
Cars should have NOT driven by that day if they didn't have our babies inside!!!
Too many false alarms!
Days might have gone by... Or minutes.
Other precious babies were rushed in.
Crying and the sounds of camera shutters going off like celebrities were walking the red carpet.
This was a million times better than any celebrity sighting.
THIS was something EVERYONE should witness first hand!
There is NOTHING like this!!!
One less orphan after another!!!!!
Close your eyes and see it!
The redemptions taking place!
Because each one HAS VALUE!
Today marks the first day of their new life of HOPE!
I was soooo thankful for the time to stand back and soak this all in!
True Beauty.
But then there was this van....
Nate was by the door....
"It's her!!! She's in there! I see her!"
I rushed over and saw her precious nanny carrying our Tessa Joy.
Our daughter.
She came from an orphanage where 3 other little ones were too.
The door was swarmed with love.
I couldn't get to her fast enough!
Then she was in my arms..
And then she saw her Baba!!!!
Her precious nanny gave her to me...
She loves Tessa Joy so much
She cared for Tessa when she was a baby with a broken heart in the hospital.
She rocked, fed, changed, sang to her tirelessly while she was in her loving foster care center.
We shed tears together as she said her goodbyes.
But the laughter still couldn't hide the tears...
She was broken...
The healing has now begun!!!
Baba helps with the giggles...
But then we had to leave.
She cried and cried, all the way to the bus,
Most of the way to the hotel,
She was covered in sweat and tears.
My heart overflowed with pain for her .
But...
We choose JOY.
And right now we had to help her choose JOY.
She grabbed her baby and did something very familiar to her...Row, row, row your boat! She knows she needs a partner for this song, her baby fit the role.
She played and played.
Let the healing begin precious one!!!!
6 comments:
Thank you for sharing. This encouraged my heart and me me think about my own adoption story. Not an earthly adoption but the one where Jesus waited anxiously for the day my heart became his. I was given to him before the foundations of the world and he waited patiently through tone and space to collect me into his arms.
Tears....a beautiful story!!!! So happy that you got to experience this. I pray that more people will feel the tug to adopt. It is an indescribable experience. Love you all!!
I so love Gotcha Day. You described it so well. All the emotions from extreme joy to great sorrow.
It is so amazing to see God's story unfolding in Tessa's life and your lives. Prayers continue for all of you as you become a family in the days and weeks ahead.
I just want to let you know that this sweet girl's picture has been on my fridge for a year and a half. My sister & her family sponsored her and we have been hoping and praying that her forever family would find her soon.
My heart is so full as I see it happening now. Welcome home sweet girl. Our prayers will continue.
I just want to let you know that this sweet girl's picture has been on my fridge for a year and a half. My sister & her family sponsored her and we have been hoping and praying that her forever family would find her soon.
My heart is so full as I see it happening now. Welcome home sweet girl. Our prayers will continue.
This was a wonderful read first thing this morning. I had a few tears...ok, maybe many tears. What an amazing way to capture what Gotcha Day truly means! I'll specifically pray for this transitional period for all of you, and that all the appointments and other items that need to be completed will go smoothly.
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