Special Day

Wow, yesterday was a really special day. We had 2 couples who adopted their children and it was a milestone for Beautiful Gate in that one couple adopted their son from us 3 years ago and is the first couple to come back and add another Beautiful Gate child to their family. Seeing their joy and tears and hearing them choked up while expressing their thankfulness was touching, but also seeing the faces of the staff at seeing one of their boys being loved and well cared for over the past 3 years, was amazing too.

Another part of the ceremony that was special to Bryan and I was that the first child who came into Beautiful Gate after we moved here, was joining his family as well. We watched him from the time he was only about a week old until this past week when he left for bonding and it blessed us to watch him join his new Mom and Dad. He was happy and doing great and I could tell by their looks and actions that they were totally in love with him.

For those of you who were nervous on my behalf, I survived running my first adoption ceremony. I was a bit nervous, but it helped that both couples had visited the week prior for a tour and one couple came for dinner so I was more comfortable than if it had been total strangers ;)Praying God gives me the grace to continue in this role as needed, but I will be very happy when our social worker will be back to running them when she returns from her vacation/holiday.

The final thing I wanted to share was a very new experience for me. All the staff are in a first aid training this week and we had a new child brought in from DSW. Our social worker asked if I would admit the new baby as she had to get to the training. I have never admitted a child and the social worker who brought her had never filled out the forms, but we managed our way through the forms and then I was given the honor of naming the little girl. In honor of my dear friend, Lori, I named the child after the girl they loved and had to let go when they were in Lesotho. It is a beautiful name with a very special meaning and I was amazed how sacred that moment was to me. Holding a new born child and choosing her name as if she were my own. I did not know how emotional it was to receive a child and take that first responsibility for them, other than when I delivered my own 3 children. I felt like it was a holy moment between God and myself and I committed to care for her, love her, and help her grow until He brings the family He has already picked out for her. I am in awe of the huge responsibility He has entrusted Bryan and I with and pray He continues to give us the wisdom and justice to see it through.