2 years ago today

Two years man that just sounds so weird. Two years ago, we left the good ole United States out in quest to see my beautiful son. For my mother to meet her handsome grandson and the girls to meet there brother. A child that they too had prayed for for many years. A child that they loved. A child that they knew but, merely through photos and stories from mommy and daddy.

I'll never forget that faithful day. This time we opted to fly with America Airlines (since there were so many and the rate was a little bit less). A thing that will NEVER happen again. That story is for another day. :) Okay, well some for now because it goes with my today memory. :) The phone rings a little after midnight (scared me because our phone NEVER rings that late) I of course was still up getting the final things ready. Michael was helping me pack the van. Our plane was due to take off a little after 6am in Nashville. So, with us being 2 hours away we need to be up and out of the house around 2:30-3:00am. Dad and Mom were going to meet us here and then we would all load up and head out. Back to the phone call it was American Airlines (UGH) saying that the flight was going to be 4 to 5 hours late. I was like SERIOUSLY..we are the 1st ones out!!!! We are going down to meet my son. We are suppose to be getting him that afternoon. We DO NOT have a place to stay at in GC we have a place..a person picking us up and taking us to our rental home in Antigua. We are SUPPOSE to be meeting our house cleaning lady to get the key. WHAT???? SERIOUSLY?!?!?! You might be thinking I was just saying this all in my head sadly enough I was saying A LOT of it to this lady. Ooops. :) After the call I buzzed mom who btw was still up to give her this info. I tried to calm down. I got on the computer started looking up the number to the Radisson so, I could see if they had a room for the night. Thankfully, they did. I tried to rest for just a little bit. Mind you our flight was going to be taking off NOW between 10-11am. and we are still 2 hours away from the airport. UGH!!!! So, we needed to head out early enough to get there for "whatever" time we were due to fly out and I still needed to get in contact with my agency and say that we COULD NOT get Joshua (even now that extra day still tugs at my heart)that day and then get in contact with Mario here in Chicago to let him know to cancel both our meeting with the cleaning lady and our driver. He had to know that we would not arrive in GC until late that evening (unlike the suppose to be early afternoon). Man, oh man was I ever tired when we finally left to go to the airport. :)

Later we arrived in Nashville. Michael and Dad parked up close enough to get our bags out and watch us check in. Many hugs and tears were shed then too. I had never been gone away from my hubby for that long and of course, mom had NEVER been away from dad and NEVER in a million years did I think I would be traveling to a 3rd world country with ONLY my mother and daughters in tow.

During our whole adoption process God taught me a lot about the person he has created in me. A person whom without the finances to do an adoption would come up with the money. A person who DID NOT fly would indeed fly if need be across the world for her little boy and that same person would again board a flight on a totally different route (1st time Nashville to Houston..2nd Nashville to Miami)with an eager grandmother and 2 very eager sisters and stay in a country for 3 wks. barely speaking the language, living in a house that she didn't even know where it was and roaming the streets like she knew where she was going. Again, with an eager grandmother, 2 very eager sisters and the most beautiful Guatemalan baby boy. This person wasn't ME as I could NEVER do something like this it was JESUS and we were but, all following HIS direction.

Even though the day didn't start out like I would have planned it that's the way God wanted it and you know what I wouldn't change it for anything because looking back HE taught me.

A picture of our VERY tired and inside extremely eager grandma and 2 sisters at the airport in Guatemala city. Man, I guess this is what you look like after a looooong day with 6 checked bags (2 of which were for Joshua and 1 full of food for us), 3 carryons (again, 1 of those for sweet boy) and an exersaucer. :) Notice how I took the picture and NOT my mother. :)



Even though gifts were purchased and money was to be given the girls wanted to give something special to Maria Luisa just from them. So, prior to leaving we purchased a little bracelet making kit and they made a special gift for her.



The end result a beautiful bracelet with her name on it.



Tomorrow the real fun begins as through the many tears and huge smiles Joshua is welcomed into not only my arms but, those of his family. Man, 2 years later the day is still so real. The tears continue to swell up, the butterflies are still fluttering and the heart well it is just enormous.

Well, take care friends. As always NEVER quit praying. Tomorrow I will post about those special weeks with Joshua.