Today was the coolest day I think I can remember.
The three little munchkins and I drove to Tulsa to pick up Jamie Jo and little Gabby.
We started the day like any other. You know...CRAZY!!!! Getting three kiddos up and moving in the morning is not an easy task. Much like herding cats, a friend of mine told me. Anyway, we finally all got in the car and started the 4 hour journey to Tulsa.
We've been just us for the last three weeks while mom has been in Africa navigating this whole adoption deal, and a lot of fun times rolled around in this dense brain of mine. Football on Sunday, 2 on 2. Late night video games. The last football game. And who can ignore the gymnastic championships. All I probably would have missed because let's just be honest...I work way to hard...way to fast...and don't take time to savor those moments. But not any more. I love my kids more than ever...right now!
So we're driving down the highway, me traveling through memory lane, the kids watching their favorite star wars movies, by the way, Dax can quote pretty much any old star wars film now. He's 2.
We went to pick up Gabby's grandma, and then headed straight to the terminal. We thought we were going to have a little time to get flowers and balloons, but as soon as we walked down the hallway, there they were...Mom and daughter. Gabby was home.
The kids bum rushed her. Jamie cried for the three she missed so terribly while she was gone, and my eye was on little Gabby. She's the neatest little kid. She smiles, she laughs, she shakes her head back and forth, and when Jamie talks, she turns her head to see where in the room mom is.
So tonight I kept my kid vigil so Jamie Jo could relax, and I couldn't help but just keep staring at this new little girl. She's AWESOME!! She's the neatest little kid. And as I was walking down the hallway tonight, rocking her to sleep, I began to wander and ponder my own journey...
"Jesus, this is what it must have been like. Waiting patiently. Longing to bring me home.
This must be exactly how you felt as you continued to pursue me.
I certainly didn't deserve it.
In fact, I didn't even do anything for it.
I too was an orphan in a strange land.
Born in a country that sometimes dignifies your name, to a family who loves you, but I had no control over that.
Yet, you pursued me.
You wanted me.
You longed for me.
You carried me down the hallway of life, and looked at me in the eyes to my very soul, and declared..."I'm your Dad now...and I'll never, never, never leave you."
That's what I told Gabby tonight, "I'm your Dad now...and I'll never never never leave you. Finally You're home." And so the journey begins fresh and new today. The most dignified way I think anyone can express the way God loves us. James 1:27 in full effect. Loving widows and orphans.
May we all follow God where He desires us to go. May we all get to experience the realness of being adopted by a heavenly Father. May the global orphan crisis hear one less scream for aloneness tonight, because Gabby's home.