A year ago, we were in a small court room, standing before a judge, hoping that we would be granted permission to adopt a beautiful little girl. Hoping that we were making a good case for the required 10 day waiting period to be waived so that we could bring our little girl home and start our new life together as a family of four and start getting her the therapy that she needed. I can't believe that it was only a year ago.
.
.
When we started the adoption process, a friend of mine shared with me that two of her sisters were adopted from China and people always told her how "lucky" her sisters were because they were adopted. And she always thought that the rest of her family were the lucky ones. I totally agree. Right after we brought EasternStar home, so many people commented on how lucky she was to get adopted. Truly, without a doubt, we are that lucky ones. We get to raise this beautiful, stubborn, sweet, funny little girl! We're the ones that get to hear "Wuv you too" when we say I love you. We are so so lucky!
.
.
There were so many days during our adoption when we just sat and prayed that we were on the right path. Were we understanding God's directions for us? Did we interpret his calling correctly? After filling out paper after paper after paper and racing to get them notarized, certified, apostilled, would we really end up with a daughter? Did we have the stamina to complete the marathon?
.
.
Looking back now, we were so blessed to have such an easy adoption! Of course, it didn't feel like it at the time. I think that one of the hardest parts of adoption is that you never know when your end date will be until it's there. It would be so much easier if at the beginning, someone could tell you - 'OK, just be patient for 13 months. Good things are coming your way.' Or 15 months. Or 20 months. The not knowing when you will meet your child, leaving them and not knowing how long it will be before you will get to see them again, not knowing when you will get to bring them home.....lose are the hardest things!
.
.
.
Looking back, we were so lucky! The things that were big at the time - 4 months to get our homestudy written after the last visit! - 8 weeks to get our INS approval! - Another chest x-ray! seem so little now! Every little bump happened for a reason. Every little bump lead us to our EasternStar.
.
.
.
I can't believe that it has been a year. The time has gone so incredibly fast. And yet it feels as though she has always been with us. She may have been 15 months old when we brought her home, but I don't think that we've missed anything! I've watched this little girl go from just being able to sit up to running! From not uttering a sound to picking up the phone and saying 'Hi mommy! Hi daddy! Hi puppies! Bye bye!' and responding to 'I love you' with a totally cute 'Wuv you too!'.
.
.
.
We celebrated today with an ice cream cake for dessert. Enjoy the pictures!
Hmmm.... which one do I want?
This one looks good!
MMMMMMMM!
The cake, before the action started.
A year ago, all dressed and getting ready to leave the orphanage and start the long journey home!
No comments:
Post a Comment