The coordinator of the event contacted me throughout the week to find
out our thoughts and intentions now after meeting the kids. She said we needed
to write up a letter of intent if we seriously wanted the opportunity to pursue
their adoption. A letter as such only put us in line for them to call us if
their host family did not choose to seek an adoption. We spent the next few days
working together on our letter, and we corresponded via e-mail with the kids’
host parents to arrange details for the following weekend.
We didn’t want
to seem pushy, selfish, or overbearing with our desire to know these kids while
they, too, wanted to cherish every moment with them as they pondered over their
own decision. It felt a little awkward at times, but they made us feel
comfortable and appreciated.
“Hey, we feel like the more people who love them, the
better chances they have to gain a family.” They obviously shared one goal.
We returned the following weekend, this time covered in prayer by everyone
we knew. No secrets this time. We knew the clear wisdom and guidance we desired
could only be found through prayer. We suspected God's plan to entirely change
our direction and lead us onto a new path, thus turning our lives completely
upside-down.
First we met up with the kids and their host “dad” in
the home they stayed in that summer. They eagerly showed us their summer beds,
some of their toys, and the clothes given to them for their stay. They quickly changed
into their swimming attire before we all headed out to play in a nearby park
with water fountains.
The two kids splashed around in the water with David for a long while,
playing in the fountains and enjoying being wet. Later, we all stood over a
little bridge and quietly observed the fish and turtles in the water below. The
turtles captivated Juan David’s attention. I didn’t know it, but Mike snapped a
picture of me standing there with David, Juan David, and Viviana—a picture I
cherished for many months as the first picture of me and my three
children.
We all grew more comfortable together throughout the
day. Later, after everyone dried off, we embraced the opportunity to show the
kids some pictures we’d brought of our life in Dallas, including David’s soccer
pictures.
“Someday I want to play on a team like that.” I tucked
Juan David’s comment away in my heart, silently vowing to make sure that happened
if we could adopt them. I so loved this child already.
After spending an hour together over lunch, talking and observing the
kids’ personalities, we headed to the bowling alley to join the other Colombian
children. I loved teaching Juan David how to bowl, and Mike snapped several
pictures. (None of those kids ever bowled before, and they didn’t have a clue
what to do.) We only took a few pictures that day, but we did capture several precious
moments, including a snapshot of David sitting at a table with both Juan David
and Viviana. A picture always meant to be.
The time passed way too quickly that day before we said goodbye. One
more weekend remained until the kids returned to Colombia, but I already knew
we couldn’t make it back. We already planned to travel to my parents’ house in
another state. We returned home, fell on our knees, and prayed, mainly for
wisdom for their host family to know who should pursue their adoption.
Apparently, other families also expressed interest in this sibling pair.
I hadn’t guarded my heart a bit. Those pictures on my refrigerator came
to life, and I fell completely in love.
As soon as we got home, we called our social worker to
put the El Salvador adoption on hold until further notice.
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