On June 24, 2016 we go the call we had been waiting for for almost 4 months… the notice that we were cleared to travel and go pick up our daughter!
I wasted no time and booked our flights, hotels, drivers… all of it, within 24 hours and we left on a plane the VERY next day.
I want to document this trip and this time in our lives so that we never forget how amazing God is. So here goes day 1.
The moment we spotted her at the airport my heart nearly jumped out of my chest! It felt surreal.
The orphanage social worker, his wife, the administrator and an orphanage volunteer (who is American) all brought her to the airport to meet us.
They had been showing her our family photo book since nearly February, but seeing us in a book and seeing us in real life is quite different.
She was so scared and so confused.
She would barely look at us. I just rubbed her back, smiled and kept repeating… “Hi sweet girl.”
I really didn’t know what to say in that moment. It’s one of those moments when you wonder what the right words are. I thought I’d be more nervous, but when I saw her I just felt peace.
She was sooo tired because she missed her morning nap to be at the airport.
At one point she even fell asleep and that’s when they let me try to hold her. Of course she woke up and so I only get a minute before she was upset and confused.
But it was still a glorious moment!
After the airport they took us to check in to our hotel. Janella rode in the car with the social worker’s wife and sat on her lap next to me (they don’t do car seats here).
She didn’t make a peep and you could see the look of fear on her sweet little face as she wondered what was going on.
At the hotel I busted out all of my peace offerings… toys, baby dolls, dum-dum pops… she wasn’t too interested until the sucker. 🙂
She walked over and grabbed it from me which was so cool. I finally got her to sit down on the floor near me to play for a bit. She kept her distance, but it was such a sweet moment.
Overall, meeting her was the most amazing experience of my life. I’ll update day 2 and on when I get time.
Thanks for the love and encouragement! We have felt it!
To read more about our journey you can check out our ADOPTION PAGE and also read about the rest of our trip…
So glad you’re documenting the trip! :-)))
This made me cry like a baby! So so sweet! I can’t wait to read the rest. She is absolutely beautiful!!
This is the sweetest thing ever! I’ve been a follower for a while and am a neighbor just across the river in Paducah. We frequent Marion for TARGET ? So maybe we will run into you someday! Best of luck with your beautiful new family! Nella seems to be adjusting just fine and OMG, she looks just like you all!! God Bless!
I just read this like, four times! Love it so much!! She is so precious and I’m so happy you are finally all together!! I can’t wait to read more!! <3
Aww! Teared up with all the joy in your faces when you saw her 🙂
I am in tears. She is so beautiful! I’ve been reading along this adoption process for almost 3 years here on your blog and I am so excited for you all on this new and exciting journey! Praise God for this sweet little blessing!
This gave me goosebumps (in a good way) and choked me up. I am so so so happy for you and your fam and your new baby girl. I enjoy seeing this experience because it warms my heart up so much.
Oh Mandy! I’m crying ugly tears friend! I’m beyond happy for you and Jeff. What a blessing for your entire family!
I love how you’re documenting everything. After this long wait, when she’s a teenager and this day seems like a lifetime ago it will be wonderful to look back and remember these happy moments. She is beautiful and looks like she’s fitting in wonderfully!
oh this is so beautiful. loved reading this and seeing all these images. congrats to your sweet family!
So happy you have so many great pictures. I hope the orphanage can see the pictures you post on FB and how HAPPY she is. I bet they smile and have tears all at the same time too.
What a blessing, I have been following your adoption journey and this makes my heart happy.
So many tears and emotions reading this. Amazing how much her little face and expression have changed in just a short time!!!
Amazing photos of such a special day. I’m so glad you have such great documentation. Such a blessing
Lots of tears as I read this post. So very excited for your family. What a journey and the best has only begun!!