Taking a look back!
What a difference 6 years makes. Six years ago today we were waiting in a line with many other people. Standing and waiting for what seemed like hours. My heart was racing and I remember trying not to cry. I was tired and yet energized at the same time..... It was a day that changed our lives forever.
January 29th, 2006 I was sitting in my office trying to finish up for the day when I received a phone call that changed everything. That phone call informed us that someone had forgot to call and they just found out that we had an appointment at the US embassy in Guatemala City Guatemala the morning of Jan. 31st!
I don't think we had time to be in shock... I remember hanging up the phone and walking to Pastor Mike's office and informing him that I would need to be gone for the next week. Then we scrambled to purchase plane tickets and pack. Fifteen hours later we were on our way to Guatemala. We landed in Guatemala City at around 8:30 pm. Being our third trip there, at least we did not feel like we were in a strange place with no idea where to go. After picking up our luggage we were off to meet Israel our hired driver. Israel took us to our hotel and told us that Fifo would meet us in the lobby at 6:30 the next morning. Fifo is the son of our lawyer in Guatemala city, and our liaison for all of our Government appointments.
We were able to get a decent nights sleep, but we anxiously were awaiting the next morning when we would get to hold Karter again. This time was even more anxious because we knew we would not have to leave Karter in Guatemala when we returned home!
6:30 am came quickly and we raced to the lobby to get Karter. When we got to the lobby, we found Fifo, but no Karter. Fifo told us that Veronica, Karter's foster mom, was running late and would meet us at the embassy. We left for the embassy and met up with Veronica. It was a very emotional moment as she handed Karter to us. Veronica had taken care of Karter for the first year of his life and loved him like he was her child. She realized that this meant saying good bye for ever... As much as that broke my heart, I could not hide my excitement to take him out of her arms and to hold this child that in a matter of a few moments would officially be our son.
By 11:30 am, everything was official and Karter was ours! All that remained was a name change when we got home. See, his name at that moment became Abner Josue Vanosdol. We spent the rest of our time in Guatemala loving on our son and beginning to establish the bonds of a forever family! It was a long journey from holding him when he was just three weeks old to waiting another year to get to bring him home, but it was an amazing journey!
Six years later... Karter just celebrated his 7th birthday a couple weeks ago, and I am always amazed to see what he has learned and how he is growing up. Our journey as a family has had its ups and downs like any family does, but I would not trade the journey for anything in the world!
So today we will celebrate Family Day with Karter and remember this journey together. Only this year we get to include his baby sister... Something that Karter had been praying for months before we started her adoption. He is such an awesome son who has a huge heart and an unconditional love for his family.
As I look back, I often wish that some day Veronica could see who Karter has become. You see, without someone like Veronica, I'm not sure Karter would have had a chance, but I believe God put her in the right place to welcome a 3 week old boy into her home not knowing she would be caring for him for an entire year. Her love for him that we saw each of our three trips to Guatemala is what made it easier for us to come home and know he was being well taken care of.
As the journey continues, I can't wait to see what God has in store for our family! But, on this day... I just want to say...
WELCOME HOME KARTER! WE LOVE YOU WITH ALL OUR HEART'S! I AM SO PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS A SON!!!!!! WELCOME TO YOUR FOREVER FAMILY!!!
