For some it’s gotcha day! Others celebrate forever family day. These days will not soon fade from our memories. As parents we awaited with great anticipation the day we would hold our children. The moment we embraced our twins was as magnificent as the births of our children. Receiving our children was one of the most incredibly humbling yet exhilarating experiences of our lives. God’s greatness poured over us. Our fears and worries melted.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)
Yet our children were not "waiting for us." Their day was filled with much loss – a loss of culture, family and everything familiar. They gained a family.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
August 15, 2009 will be our first Gotcha Day! We hope to celebrate annually as a family. We are fortunate to have our special moment on video and we will be able to watch this together. We will also rememember and pray for our children’s Ethiopian family and acknowledge their losses. As non-adopted persons, we acknowledge we will never fully understand the feelings surrounding gotcha day for our children. We want them to know we longed for them, we prayed for them and we rejoice with them. We have been blessed beyond measure by adoption!
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13. 4-8
T
