Her bike was wiped down, tires inflated.
Notes were written and hidden in every box, suitcase, and book so our Little Lady could read through them as she unpacked her things in her new room.
Before taping the last box shut, I walked around the house a few more times to find some last minute gifts - my final attempt at forging memories and silently begging that she'll never forget us and our time together.
I grabbed the flowers we pressed on our last morning together. The "tickets" she'd made to invite us to her dance recital in the living room. The dolphin bracelet Bry bought her when we went to Sea World. Lucy's old leash. A Bahama Bucks umbrella. Maybe this, maybe these, maybe this one, remember this...maybe, just maybe, these things will bring her back to us, in her mind. And in that moment, we'll be together.
After the final walk through on Saturday morning, we loaded up the car, dropped the dog off at daycare, and began the trek towards a little town where a little girl who owns half of our hearts lives.
It rained most of the way there. We stayed fairly quiet. There was traffic. And closed highways. And more traffic. And more rain.
It felt as though we'd never make it to her.
And even as it was happening, even as we were driving and Siri was giving me directions to "LL's House," I still had a hard time believing that we were actually on our way to her new home.
This is what we had prayed for. This is what we had dreamed about. This was the good amidst all of the chaos.
This was Jesus. There is no other explanation.
We exited off of the highway and entered the gravel, country road, and I couldn't help but hear her in my mind...I swear I could almost hear her giggling; she'd go on and on about how much she loves it out here. She'd gasp, amazed at the horses on the side of the road.
As we approached her street, the butterflies in my stomach were completely overwhelming and almost debilitating. It was hard to grip the steering wheel or see house numbers very clearly.
What happened next will be written in my mind and on my heart for the rest of my life.
As soon as we turned the corner and entered her driveway, we saw a bubbly, freckle-faced, squealing, clapping, 7-year-old little girl sprinting in the grass, at least 200 yards, in our direction. She took our breath away and it was all I could do not to jump out of the moving car, wrap her in my arms, and squeeze her until it hurt.
I fought the urge to do so, parked the car, and then Bry and I each hugged her about 27 times. We met her (amazing, incredible) grandparents, toured the house, and then began the monumental task of unpacking LL's things in her bedroom.
While we were eating sandwiches for lunch, Bry and I started to wonder if we were overstaying our welcome, and we expected to begin saying goodbye and heading back to Dallas. Just at that very moment, the Lord threw in another undeserved blessing and LL's grandma asked if they could take us out to dinner.
Dinner??? We had just expected that we'd unpack some of her boxes, eat a little lunch, and then head back home. Heck yes, we'll stay for dinner!!
Before dinner, we spent time with LL's aunt and cousins, we jumped on the trampoline, and we watched part of a movie together. It felt so normal and so right, for a moment.
But when she needed help adjusting her dress, she called for her grandma. When she needed someone to fix her hair, or someone to hug, or someone to help her remember a name, she asked grandma. These little questions reminded me that although I would've been on the other side of her questions and her hugs just a few days ago, there's someone else now. Yet again, she has to discover how and where to place us in her life, and she must adjust to her third set of parents in 6 months. I can't imagine what's going through her mind.
LL decided she wanted to go to Olive Garden for dinner. While we were waiting outside, she stood in the middle of the circle and counted 10 people. She said, "Wow! I have 10 people in my family here. There are a lot of us!"
And right then, a peace washed over me and I knew she was exactly where she is supposed to be. It may not be where she wants to be (with her mom), or where we hoped she'd be (with us), but this is where she should be right now.
She's surrounded by trees, and horses, and love bugs. Surrounded on all sides by her family. Surrounded by tons of people who love Jesus. Surrounded by cousins who were also adopted from Foster care. Cause their hearts are that big. After seeing what grandma had done, LL's aunt adopted four children from the system. She's surrounded by love.
Our country girl finally made it home.
Right where she belongs.
Fun times on the trampoline.
Our drive home was surprisingly louder, happier, and much more enjoyable than the trip down. We both feel so at peace about where LL is right now and all we could do was smile and praise the Lord. He really is good.
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About Us:
We began our foster journey in mid-August 2013. We finished our classes in October, had our home study in early January, and we were licensed on February 7, 2014. After seven calls from CPS, we received our first placement, a 7-year-old girl (our Little Lady, or LL for short) on April 3, 2014. Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our journey through the craziness that is foster care. Most importantly, thanks for your prayers, love, and support. We hope to encourage fellow foster/adoptive parents as we document our ups and downs each day.
About Us:
We began our foster journey in mid-August 2013. We finished our classes in October, had our home study in early January, and we were licensed on February 7, 2014. After seven calls from CPS, we received our first placement, a 7-year-old girl (our Little Lady, or LL for short) on April 3, 2014. Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our journey through the craziness that is foster care. Most importantly, thanks for your prayers, love, and support. We hope to encourage fellow foster/adoptive parents as we document our ups and downs each day.
Key Posts:
Oasis (post from Brian)
Why I don't usually write (post from Brian)
LL...if you just stumbled upon this blog and you're freaking out because you see pictures of yourself, please START HERE.
