Reflecting…

I’m not sure why but I’m very reflective today… I keep thinking back to my pick up trip 3 years ago right now.  All the details are still so fresh.  I flew in on Weds of that week, Madalynn was placed with me on Thursday, we had our embassy day on Friday, my Dad flew in on Saturday, I got Madalynn’s passport on Monday, and we flew home on Tuesday… that time was so precious.   This also got me looking back at pictures from that trip, and the trips before… those trips are more than precious to me.

First trip August 2007… she was such a tiny peanut… 6 weeks old.  I had no idea what to do with a baby… I was so glad my Mom & Dad were with me.  Amazing how Mommy instincts took over.  I was a pro at sterilizing bottles in a hotel bathroom sink (thanks to the advice of other Moms who had traveled before).  There was a crib at the foot of my bed in the hotel room… I had her in there the first night, but each time I’d get up to feed her I’d just end up putting her in bed with me, so that’s what happened.  Her arm would reach over each night for me.  When it came time to leave I was fighting a double tooth infection, and now was doing the ugly cry as I handed her back to her foster mom.

 

2nd trip Thanksgiving 2007… There were lots of questions regarding Guatemala adoptions at this time, and strong predictions they would be shut down as of Dec 31, 2007.  Those of us in process weren’t sure if our cases would be grandfathered or part of the shutdown… I went down for Thanksgiving because I missed her, and had a mothers ache to see her.  Thankfully, cases were allowed to continue, and she came home in March 2008.  Unfortunately, there are still hundreds of ‘grandfathered’ cases still awaiting that precious pick-up trip to bring their children home.  Sadly, Guatemala is still shut down to international adoption, and no new cases have taken place.  Guatemala now suffers from the highest malnutrition rate in Central America… 2nd only to Africa internationally.

I also took the opportunity of this trip to take pictures for our Christmas card… after all my single years I was so excited to finally send out a ‘family’ card….

I LOOOOVED this dress… I still have it.  She didn’t like the camera even then.

Then the pick up trip… 3 years ago this week… I can’t imagine my life without this spunky, headstrong, goofy, attack life at full speed girl!

 

 

LOOOOK at those piggy toes….

On the airplane… heading to America!!!

 

On the job front… I’m not sure what is in store, but I have such a peace, and feel as if God is just holding us right in the palm of His hand.  He knows our needs before we even ask for them!  Of course, I think this would be awesome timing for my Kinsman Redeemer to show up… but my time is not God’s time.