Our Adoption Story Ends -- The Real Adventure Begins

It has been ten weeks since we brought Zachary home -- twelve weeks since I first met him face-to-face. I had intended to write about the adoption trip, to talk about the first time he smiled or said "mama," to share all of the interesting anecdotes about our travels. But, the long, rough days living in a hotel really took the anecdotes out of me. The real story is not in the adoption trip, but in the precious living gift given to us by God for the rest of our lives after that trip. When I first saw Zachary, he was standing alone at the top of a staircase leading into a government building, a social worker standing nearby. I sat on the ground near him, offered him toys and candy, and eventually he warmed up to the stranger in front of him. About an hour later, when it came time to board the bus and return to our hotel room, he became terrified and screamed louder than any of the other children in our group. Toys and candy were not enough to make him want to leave with the stranger that was taking him -- me! For the next several days, Zachary was very quiet, shy and ill. He would not venture off of his blanket to play, would not walk anywhere without holding my hand, cried at any change in scenery, and was only comforted by food -- lots and lots of food. We did grow more and more accustomed to one another -- and he even began to call me "mama." But, it was surreal -- living in a hotel, being away from my family, and caring for a scared little guy who constantly demanded food. The plane ride home was miserable to say the least. In the 20+ hour journey, we got very little sleep. Zachary was fussy and uncomfortable, and, I am sure, more than a little nervous. I was frazzled. (I have never done well with little sleep!) When we were somewhere over Texas, almost home, Zachary started getting restless and began to wail. He was crying and pushing away from me; I was wondering if we had made a mistake -- I mean how was it ever going to feel like this little guy was mine -- to either of us? When I was at my wit's end, we hit a terrible patch of turbulence. Zachary had been in mid-scream and when the plane shook, he immediately melted into my arms, quieted down and looked at me with fear. At that moment, it struck me that I was the only one he had in the world. It was my job to comfort him and take care of him and keep him safe. I held him tight, kissed his cheek, told him I loved him -- and I really did! And I really do! When we got to the airport, about twenty people were waiting to welcome us home. It was amazing to introduce him to his baba (daddy) for the first time -- and for both of us to realize (maybe me more than him) that it wasn't only me that would be there for him. He had a whole new network of friends and family who would care for him and love him deeply. He came home and we began to live life with our precious Zachary. Slowly, very slowly, over these past ten weeks, he has become more confident, more outgoing and more cherished. Ten weeks later, he has come so very far! He realizes that we will come back to get him. He walks confidently into the YMCA childcare, the church nursery and his preschool. He has fun while he is there and smiles big when we come back. He realizes that he will be fed when he is hungry. While he used to become very upset if he dropped even a crumb of food on the floor, he now throws food on the floor when he is done or doesn't want something. (I am not saying then in and of itself is good, but it represents that he is not concerned about where his next meal will come from.) He realizes that he has a family who loves him. Zachary loves his baba so very much, and he absolutrly adores his sisters and brother. Sometimes I feel like mama is last on the list -- but mama tends to say no more than the others. (Not everyone can be the life of the party!) I truly think he knows we are his family, and that he knows he is loved, and that he loves us as well! We have come so far in this ten weeks, too! We have lived beyond the recognition that adoption is good and have realized the absolute life-changing enormity of forever family, forever love. Zavahry's life changed, and so did ours. We love Zachary. Zachary is part of our family, part of us. He has joined our lives and is now part of our great adventure. And he will be with us as God reveals to us the next part of His plan for our family.