Leaving the orphanage and coming home: Our first 48 hours

We arrived in Yako mid morning on Monday and as soon as we arrived I heard a familiar cry coming from the kids play area. I walked over, and sure enough, there was Steven crying in the arms of one of his tantes. As soon as he saw me he stretched out his arms, ready to be whisked away and carried off with us. It became quickly apparent that that boy was not about to spend even one extra minute there without us if he didn't have to! The workers did such a great job of preparing him for our arrival. God bless those women....they take such good care of the children here and do what they can to prepare their hearts for their new families. We will be forever grateful for the care they took of Steve!

We spent Monday just hanging out around the orphanage. It was pretty chill and laid back, just spending time together for the first few hours in his familiar environment.

The girls....already teaching him to do the wrong stuff....like climbing on the outer edge of the elevated play area. Gotta love siblings! Whoops!

Steven fits in small places. So it's easy for him to play hide n' seek in little boxes....

Isaak, being Isaak, and now the dad of a son and seeing an opportunity...decided to pick up Steven and push him down the slide...while he was in the box! Gotta love dads....

 shake it off buddy, shake it off!! He was okay..... =)

 This was a day of many firsts.....it was the first time we shared a lunch together.....

 Marvelly and Steven discovered their mutual love for salami.

 First car ride with us and then first bath, or spray down, with daddy.

First time on a bunk bed! We let him climb to the top where the girls were hanging out but made him sleep on the bottom. He's used to sleeping in a crib so I stayed in with him while he napped to make sure he didn't fall off.

 Isaak introduced him to the goodness of chips and salsa.....which he devoured.

watching Madagascar 3 on Mike's computer.

We decided it would be best to spend the night in Yako at Mike and Amy's house in the event that Steven had a problem we would be close by to speak to a worker who knew his routine. But he did so great, he didn't have any problems staying with us at all. 

a unsuccessful attempt at a family photo! Ha ha! 

The next morning me and Isaak had a meeting at Social Action to finalize our custody...and wow, I gotta say, I am really really impressed that anything happens in this country! That was the most unorganized place! If they had a system I wasn't seein' it, so thank the Lord Almighty again that we even got this far!

Our dear friends Seth and Rebecca drove to Yako Tuesday morning to help us drive back since we now have a full load in our car with no extra seats for essential people like my mom....so she road back with them. Bless their hearts for their willingness to help meet our need in that area so my mom could be with us these days in Yako.

Before we left we joined all the kids in the dining hall so Steven could eat one last meal with his friends. The tantes helped wash his hands one last time. They served him his food one last time. All the kids roared with laughter one last time as Steven made faces and acted goofy for everyone around him.

His last day here being served as an orphan....never again will he bear that title.

We brought some balloons and muffins for after lunch to celebrate Steve's departure....except one little boy was none too happy to see him go. His best friend, Gelilu, cried for two days after he left. They were the bestest of friends. It broke my heart to see him cry and Steve kiss his head as we prepared to drive away. It was comforting to know that in the not too distant future he has a family coming to bring him home too, and maybe someday they'll see each other again....but under entirely different circumstances. Praise God for adoption and redemption.

When we arrived home Steven was met by Amira, who he quickly took a liking to and treated with the utmost gentleness.

We took him swimming for the first time...and he LOVED it! We had a blast hanging out and swimming as a family.

What a dolly.

Isaak's little shadow. Where Isaak is Steven is never far behind!

No longer the youngest....but now a big sister herself! A role she is very proud of and takes ever so seriously.

This kid is a total goof ball. I don't think he'll have any trouble fitting in around here. =) I have no doubt God put him in just the right family, with just the right sisters, and just the right parents. And I have no doubt God gave us just the right son, and just the right brother for the girls.

We're in good company together.