Preparing to come home...

I think the next few posts are going to be in backwards order.  I give myself permission to do things backwards...because I'm going to China to pick up my son!  (oh my gosh, that phrase is so surreal & perfect at the same time!)

I'm so excited to get Little One in my arms; to find out his qwerks, his smiles, his sleeping noises, how to comfort him when he is scared, to speak God's love over him.  I honestly don't know how to wrap my brain around the 20hour flight back.  And I'm nervous about recovering from jet lag once we are home. When we are HOME...that is when the real journey begins.

Of course, everyone is excited to see this boy!  Many people have enthusiastically asked when they can visit and how they can help. Both very good questions. The answers are: I don't know and I'll keep you posted.  :)  Little One and I will need to be on lock down for several weeks once we are home.  We have a lot of time to make-up in the attachment arena.  We haven't had 9months to grow together and the intimacy of infancy for him to trust me.  Our first weeks will be recovering from jet lag & travel illnesses, learning the basics about each other, tackling language barriers, and finding some sort of ISH to a daily routine.  Couple that with multiple medical appointments, blood draws, shots and 5,000 other firsts...we are basically going to be in survival mode. Until I know that we've both semi-recovered from adoption shock, we may not have any visitors...but that doesn't mean we don't want you to be apart of our lives!  We are just going to need time.  Something we haven't had yet together...

A fellow adoptive family posted two articles on their blog for their friends, family & supporters.  Both are excellent & truthful insights on how 'the team' can support a new family through adoption transition.  I was touched when I read them.  Although, they are not in my words, I would encourage you to reflect on them the same way.  I love Jen Hatmaker's list of how to support a family "after the airport".  (She is a great author and funny lady!). And the Battle article is a fantastic reminder of the continued need for prayer.  As hard as The Wait has been, getting Little One home is going to have been easy compared to what is ahead. I value your continued practical and prayer support.   

How To Be The Village
The Battle for Adoptive Families