Friday, June 12, 2009

ANDY'S VERSION

TERRI SAID I SHOULD POST MY VERSION. AS ALWAYS I AGREE TO EVERYTHING SHE SAID. ALSO I WRITE IN CAPS, EVEN THOUGH SHE TOLD ME NOT TO. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
ANDY

What does 4 years of waiting look like?

From the moment that I saw that little guys face, I knew. Moma's just know who their children are-it is in your heart and soul. It is not a feeling that ever leaves you, it is not a love that ever dies. He was just turning 10 when we first meet him here for a cultural visit. I had no idea that by volunteering to help out with the summer visit would lead to a blessing far more than I could ever imagine! But what would my husband think? Now I have given Andy puppies for Father's day but this would be the ultimate Father's day gift ever!
The more I was around that special little guy that summer, the more I realized that he was indeed a gift from God to me. His looks- looks like a Garver boy- his mannerism-played basketball just like Kevin-held his arm the same way that Kevin did when he dribbled the ball, his spirit-has the same humorous personality as James
and the way he hugged Allison-you know that family hug that you give to each other. So I knew that if Andy would just go over to where he was he would see the same thing that I was seeing-sure enough he went and he loved (well he calls it entrapment love- because that special little guy would run up to him with the family hug and called him Papa -Andy didn't know that they call everyone Papa!) Now we are on the same thinking feeling page with one exception- little guy has a little sister- 5 years old. Papa Andy wasn't so sure about a 5 year old , after all James, our youngest, was about to go to high school and Papa Bear was feeling his age just about now in adopting a 5 year old. So many discussions, much contemplating, and waiting for his final decision (I always knew in my heart that the answer would be yes for both) So that's it decision made let's go for it. It's funny how we think we are in charge of all our decisions, how once we have a plan, it should go according to our way. Paper work after paper work, the adoption center closing down for about a year, children not ready-not even close, days roll along and years roll along and kids grow up until finally we come down to 4 years of waiting. Now we saw them several times over these four years and a bond was not broken-remember love never dies for your children, no matter that your plans don't go as you think. And you cry and you smile and you question if this is God's will for these children and you think you can't fill out another document again and submit another dossier and hear anymore disappointing news and then you remember their little faces and their laughter and all of the cherished times that you had with them during the wait-all the pictures, all the conversations, all the long distance love! We had a special song between us "Twinkle, Twinkle ,Little Star" and made a pact that everynight we would all look up at the stars and sing to each other before we went to sleep and that way we were telling each other good night and I still love you. Many nights I have looked up to heaven and seen my two little shining stars smiling back at me! I think we will keep that family tradition when they get here, only we can give each other a family hug instead of wishing on a star. This leads me back to 4 years ago-when Andy was not so sure about a five year old and God's plan instead of ours-Andy will not be getting a five year old daughter-she is now nine and God's plan is perfect for our life. August 3, 2009-not just another day but the first day of the rest of our lives-our appointment day!

Mama Terri