Meeting Our Sons

We had the most wonderful day. As you might tell in this picture, I am just a tad bit happy!! These two beautiful boys will, Lord willing, soon be our sons.

Neither of us slept much last night, knowing what was to come today, and all that hung in the balance. I did not sleep at all, but during the night decided to pray for all my little ones- the missed girls at home, and the children yet to meet. There was definitely enough adrenaline to keep me going today! Our regional facilitator (who is wonderful!) picked us up before 7 and we drove about 1.5 hours out to the town where our boys live. It seemed to take forever and once we got to town, with every building I saw, I kept thinking "Is that the orphanage?" We finally arrived after picking up a lady who was some kind of official and accompanied us during our visit.

When we got to the orphanage, we were shown to a room where the orphanage doctor (she is the lady in the picture) and a lawyer interviewed us and began giving us the boys' histories. They were rather intense, detailed accounts of their lives, me taking furious notes while our facilitator translated. I did not want to miss a single thing. This was the one time we would hear everything that is known about them. At one point I tried to ask a question, and was told to wait until the end - obviously annoying the doctor with my faux pas. Yikes! 

She told us everything, some of what we learned was so sad to my mama's heart and there were some surprises. After I was able to ask questions, they began to ask us things about ourselves. Were we a good family for these boys? They were not so sure. Right then I decided to pull out the photo book we made of our family and shyly asked her if she would like to see it. Things in the room changed instantly and I realized that she was so hard because she loves these boys and was going to miss them like crazy! Seeing our family, all those sweet happy girls, put her heart at ease and she began to cry and tell us sweet things about the boys. I did not expect this! To see how much they have been loved, what charmers they are, was just amazing.

Next we were interviewed by the director of the orphanage. We were asked why we were doing this? Did our government help people with such large families? (HAHA.) Why were we here? She cares a great deal about these kids and really wanted to know things would be good with us. We were touched and honored with their consent.

Then it was happening! We followed our facilitator up some stairs, through a hallway, into a door and there they were. Sitting with the sweet doctor, were the two sweetest little things. I could not believe it. I just wanted to grab them and start kissing them! Instead, we knelt on the floor in front of the couch they were on, and fumbled in the bag we brought for some cookies and a toy. We brought them miniature Magna Doodles which they loved. The younger boy was very shy (he was in the doctor's arms the whole time) and they both smiled and smiled. I got out the matchbox cars next and drove them up their legs, a tiny touch, me longing to take them into my arms. They loved the cars. At this point, things seemed to be going well (the boy's feelings are very respected and everyone was waiting to see if they would like us!) and many teachers had gathered to see how things were going. The meeting had to be short (it seemed like only a few moments!) because we had to race back to the capitol with paperwork to try to get a referral appointment for Lucy. Too soon we had to leave.

We followed the boys to their classroom (they were proud to show it to us). The younger boy kept sneaking peeks at me while he walked, and the older boy told me I was beautiful and that he loved me. It had just begun snowing, the first of the year, and this was a great excitement as well. We saw their room, told them we would come again soon, and they said they would be waiting, then it was over. The director asked us if we liked them. LIKED THEM??? We are totally in love and can't believe they could be ours. I almost started crying when she asked that! They are perfect gifts from God, and should he allow them into our family, we will be more blessed than we could ever express.

We rode for the next two hours or so in a cloud of disbelief and joy while we did more paperwork then high-tailed it back (160 km per hour in the snow!) We were dropped off at our apartment and a few minutes later told to start walking to the adoption authority for our appointment for Lucy! (I can barely believe all this as I am typing it!) We walked right in (the back door for some reason), sat down and got her file. No problems at all. A few minutes later we were on our way to a notary for, you guessed it, more paperwork! We are not sure when we will get to see her, or when we will see the boys again. No one has tried to do this whole 2 different orphanages in different cities as one adoption instead of two, so things are a bit, shall I say, fluid? Haha! This has been a crazy ride so far, and yet, God has directed our every step. We are so grateful for the amazing grace and blessing he has poured on us today!

Nothing here is certain in any way until after you have court and a 10 day waiting period. At any time, they could be declared ineligible for many reasons, even horribly corrupt ones. We must trust our hearts to the One who is love, is good, and is trustworthy. He will sustain us, no matter what happens. For now, on this glorious day of answered prayer, we rejoice. Did I mention my sons are the cutest, sweetest, most charming, smartest boys that ever were?