Today we had our first phone consultation with our adoption agency. It was just about an hour. They talked to us both first, then to me alone, then to Mel alone, and finally finished up with both of us together again.
A lot of the call consisted of explaining the process to us- the necessary forms, the home study, the immigration paperwork, and what will take place while we are in Uganda. I listened and tried to take it all in. There are so many steps and details that it took quite a bit of effort to
keep up and process all the information.
Quite unintentionally, I found myself going through the motions mentally, unconsciously visualizing everything. I could see us staying in a guest house, I could hear the accents of our guide, the lawyer, and the judges. I could taste the food we aren’t accustomed to. But then the lady started talking about the time we would be able to spend with “our child” . . .
Oh my goodness.
Then I could feel the protective father coming out in me at the thought of the physical exams he will have to go through. I could feel the stress and weariness after our court appointments. I could feel the anticipation of getting back on the plane to come home. And I could feel the overwhelming desire to come through my front door, collapse onto my floor, and wrap my arms around my wife and THREE boys- my whole family. I could feel the relief, the joy, the satisfaction, and the contentment of that moment. It all became very real to me today.
I know it’s a lot of steps. I know it won’t be easy- or cheap. I don’t know exactly how we’re going to do it all. But I know this: that when that moment arrives when I am holding my whole family in my arms at one time- it will be far better than I imagined it today.
-Chris
A lot of the call consisted of explaining the process to us- the necessary forms, the home study, the immigration paperwork, and what will take place while we are in Uganda. I listened and tried to take it all in. There are so many steps and details that it took quite a bit of effort to
keep up and process all the information.
Quite unintentionally, I found myself going through the motions mentally, unconsciously visualizing everything. I could see us staying in a guest house, I could hear the accents of our guide, the lawyer, and the judges. I could taste the food we aren’t accustomed to. But then the lady started talking about the time we would be able to spend with “our child” . . .
Oh my goodness.
Then I could feel the protective father coming out in me at the thought of the physical exams he will have to go through. I could feel the stress and weariness after our court appointments. I could feel the anticipation of getting back on the plane to come home. And I could feel the overwhelming desire to come through my front door, collapse onto my floor, and wrap my arms around my wife and THREE boys- my whole family. I could feel the relief, the joy, the satisfaction, and the contentment of that moment. It all became very real to me today.
I know it’s a lot of steps. I know it won’t be easy- or cheap. I don’t know exactly how we’re going to do it all. But I know this: that when that moment arrives when I am holding my whole family in my arms at one time- it will be far better than I imagined it today.
-Chris