Last Day at the Orphanage

There was a sort of strange reverence as I entered the orphanage today. I don't know if reverence is the best word to use ... but I was quietly very aware and that this could be my last day there with the Noah ... at least in the way that we have known our days here. I memorized each step, the murals on the walls, the feelings, the smells of the kitchen, the sound of children crying, the clanking of dishes, etc. The greetings, zdrasvwetye ... zdras ... priviet. The good-byes, dosvidanya ... paka paka. The thank you's ... spasiba ... spasiba bolshoye. I tried to soak in my time with Hayden and Asher, Noah's playmates. I looked at Shannon and Derick and Joanie with love and admiration ... three people who have shared with me first hand the most incredible experience of my life and the only three who can ever fully comprehend it. As we parted at the end of today, we all hugged and assured one another that we would lift each other up in prayer tonight. We knew that we would not be together again until we all knew the judges decisions. It's understandable that today was an emotional day.




I watched as Teresa's mother, Donna, handled Noah with such ease. He watched her for the longest and giggled and giggled when she gave him attention. It was hard to stay composed as I imagined that being my mother doing the same. These are those kinds of feelings that you can't really start talking about ... so you just have to swallow really hard and savor the moment.




When we arrived this morning to visit, I was surprised to be handed Noah and then led to a room where the caretakers were putting on a show for the children. When the show was almost over, they put on some music and the caretakers had all the children go out on the floor and dance with them. It was absolutely heartwarming to see. I danced with Noah as I held him in my arms. They then handed out lollipops to the children. Noah sure enjoyed his!!