Gotcha Day!

Okay...it was harder than I thought to get internet service at Eagle's Nest. So, tonight my new friend Patty brought me down to Panajachel and we are at a local internet cafe (more like an open air cafe with just computers). So, here's the update...

We made our way around Guatemala City yesterday and learned many new helpful Spanish phrases. Then, after lunch, we took the hotel shuttle back to the airport. Somehow, we were able to communicate to the driver that we needed to go the departures instead of the arrivals. Everyone else got off the shuttle, and I think he thought we were mistaken or crazy, but he took us anyway. We, of course, were the only Americans with luggage at the arrival area. We got many “crazy Americans!” looks and some people even tried to help us get to the right place. After waiting only 10 minutes, we saw Jim Houston and the crew from The Church at Brook Hills arriving right on time! Finally, everyone realized that we were meeting another group and not leaving!

The ride up the mountain in a school bus took about 3 hours the last time I came, but it seemed to drag on for another day…..I told Lisa Mitchell (aka Lala) that I thought the road had gotten 100 miles longer. The last 15 minutes were the longest of my life! I couldn’t believe the emotional turmoil my head and heart were in…..excitement, overwhelming love, “what have I gotten myself into this time” questions, nervousness, eagerness, joy, elation….so much that I can’t even describe it. God had been preparing my heart and mind for this moment, and I could scarcely sort it all out. Oh, the joy.

The videographer and photographers got off the bus and took our last picture as a family of four. Then, we walked into the orphanage, and everything was just as I remembered it. Babies everywhere….oh, the joy of knowing those children would be going to forever families soon. Now, where’s my son? We were led to a bedroom on the right side of the hall where there was no pomp and circumstance. My son was on the floor in a room with about 10 other children. One little girl was crying and another was working on changing her clothes. No bells, no whistles…only tears of joy. The nanny was putting Jett’s shoes on his feet. He looked like he’d been playing hard all day. He looked at us and the nanny said something in Spanish (I think I heard Momma and Papa)…he looked at us with those big brown eyes and came straight to me. He hugged me and I cried….two years, and I cry like a baby. I’m sure he was super confused and wondered what kind of Momma he was getting. She’s hugging me and crying like a baby…do I even like this woman? Then, he saw JT. He locked eyes and hugged him tight. Jett immediately took to JT – rubbing his bald head and running his hands through JT’s gotee. Lots of photos were taken and we were a family of 5! To God be the glory for His plan and His timing.

We walked down the hallway and took Jett out of the orphanage for the first time. He was out of the confines of waiting and had his forever family FOREVER! No going back…..what is this world, and what I am supposed to do in it? May God use this child to change the nations for His glory!

It was a day of “Firsts” for all of us….for Jett it was the first time to stay in an apartment, to sleep in the bedroom with his family, to get a present that he could keep forever, to change into new pajamas, to take a hot bath in a big bathtub, to eat with his family, to pray with his faith family. And for us, it was the first time to hear our son sleep soundly, to watch him learn what having a sister meant (not sure if he’s liking this notion yet), to watch him play with new toys, to put on our son’s shoes, to brush his hair…..Oh, the days of firsts are just beginning. Thank you Father for a day of firsts.

JT and I took Jett to the supermarket today by ourselves. The girls stayed at Eagle’s Nest with Lala, and we were able to spend some time with Jett alone. As we began our walk into town, Jett was holding both of our hands. He looked up to the workers on the side of the hill and said “My Papa is taking me to the store.” Oh, we were SO proud.

We are eternally grateful for the Father’s plan for our family. Right now, we are watching Madison play hide and seek with her brother. He is fully tangled in the curtains of the apartment waiting for someone to find him….what a humorous child. We can’t wait to see what else God has in store for us!