Our 2nd trip to Ethiopia had many ups... MANY ups... and many many tears. I was not at all expecting the amount of tears I would cry while I was there.
Part of me wanted to blame it on the beauty of female hormones...
Then... the Holy Spirit would remind me to sit in the experiences and let them marinate in my memory... one day our children would want to know every moment of our Gotcha Day and our final days in their beautiful homeland.
So... here are a few of my most prevalent memories... knowing, the ones that are nearest to my heart right now will not be shared... still processing a bit.
Our Gotcha Day on June 5th will be a day we will forever celebrate! Each June 5th will be a celebration of God uniting us as a forever family! As we pulled up to the TH... I could hear the squeals of our daughter, Ruth. The Nannies were quickly rushing her to the back of the TH so to surprise us and have our official "Gotcha Day" Moment. Since our last name begins with "W"... we were the final family to see our kids. As the 2 families ahead of us (Jenny and then The Henderson's) united with their children, I burst into tears. Such beauty is watching a family being formed! As it was our turn... I think we ran to the kids and squeezed them so tight... their eyes left their sockets for a moment! So many hugs and kisses were given out... I lost count!
Goodbye's took place almost immediately after we arrived to the TH. Joshua asked if he could go tell his friend, Hosanna goodbye. I brought photos of Joshua and Hosanna to give to Joshua so he could give them to his friend as a goodbye gift. Before I could turn to give them to him... I looked up and the two teenage boys were embraced and crying. I ran over to give Hosanna the pictures. Joshua said... "His family is coming soon, right Mom?" "Yes, sweet boy... they will be here in about a month". I was not prepared for the incredible bond my son has with his friends from the TH. He absolutely adores them. The reunion he had at the airport with Adonias is proof of that. The life-experience they all had together while in the TH is nothing I can ever understand. It's a bond that will unite them for a long time. Joshua has asked to skype with several of his friends once they arrive home to their families. I see Sunday night Skype dates in our future!
Living in the GH for a week with our children was a gift... and an incubator. The memories that will forever be ingrained in my mind: our first morning waking up together as a family, having meals together in the GH and around town, taking the kids to The Gorge and other day-outing trips, spending good time with The Henderson's and other AW families. There were also incubator moments... the ones where it felt like we were living in a pressure cooker. We were eager to get home in our surroundings and begin life... our new normal chaotic beautiful life.
Leaving ET for the final time was a crazy emotional day and evening. I cried most of the day. I did not expect this flood of emotions over me. I cried at the thought of the plane leaving, of packing up, of our kids saying goodbye. On our final night... all of our bags were downstairs and we were waiting in the lobby on Dawitt to arrive to take us to the airport. I sat down on the couch and one of the sweet AW Dad's asked me, "Are you excited?" I burst into tears and had to excuse myself to the bathroom. I gathered my emotions and came back and apologized. I explained... I just couldn't believe that 2 years were over and we were actually bringing them home. I was watching my three kids play around with each other, dressed in the clothes we brought them, calling us Mommy and Daddy and it was all just too much for my heart to take. I realized God's graciousness for us in that moment. He was allowing us to parent these three beautiful kids. Even typing this, my emotions are overwhelmed.
The real journey began once the plane left Ethiopia... the last 10 days have been thrilling, exciting, overwhelming, scary, joyful... oh the list could go on and on...
I will share these experiences in another post.
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