I remember the days leading up to us leaving as being so exciting and having that "once in a lifetime" type of feeling. So neat!
I cannot believe a year has passed already.
Despite my homesickness and being anxious about the adoption, the 13 days we spent in Lithuania are some of my most precious memories. I am so amazed and grateful the Lord allowed Andrew and I to have this incredible experience!
Meeting Ben, getting to know Ben, learning about his country and sightseeing, getting to spend time with wonderful Silva and Reda (our adoption facilator and attorney and 2 of the most amazing women I have ever met!), just so many incredible experiences during those 13 days.
I am not the same person I was before going on this journey. How could I be? I saw too many things and learned too many things. Some of those things were hard and difficult. Meeting the other children in the orphanage who were begging for us to be their mama and dada was hard. Knowing how uncertain their futures are if no families come forward to adopt them, that is hard to process.
That is part of the reason I have kept this blog- yes, it's a great "scrapbook" for our family, but mostly it is a way to help awareness of the fact there are children who need families to step forward and adopt them NOW. Without families, these children face bleak and sad futures.
I am also not the same person as before this journey because I am now blessed to have Ben in my life. He brings an energy and excitement to our home along with happiness and sweetness when he lets his guard down for us. Ben is wonderful little boy. Yes, he is still a bit rough around the edges, but gradually we are seeing a softening in him. It's coming, we just have to be patient. In fact, just this morning he hugged me and said "Happy" to me. Then he listed everyone in our family. I think he is really starting to get the idea he belongs to us!
So Happy One Year Anniversary of the day we left on the most incredible trip ever!
FROM CHICAGO to VILNIUS
LOVE IN MILES:
4712 Miles
SO WORTH IT!
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