Today started off like any other. Eli had a few little meltdowns early in the day, but he was mostly good. We had our normal morning routines, and received an expected phone call from a new friend to meet them around 2:30 for a trip to the orphanage where Eli came from.
We walked over to their guesthouse to meet them, and to catch our ride with Markos to the orphanage. We had not met this couple, but had emailed back and forth a number of times. They are parents to a little girl who is about Eli's age whom they are picking up later this week, if all goes well. It was great to connect with F&C. Today they were going to re-introduce themselves to their little girl, having gone home after court.
We have been wanting to re-visit the orphanage for quite a while, but have felt some resistance against going there from some of the people with some clout here. As a result, we thought this might be a great time to piggy back on another couple's visiting trip.
It was a great experience for us, and Eli seemed to take it all in stride. In the previous trip we had not been able to see where Eli had been sleeping, and what his surroundings looked like. Today, we were able to see where he slept, and were able to take some pictures so we can show Eli later in life. We were also able to sit and play together with F&C and their daughter L. We had a good time, and Eli was happy most of the time. There was a little, but very little, interaction between the two children who would have spent some of their earlier lives playing together.
I think, though, that the most impactful part of this visit was to see how the nannies and caregivers reacted in seeing Eli. We had many tears of joy, cries of shock at how he has grown, and just a lot of happy, happy people at the orphanage. It was clear from all the hugs, kisses, and tears, that he was very loved, and has been missed by the caregivers (and the children) there. We were stopped many times on the way in and out with Eli, and it was great to see the love and care that these nanny's are giving to the children here. It was also enlightening to see how Eli has changed from when we took custody of him. When we left, I would have thought that Eli was much the same size, and looked very similar to the children in the orphanage. Today, I felt that he had grown, and looked like he had developed beyond the children there. He has thrived in our care, and I think this trip confirmed this. Please don't take this as a negative about the orphanage. I think that in an orphanage, development would not be as rapid as it would be in family situation, such as ours.
When all is said and done, it was a positive trip today. We were able to see how much the children are cared for and loved, and we were able to confirm that Eli is thriving in our care. We were also able to meet some new friends, whom we hope to keep connecting with over the next week or so.
Also, it was Father's Day. It was a bit of a surreal day in that regard, as some of this does not yet seem totally real, and it may not until we are home.
It was a good day.
Thank you to all those who sent me messages and emails wishing me a "Happy Father's Day". Also thanks again to all those who have been praying for us thus far. We appreciate all the support!
We walked over to their guesthouse to meet them, and to catch our ride with Markos to the orphanage. We had not met this couple, but had emailed back and forth a number of times. They are parents to a little girl who is about Eli's age whom they are picking up later this week, if all goes well. It was great to connect with F&C. Today they were going to re-introduce themselves to their little girl, having gone home after court.
We have been wanting to re-visit the orphanage for quite a while, but have felt some resistance against going there from some of the people with some clout here. As a result, we thought this might be a great time to piggy back on another couple's visiting trip.
It was a great experience for us, and Eli seemed to take it all in stride. In the previous trip we had not been able to see where Eli had been sleeping, and what his surroundings looked like. Today, we were able to see where he slept, and were able to take some pictures so we can show Eli later in life. We were also able to sit and play together with F&C and their daughter L. We had a good time, and Eli was happy most of the time. There was a little, but very little, interaction between the two children who would have spent some of their earlier lives playing together.
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| Eli's old bed at the orphanage |
When all is said and done, it was a positive trip today. We were able to see how much the children are cared for and loved, and we were able to confirm that Eli is thriving in our care. We were also able to meet some new friends, whom we hope to keep connecting with over the next week or so.
Also, it was Father's Day. It was a bit of a surreal day in that regard, as some of this does not yet seem totally real, and it may not until we are home.
It was a good day.
Thank you to all those who sent me messages and emails wishing me a "Happy Father's Day". Also thanks again to all those who have been praying for us thus far. We appreciate all the support!
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| Happy Father's Day! |
Happy Father's Day, Sheldon! It's so great that you three have opportunities to connect with other families-in-the-making.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds to me like it was a very happy, successful first Father's day, Sheldon! I pray there are many, many more wonderful Father's days to come!!!
ReplyDelete