ONE YEAR TOGETHER AS FAMILY!

Yes, today marks that special milestone of one whole year together as a family. Where has the year gone? It seems like only yesterday when we were in Cucuta awaiting our first meeting with our children. I remember, vividly, how we awoke that morning after tossing and turning most of the night, trying to occupy the morning and early afternoon's moments but feeling the overwhelming anticipation building to that moment we'd meet our kids since the meeting wasn't set until 2pm. The moments seemed to tick slowly by, and with every breath I took, I grew more light-headed and almost sick with the wait. The clocks in our minds ticked backwards for the hours leading up to the initial meeting of the kiddos. We ventured off to breakfast that morning with the full intentions of passing the time after breakfast with a leisure swim followed by fresh showers and a relaxing primp session...at least that's how we had it planned! My gut feeling said to take showers before the breakfast, but Rick was very hungry and insisted on breakfast first. This would have worked perfectly if we hadn't gotten greeted by our new translator friend, Alexandra, who had been sent to the hotel to gather us for a meeting ASAP. Seems the kids arrived at the ICBF office much earlier than anyone had expected. So much for our leisure primp session, although I did manage to squeeze in a quick shower for myself (Gen) and our daughter, Marissa. What a crazy few moments leading up to our meeting. I've never before had anxiety attacks but I'm sure those moments of heavy breathing and almost fainting spells accounted for a huge "anxiety attack". I remember how Rick would have to remind me to breathe, at times. My stomach ached much from the erratic breathing patterns I'd grown accustomed to as the day moved on. What an experience!

Then we took the taxi ride across town to meet the kids. What a wild time! That had to be the most incredible display of pure love, and to take part in that blessing was just undescribable. We met the two foster mothers and what a great surprise because their wonderful love they clearly had for our children was so obvious. We are so grateful for their guidance and love for our children! Although our happy day was their sad day, we felt so endeared to meet the wonderful women who had taken great care of our kiddos.

We were told that when Fabian awoke that morning. he rather loudly announced for everyone else to wake up because that was the day he'd meet his daddy (in spanish, but you get the idea). SO TOUCHING! I'm almost certain that's why the children arrived much earlier than originally expected. The foster mothers just couldn't hold the children back. Fabian was so intent on meeting his new family, mostly his Dad.

Tonight we will celebrate with cake and ice cream, as we honor one year together as a family! Just a week before Thanksgiving, we have so much to be thankful for. What wonderful blessings come from the children we have been entrusted to raise, and for that we thank our loving Father above! We look forward to many, many more happy years ahead. And just one more thought... we are so very thankful we are able to celebrate this milestone in a warm climate! We don't care for the cold weather too much anymore.

(Pictures above were taken while in Cucuta, Colombia, last year.)