We finally have received Travel Approval to go get Hugh from China. Our "Gotcha Day" will most likely be Monday, August 24th. This has to be one of the fastest adoptions I know of. We decided around January 20th that we were going to adopt Hugh. Our social worker had our home study completed in 10 days! Our adoption agency initially had us going in November to pick Hugh up! I am so grateful that everything has gone so smoothly that we can go 3 months early!
The feelings I have going to get Hugh are different than the feelings that I had going to get Bei and Kai. Previously, I went to China scared, terrified of the unknown. Feeling like God was going to release his wrath on me through a child that we couldn't manage or connect with. When we adopted Bei, I was going to be a parent for the first time, there were so many unknowns of just parenting a child. With Kai, his entire medical history and all his needs were a huge mystery. I felt like I spent the first two years just keeping Kai Kai Sweetie Pie alive. For Hugh's adoption I feel more confident and secure in my parenting. I know the struggles that we may face will be something that we can overcome as a family. I have reached out to professional therapist when Bei struggled with separation anxiety and I will do the same again, if needed. I know the rewards we will gain by adding another one to our family. But most importantly, I know that God and I are in this adoption together. That this is not some devious plan to get back at me for my sinful life, but instead I am following his word and his lead. I am actually excited for this adoption. Especially, when I read what his host mother, Dava wrote about him. The words that she uses to describe him are "he is a pure joy and a blessing". Dava's niece wrote this about Hugh "He has been such a joy the short time that he has been here. His parents are going to be some lucky folks to have such an angel. And this boy is smart too! He is more familiar with the alphabet than my 5 year old!" The adoption agency posted that he often tells the orphanage staff that his "mommy and daddy are coming to get him". How could I not be excited to wrap my arms around this sweet little one and begin our life together.
