This was the day we took custody of our babies!
These women loved them so well for the 5 months they cared for them.
Bongiwe, the one in the middle, looked me right in the eye and told me, "God has called you to this. You can do it!" That was just what I needed to hear in that moment.
Before a child would leave the orphanage, Ms. Maureen would have them do "High Five and a Hug!"
Here Isaiah is doing that with a little girl who friends of ours have adopted. How special!!
High Five and a Hug
What an emotional moment that was for everyone involved!
As we drove away from the Halfway House, I remember thinking, "What in the world have we just done?!?!" It was a bit daunting thinking about the road ahead for our family!
Here we are back at the place where we were staying!!
First, I made Isaiah some oatmeal
Doesn't he look afraid. I can't even imagine what he was feeling in that moment.
He was a hungry boy.
You should have seen the way these two ate for those first few weeks!!
Next on the agenda, a bath. I needed to get those babies clean!
I don't think they had ever played in a bath.
She still isn't sure about this whole thing.
That furrowed little brow
Sawbona!
Helping sister with her milk
Watching a movie on the computer. I think we watched the Baby Einstein farm video at least 100 times before we made it back to America.
Nap time!
Playing with his very own cars
That first night, Julie Anderson, our team that was with us, Jumbo and Kriek, and Scott and Marcia threw us a little welcome party for Isaiah and Laila. It was so special. She had a little giraffe for each of them and a cake for us to celebrate with. For some reason, I can get those pictures loaded on here. We couldn't have done it without the team there. Julie gathered us all kinds of supplies like a pack n'play, toys, car seats, just all the baby gear that we would need. Scott and Marcia went with us the day we took custody. They drove us, took videos, and pics, and helped us get the medicines we would need for the kids. Jumbo and Kriek let us stay with them when our time ran out at the guest house where we were staying. It was so special to have friends there with us!!
These two had a special bond!
Love that we have friends on the other side of the world to share in this experience with us!
Cody was such a huge help. We could not have done it without him!
I loved watching them sleep!
Little did we know that it would be several weeks before we made it home!!
