The only tears were ours today. Our little man came to us easily and with great affection. He ran around the playground calling, "Papa!" again and again. Oh how I love to watch them play!
If we had only met him once we would have thought our little man was a quiet and serious little boy, but today his inner two-year old shone through. From the sly grin he gives us as he runs off the playground into "forbidden territory" (the grass), to the decided "Daaa!!" he yells as the pigeons get to close ("get out of here birds!"), he is definitely two. When we first arrived and walked to the playground he gave us a mischievous smile, pressed his mouth together and forced an exhale, flapping his lips like a horse. Our translator laughed and said, "This is universal!" No need to put that in English.
John and I chased him around all morning: up the stairs, down the slide, under the bridge, in the sandbox. We will all need a nap this afternoon.
It does our hearts good to see our little man acting like a typical toddler. Running into our arms for hugs and kisses, laughing hysterically when we blow on his belly, and even pushing our hands away when we try to steady him as he climbs on the playground equipment. As we prepare to leave, we take comfort in knowing that he is in the good care of his nannies who have done such a great job raising him so far. It is not a family, but for an institution, this place does well.
We left our board book with the speech therapist because she is the one person who gets one-on-one time with the children. She received it excitedly and promised to read it to him many times. It will be our prayer that the Holy Spirit impresses his memory with good thoughts of us until we return.
Ultimately, whether they live in families or not, all children are in the Lord's care. As parents, this is a lesson we will learn early as we have no choice but to leave him. We have given him our love, our laughter, our tickles, our chases, our kisses, and our hugs. Now we leave him, holding him not in our arms but always in our prayers.
It has begun to rain as I type this post. It is fitting. As it rains and we cry, our souls are washed. We give thanks to God for this incredible week with our son, we grieve as we say goodbye for now, and we turn to joy as we move forward day by day until we see him again.
For now, with hearts strangely both heavy with sadness and yet light with joy, we put one foot in front of the other. We pack our bags; we board our flights. Your prayers have carried us safely this far; I ask that you continue to pray and carry us home.
xo
If we had only met him once we would have thought our little man was a quiet and serious little boy, but today his inner two-year old shone through. From the sly grin he gives us as he runs off the playground into "forbidden territory" (the grass), to the decided "Daaa!!" he yells as the pigeons get to close ("get out of here birds!"), he is definitely two. When we first arrived and walked to the playground he gave us a mischievous smile, pressed his mouth together and forced an exhale, flapping his lips like a horse. Our translator laughed and said, "This is universal!" No need to put that in English.
John and I chased him around all morning: up the stairs, down the slide, under the bridge, in the sandbox. We will all need a nap this afternoon.
It does our hearts good to see our little man acting like a typical toddler. Running into our arms for hugs and kisses, laughing hysterically when we blow on his belly, and even pushing our hands away when we try to steady him as he climbs on the playground equipment. As we prepare to leave, we take comfort in knowing that he is in the good care of his nannies who have done such a great job raising him so far. It is not a family, but for an institution, this place does well.
We left our board book with the speech therapist because she is the one person who gets one-on-one time with the children. She received it excitedly and promised to read it to him many times. It will be our prayer that the Holy Spirit impresses his memory with good thoughts of us until we return.
Ultimately, whether they live in families or not, all children are in the Lord's care. As parents, this is a lesson we will learn early as we have no choice but to leave him. We have given him our love, our laughter, our tickles, our chases, our kisses, and our hugs. Now we leave him, holding him not in our arms but always in our prayers.
It has begun to rain as I type this post. It is fitting. As it rains and we cry, our souls are washed. We give thanks to God for this incredible week with our son, we grieve as we say goodbye for now, and we turn to joy as we move forward day by day until we see him again.
For now, with hearts strangely both heavy with sadness and yet light with joy, we put one foot in front of the other. We pack our bags; we board our flights. Your prayers have carried us safely this far; I ask that you continue to pray and carry us home.
xo
My prayers are with you, wishing you strength and peace as you leave him, return home and continue to choose joy for this journey. How hard this must be now that you've held him.
ReplyDelete-Jacquie DeRaaf
Thank you Jacquie! We are home today and finding that the more we choose joy, the more peace we have. Every day is one day closer to our forever family.
DeleteI pray that your thankfulness will overwhelm you both and carry you through this challenging time. Praying especially for ur boy, that the relationship you have started will be stron in his heart, and he remains healthy and happy!
ReplyDeleteLove that prayer! Thank you for offering it on our behalf.
DeleteWhat I beautiful story that you have!!!! Every post that I have read is usually read in tears. What a lucky little boy to have such loving parents!! You write so beautifully about your journey. Many you experience God's greatest strength and blessings as you continue to move forward in this process, which is not easy. I look forward to continue seeing God work through the process and praying that you will have your little boy home with you soon!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that blessing Jennie! So good to hear from you! :-)
DeleteOh my gosh, he is the cutest little boy! I hope time flies for you until you can be reuinited with your little man again.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jenny! I hope the same!
DeletePraying for a safe journey and a quick return to bring your little man home!
ReplyDeleteWe made it home safely; thank you for your prayers!
DeleteStill committed in prayer for you and your beautiful family. May the Lord provide a peace that only He can.
ReplyDeleteHe is faithfully providing us with that peace. So grateful for your prayers Katti.
DeletePraying that the time you are apart is short.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that prayer!
DeleteSo Ken and I were wondering...maybe you know the answer, maybe you don't...but now that you have met your son, how quickly do the next 2 trips come? And how long will each one be? We were just thinking about how everything just seems so close, as though the end is finally in sight, but it must be so hard (now that you have met him) to wait to take him home!
ReplyDeleteWe are hoping for a late September court date and then we bring him home 5 weeks after that... so home in November. We are praying that he comes home before Thanksgiving.
DeleteWill you get to spend time with him when you go back for your court date as well?
DeleteYep! Probably just one visit, but maybe two. The court trip is a bit shorter- 4 days instead of 7.
DeleteHe is PRECIOUS! Hopes and prayers that he is home with you soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kristin! We think so too :-)
DeleteJust getting caught up with your trip (I was out of town.) I love the pictures you shared. Oh my...what a beautiful little boy. And you can see how much you both love him already - it just radiates from every photo. Hope the time passes quickly between now and when you bring him home.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you can see my love for him! Love that. Thanks for the encouragement Wendy! :-)
DeleteOh he is SO cute.
ReplyDeleteThanks Camille!
DeleteWhat a wonderful blog. Your story is amazing and inspiring, thank you so much for sharing your journey, i hope and pray that the next step of your journey moves quickly for all 3 of you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nichole!
DeleteI just happened to find your blog tonight and I got sucked right into your story! I read about your whole first trip to Russia to meet your precious son and I literally sat here and cried! He is the most beautiful little boy and to see your interaction with him, it is so obvious that God has intended him to be your child. What an amazing God we serve! I cannot wait to hear about the rest of your story as it unfolds! I will pray along with you that God will give you a "miraculous exemption" so you can go right ahead and bring him home the next time you're there. I imagine just the thought of having to fly home again without him would be almost too much to bear! He is clearly your son! I praise God that he is in good care! That is certainly not always the case. It is wonderful to see that he is being properly cared for and loved.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I found your blog! You have such a talent for writing and such an obvious radiant faith. It is a joy to read your story! God bless!
Janna I wish you could see my smile- thank you for this wonderful comment and thank you so very much for praying with us! That means the world to me.
DeleteYou're so welcome! I am thrilled that I get to see your story unfold... there is so much joy that awaits you! I feel very blessed to get to witness this whole process through your blog. Thank you for sharing your story with us! I am praying very fervently that the whole process goes well! And even though your court date is later than you hoped it would be, just remember that God's timing is perfect. :) And the gift at the end of all of this waiting is so worth it! :)
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