Saturday, April 18, 2009

Reunion

On Thursday afternoon I drove to the Kansas City airport all alone. As astounding as the alone part was, the exciting part was that I was picking up my friend Mindy and her two little girls, Nadalyn and Jayde. They were flying in from Utah and on their way to a wedding in Oklahoma. We were lucky enough to get to have them spend a night and day with us before they were on their way.

I hadn't seen Mindy and her girls in a year and a half. The last time I saw them was in Hanoi, Vietnam. Mindy was one of two other women in my adoption travel group. Jayde was her newly adopted baby and thankfully Mindy didn't have any difficulties getting a visa for her baby.

When we arrived home from the airport all five younger kids had a great time playing outside together. Nadalyn (who is 3 1/2) and Jenna hooked up and in a surprise twist, Ryan and Jayde stuck to each other's side. Emma was the odd one out, not that she cared. We all know that Emma walks to the beat of her own drummer. Shoot, she stole the drum from the drummer and makes her own beat.

For bath time we threw them all in my big tub.

{Yes, I've been busy drawing fig leaves again.}

Five children fit in my tub just fine. Guess I have room for two more. Hahahaha!

Jayde giving Emma a hug after much coercion. Jayde is about 10 days older than Emma yet is so much taller. And she seemed so much older too.

The next day, Mindy and her daughters left.

As Mindy prepared to go, Jayde had just woke up from her nap and was upset. Ryan, the comforter, is rubbing Jayde's back trying to make her feel better. How was I so lucky to get such a sweet boy?

Earlier, we got a picture of the four younger kids outside. Left to right: Nadalyn, Ryan, Jayde and Emma. Notice that Jayde's head is on Ryan's shoulder. I told Mindy that I didn't have any problems with arranged marriages and feel free to start discussing the details of Ryan's and Jayde's marriage at any time.

The best picture of MANY taken of Emma and Jayde. Notice Mindy's hand in the foreground.

Jayde and Emma are from the same orphanage. At one point on Friday, I had picked Jayde up and was holding her outside. As I looked at her sweet little face, I realized that there was a 1 in 3 chance she would have been mine. There were three women who received referrals of three babies, the only three babies available. It was by the grace of God that Mindy received Jayde's referral and I received Ella's. I'm not a big "what if" person. After Darrell's accident I realized that Jenna almost went with Darrell on that fateful flight and I allowed myself 5 minutes to freak out over it and then I told myself I was done. Yes, she almost went but bottom line was she didn't. So I admit that I was a bit surprised with myself for going down the "what if" road as I held Mindy's baby. I realized that had I received Jayde as my referral I wouldn't have suffered the pain of Ella's death, receiving Emma's referral, being stuck in Vietnam alone and frightened, dealing with Emma's RSV. And as I thought of all that I looked at my own angel sitting on a swing and my heart ached at the "what if" of not getting my precious Emma. Emma Linh Joelle is worth every moment of pain and more so. I can't imagine life without my Tasmanian Devil. I can only thank God that He's worked out all the details so perfectly.

19 comments:

Stellan Bracelets said...

Beautiful post. I loved the photos of the kids together. What a special treat to have Mindy come over with Jayde and Nadalyn!

Thanks for sharing :o)

Tricia said...

Oh Denise, that was beautiful. Your tub did look quite full. Two more would just about fill it.

Suzanne C said...

You are so awesome! Your babies are beautiful. And I love how are Heavenly Father works out the details...oh...perfectly. Even when it may not seem like it at the time.

Suzanne C said...

OUR not are! HELLO...sheesh...!

Carey-Life in the Carpool Lane said...

You are so tricky...you start out all light-hearted with beautiful babies in a big ole' bath. Follow it up with some sweet antidotes about your youngest son...

And then whamo! The beautiful heavy stuff. What if? But there are no "what if's." Emma may have stolen the drum and set her own beat but she is perfectly in tune with you and the rest of her siblings.

On an unrelated note:
I've missed your posts. I hope all is well.

Anonymous said...

These pics are so cute!

Unknown said...

What a great story you have going! When I saw the pics I was amazed at how much older the kids seem since I started reading your blog! Time flies!

mommakin said...

What a beautiful story - several sides of you revealed in one post. Awesome.

The pics are so sweet.

Nancy said...

How beautiful. Reading this post made it worth having to wait three days.
Nancy

Christina - Rant Rave Roll said...

What a lovely post. They all look so cute, and are having so much fun! Looks like eeryone had a great time!

Angelj052@gmail.com said...

I love this post, and the pics. What a special household you have. Like Carey I miss your posts as well, but soo understand how busy your life must be!

Kristin said...

What a beautiful post. :-)

Love all the pictures...especially Ryan with Jayde. Too sweet.

Kim said...

What a special post! Love all the pictures especially the bathtub - very sweet!

Brandy said...

"Shoot, she stole the drum from the drummer and makes her own beat."

Favorite description. Ever.

Love the pics!

April said...

oh, i could just eat them up!!!

Lorie said...

Right there with you, as much as I complain about my monster, she is ours and was always meant to be ours....Red Thread, Red Thread.

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Emma is soooo sweet!!!! I think it is a miracle how God places each child in the perfect place!

WHAT WONDERFUL photos of all the kids! I just love the tub full of Asian beauty. (Sorry Boy Wonder Ryan... but he is cute too!!)

The Johnson 5 said...

I am so thankful for you also. That little girl is so lucky to have you as her mommy. And I know you feel that you are the lucky one and you are!

I'm glad you had a nice visit with your friend and the bath tub pictures are SO CUTE!!

Unknown said...

Wonderful pictures, and beautiful story. Thank you for sharing Denise.