Today was a special day...my girly's first communion. Special for her spiritual heart, yes, but also for her emotional heart---her MOMMY and family were there to see it, to take pictures, to take pride, to give flowers. A face of her own to find in the crowd. Two very big firsts in my daughter's life.
(This photo is getting framed! hahaha. Our first family photo--one child refusing to look at the camera, the other trying to get his shoe off. This is about to be my life for a very long time!)
After a quick "bonding" visit at the orphanage in the morning, we all piled into the Sisters of Charity van and drove 30 min to the capital where our American tribe was dropped off at the Bethany Christian Services campus. Ever ridden in the back of a van driven through Albania by a sassy Polish Sister?! I've now crossed that experience off my bucket list! (Annie LOVED it!)
Our missionary friends drove us the remaining 2.5 hours Northwest to the upper border of Albania where my Sweet Girl has lived for the last 7 years. The city is simply lovely--I hope we get to spend some more time up there.
My girly was primped and preened by the very excited sisters at the orphanage and she was presented as a glowing princess. Excited is an understatement--both for her and the sisters. I found myself beaming--she has worked hard for this; she understands why Christ died for her and that only He can take away our sins. The Sisters have introduced her to her Savior, it's now my job to help her form her own relationship with Him. <3
My girly was primped and preened by the very excited sisters at the orphanage and she was presented as a glowing princess. Excited is an understatement--both for her and the sisters. I found myself beaming--she has worked hard for this; she understands why Christ died for her and that only He can take away our sins. The Sisters have introduced her to her Savior, it's now my job to help her form her own relationship with Him. <3
This sweet woman is who I had hoped to meet. She has raised my girly in the orphanage for the last 7 years and has been the women who hugged her when she was hurt and pulled her into her own bed when she was ill. As we embraced we both were in tears. "I have been praying for you and we will always be family now because of Jesus", she said. All I could manage to say was "when we all get to heaven our girl will have THREE mothers." The family tree of Christ is going to be ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL mess of knots, twists and turns, just as it should be.
It was a beautiful day and I was proud to be a part of her special day. Isaac did AWESOME sitting through the 90min event but accidentally declared the altar looked like the Cave of Wonders from Aladdin (in all honesty, it kinda did). He also didn't understand why there wasn't any popcorn--I still need to tease that misconception out. But he was proud too pointing her out in the crowd "Sister! Sister!"
A family that loves Jesus. That is what we are.
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