Our Adoption Adventure

A day at the orphanage

James spent most of today at the orphanage where our children are.  He was very excited this morning when I talked with him before he went but said he was nervous too.  He wasn't sure what to say or do when he first saw them.  He was also taking packages, letters and goodies for other children.  He was up bright and early and ready to go but had to wait until after 10:00 am to leave.  He found out why when he got there and the children were still in school. 

He said when he first got to the compound it looked deserted.  Not a person to be seen then two girls come running out of one of the buildings they were driving past and one of the girls was Matilda.  He yelled to her but the driver didn't slow down until he was all the way across the compound.  By the time the car stopped all the children were running to him.  He said they are all just amazing children.  He is totally in love with them all. 

It was of course pretty crazy alot of the time he was there, with the handing out of things, getting measurements of some of the children and hugging and delivering special messages to some.  By the way,  he will get the measurements to me soon hopefully, but wanted everyone to know they aren't exact.  One of the ma's helped him to get the measurements and he said she was pretty loose with the tape. She said that is how it should be done so they have room to grow. 

He tried to get time alone with our children but it was quite a challange.  Matilda, Moses and Bill were all talkative but Agatha was real quiet.  She was also the one that didn't want to leave his side.  She stayed with him nearly the whole time, holding his hand and smiling.  He said they all had the cutest way of holding his hand and taping on his arm to get his attention.  Most of the time it was to introduce him to a friend or show him something.  When Moses was called to eat he even said it could wait, which from what we hear about Moses is a really big deal.

All the children were very sad when he had to leave and one of our girls cried as he got in the car.  He said it just broke his heart to leave them there.  He found out later that he could have taken them back to the guest house for the night, then taken them to the embassy directly with him.  He wanted me to pass that on to others in case they don't know either and miss the chance to spend a night with their children. 

He also went to the deaf orphanage for a short time.  He was able to hand out some goodies there.  We had such a bad connection I am not sure if he got measurements there of one of the girls he was hoping to see.  He is going to try to get back there to take more pictures.  He didn't have our digital camera with him at either orphanage and will be taking more pictures later this week. 

The visa appointment is tomorrow at 9:00 am Liberian time.  We are praying that the consular will be merciful and issue the visa's quickly as the embassy is closed on Thursday.  They are scheduled to leave Liberia Friday and so we need her to be willing to give him the visa's Wednesday or Friday. 

So I was thinking today that with him meeting our four children first it make things even.  I have gotten to know our first four bio babies before him.  I have felt them move before him.  Felt their first hiccups.  Had time to bond with them for quite awhile before he did while they were in the womb.  Now he has the opportunity to get to know our four adopted children for awhile before I do.  He has gotten to see them, touch them, and hug them first.  Isn't that pretty cool???

Have a great evening,

Carri