Forever Day!!!

The day that we have been waiting so many years for has finally come!! It is a day that I will never forget...the day our family was made whole. Words cannot express the joy in my heart. It is so full!!! ❤

We woke up bright and early to get ready. Our driver and translator picked us up at 7am sharp so that we could get to the Embassy to get Tarah's paperwork and passport/visa. Traffic was not bad at all compared to other times we have been here. Everything at the Embassy went well and super fast. We were finished before 8am. We headed back to our hotel to get our luggage because we are staying at a different hotel until Friday. Our next stop was the grocery store to grab water and a few other items for the week. When our groceries were done we were off to pick up our little lady!!

We arrived at Foyer and had a chance to talk briefly with the orphanage director. He wished us well and shared how happy he is for us. We then headed inside to find Tarah. It was relatively quiet in the halls today considering school is out. Other days when we were there on no school days it seemed like mass chaos. We went up to Tarah's floor, but she was not there, so we waited and took some photos of other littles to send to families. Before we knew it we knew Tarah was coming because we could hear chants of, "Tarah! Tarah! Tarah!" from the other kids. Their voices echoed in the halls with excitement. They knew we were here.

Tarah came right to me and fell into my arms. Her nanny then took her in her room and we were told she would get her ready for us, which took about 20 minutes or so. We walked around and took more photos. When she was ready she came back out and gave me a big hug. I asked her if she wanted to go see Eli and she shook her head yes. My eyes filled with tears and my heart just about burst to finally see him holding his baby sister and to have our family together!! So incredibly thankful.

After Shawn got a chance to hold Tarah we all headed up to the balcony with a parade of kiddos in tow. Eli got to experience rock star status with about three or four kiddos hanging on to him as we went up stairs. As we sat on the balcony Tarah quickly got comfortable with us again. She enjoyed a little playful banter of tickles with Eli and Shawn. After a bit she took my phone and started looking at photos. She was showing her friends pictures of her room, family and pictures from past visits. She seemed  proud to be able to show the pictures. We also had our translator ask her questions about coming home with us. She said she knew she was leaving and that she was not worried or scared. We told her that it was okay if she was and that we would be with her. We don't think that she understands what it means to go on an airplane. Brendy (our translator) asked if she had been on one and she said yes. He said she doesn't understand. :)

We stayed at Foyer for about 2 hours or so. We took as many photos as we could of her and her friends. We had a chance to take a photo with the translator and driver that we had used the last two trips because they were there for a family on their bonding trip! Tarah started to get hungry and she seemed to start getting annoyed with the chaos that was erupting.  We asked if she was ready to leave and she nodded her head yes.

Our departure was a bit surreal. No fanfare, no crying, no big goodbyes. We got in the van and we were on our way. It was strange, but good. It wasn't traumatizing or overwhelming. It just felt normal. Our new normal, indeed, a family of four headed to a hotel for a week. Totally normal!!❤❤

In the car Tarah again seemed comfortable and did what any 6 year old would do in a car. (Except standing up in a moving vehicle, that part we decided to have the translator tell her that when she goes home she will have to ride in a seat that has seat belts. She nodded her head, like, "Okay, whatever you say. I will agree to anything at this point."

On the trip to the hotel she ate some cheerios, "read" a few books, played on a Leapfrog echo, watched out the window and fell asleep on daddy. Just before arriving at the hotel (thankfully) she christened Shawn and me by peeing during her nap. Poor pumpkin. Now Shawn and I have both experienced a nap sprinkling!! (Misty, I think it was even the same skirt I was in last year when she christened me!! 😂)

The hotel that we are staying at is beautiful and we have amazing views of Haiti from our balcony. We can see the ocean in the distance, as well as mountains. Such a beautiful backdrop as we close this chapter of the journey. I am so glad that we decided to stay here. Tarah has the opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of her beautiful country before we take her home to her new country. We are so thankful to be starting the next chapter of our lives together. Thank you to everyone that has been praying!! ❤