A Good Friday it Was
Three years ago we “officially” embarked on our adoption journey by boarding a plane to St. Petersburg, Russia on Good Friday. We were excited, nervous, and anxious. We anticipated everything that was to come, all that we were to encounter, and we were hoping that AJ would be all that we had ever dreamed our first child would be.
He is, in every sense of the word, our miracle. He gave us faith in each other. He gave us unconditional love and everyday he gives us a little more sunshine.
But as most of you know, our journey has not always been the most peaceful because AJ has good and bad days. What is ironic is that our journey started off just as adventurous as it is now…and we should have known we were in for a bumpy ride.
I won’t go into details about that Friday morning before our flight but I will tell you that the dog ate two pounds of rat poison (we put it out by the creek to get rid of the mice) and we had to rush to the vet’s office one hour before leaving for our flight. Thankfully, he was just fine and our kennel took great care of him while we were gone.
Luckily, we had upgraded to first class on our way to Russia and were able to relax (or at least try to). In this picture, Eric is updating his father on the dog and our travel arrangements. We traveled to St. Petersburg for three days and then to Arkhangelsk to see AJ for the first time.
Is there some law that first adoption flights need to have some problem? Our first flight (to meet up with the connecting flight to Guatemala City) was canceled, necessitating a scramble to rush to the airport to catch an earlier flight. We got there in the nick of time, but arrrrgh!
But I believe God sends help to adoptive parents too. Our second flight needed to be planned quicker than we expected (to get son #2). I will always sing the praises of one of my best friends, who watched my son for 2 hours while dealing with her son (newly diagnosed with autism at that point and having problems) while I packed.
What a nice memory though! Do you celebrate the day he came to you somehow each year…the “adoption anniversary” or something?
We do celebrate his official adoption “anniversary”, which happens to be in July. The past two years we have gone to the zoo.
We celebrate the day they arrived home, which for my kids was St. Patrick’s day and the Summer Solstice, respectively. Yes, we’re the only family we know who celebrates St. Patrick’s day with Guatemalan food, but at least the restaurant is never crowded!
You have a Guatemalan restaurant?? I so need to move back to a city!
Waltham, MA has at least 3 of them. Providence, RI also has several, if you are in the New England area.