The End and the Beginning

Today we experienced both ends of Mila's life in her home country...

The End: Mila's visa was approved to enter the USA, her new country, which means our adoption and all the paperwork that it entails is DONE. The USA agreed to let me bring a a child in. Then we asked Albania if I could bring a child out. Then I had to ask Albania for Mila and tell the USA that Albania said yes. Then the USA said I could bring Mila in IF the Albanian courts gave their approval (we all know how that went). Last week the Albanian courts said yes, so we got her new Albanian birth certificate with my name on it and her Albanian passport. This week we presented those two items to the US Embassy to prove that Albania said yes now would the USA allow me to bring this newly adopted child into the USA to become a citizen...today they said yes and approved her Visa to enter the borders of the land that I love. It is finished.  

The Beginning:  Mila spent the first two years of her life within the walls of the abandoned babies unit of the maternity hospital in Tirane. This was a very unusual occurrence as most babies only spend weeks to months in the care of the 8 bed unit until permanent placement with a family or orphanage can be found. Complicating factors left Mila in limbo for 24 months with no where to be nurtured except the baby unit. Today we returned to where Mila's life started and celebrated with the women who cared for and loved her for 24 months.  We fellowshipped together and they shared stories of Mila's early life--her infant personality, favorite toys and her first steps.  It was good for me to get more pieces of Mila's puzzle, but I think particularly special for these women to see the fruit of their laboring hearts. Their love and care saved a life.

Her crib for two years:

The woman who named Kamila. She poured her heart into my girl, even coming to the baby orphanage and institution in Shkodra on her days off to visit her. 

The two women who gave my girl her name: Kamila Naomi. 

Bonus feature:  Mila was introduced to her first piece of personal technology. She got to play some English learning games this morning with her brother (HUGE moment of sibling bonding) and listen to Albanian worship music this evening with Gramma. 

We are wrapping up our time here in Albania: Friday we will visit a traditional village and Saturday visit with our Albanian friends...then we are on a plane HOME. 

US Embassy, etc

Today was a good day--there were some new experiences, some testing of boundaries, and lots of giggles & hugs.

We started the day with a long walk around Tirane. Mila had her camera ready for EVERY photo opportunity (over 500 on her camera as of last count!). This little camera has been a good transitional tool for her--she has control over something in a world that is totally upside down for her. I'm actually excited to print many of her photos out for her so she has a living record of the start of her new life from HER perspective.   

We know exactly 17 people in Albania and we just happened to bump into the one Albanian adoptive family we "know". This lovely woman and her husband opened their home & hearts to one of our favorite little dudes at the baby orphanage. I am so very happy to see him in a loving family in his native country and his momma is particularly proud of her new son. <3 

We wandered around Tirane and introduced Mila to some of the cultural landmarks of her country:

Isaac snuck in a ride on a merry-go-round! Whoah horsey!

A picture of Mila taking a picture of me taking a picture of her :)

 Annie made sure to climb the Skendenbeg statue again!

We had our formal interview with the US Consulate this afternoon to approve Mila's entry into the US. It was surprisingly quick without any issues whatsoever (the first time in any step of this process!).  For 12 months I have been keeping meticulous track of every scrap of adoption paperwork and expertly organized it into an expanding folder with color coding and alphabetization--I can't tell you how prepared I was to show this work of organization art off. But they didn't even ask for it! Like, not one solitary piece of paper. I was crushed!  "Ok Miss, you are good to go. Your daughter's Visa will be ready by Friday."  But, but...what about my folder??  Nothing.  *sad face*

Mila has had a series of very lovely Sisters who have known and loved her well. The current Mother Superior over Albania was working at the baby orphanage when Mila arrived, and then was at the institution in Shkodra when Mila lived there.  Mother Superior called this morning asking for a final visit with the girl she has helped raise. Mila was so excited to see her old friend and they chatted easily about Mila's new life ahead of her. I am again so very thankful for these women who serve the Lord by serving His most vulnerable, including my daughter. 

We ended the evening with a trip to a local park with our missionary friends. Isaac loved the running and jumping and outsided-ness of it all...Mila, not so much.  Astroturf, rope ladders and see-saws are overwhelming when you've never seen them before!  I keep telling her how brave she is. So many new things are being presented to her and she is processing it all to the absolute best of her ability. 

Mila got a hold of my phone and got a good one of our missionary friends <3 

It's hard to believe but we are half way done with our trip already! Our schedule is keeping pretty busy which is good to keep Mila distracted, but now I can tell both my children "four more days and we are going on an airplane"
Mila's response: eyes gazing off into the distance with a somewhat giddy sigh "Avion..."
Isaac's response: "YEAHHHH. Airplane!"

My goofballs.

The First 24 Hours

We've made it through our first full day together. The emotional pendulum is all over the place, but we expected that. Grief is an unpredictable force and I've prepared my heart (and Isaac's as much as possible) for the path ahead of us in the coming days, weeks and even years. Adoption is wonderful Gotchya Day pictures and beautiful redemption stories...but it is coated with loss, pain, grief and tears. Mila is old enough to enjoy the beauty of having a new mommy and family, but she is also aware of the separation from those who have loved her so very well. Her tears were deep and real as we left her favorite Sisters, but she let me comfort her which is a huge.  We were able to distract her through a big dinner with friends, but the tears returned as the reality of now living with her new family came to be. There are times when nothing can be done except walking along side a loved one as they grieve...

The morning welcomed it's own trauma during her blood draw and immunization appointment. For two hours she fought but she snuggled into me when it was done. Mommy is here. It's all done. Mommy is here. If she (and the people at the clinic) only knew how brave she really is.  So much as been asked of her and she never gave permission to this painful journey she is now on. 

The afternoon was redeemed with a new play dough set she picked out herself and shared with her brother. Quiet playing became creative then music was added, then the smiles started showing again. The evening was ended with a fit of giggles as she looked at photos from her new camera--hers alone to document anything she wants, all by herself. (She has a pretty good eye!!)

We'll walk slowly on this path of grief, aware that any rock, crevice and turn will become it's own battle, but we walk confidently in God's grace that is given for today. We'll claim every victory no matter how small and point back to the Lord of All that has offered Himself whole to walk this road with us. 

Orphan No More

Introducing Kamila Naomi White...our sweet flower of hope. No longer an orphan, ward of the state, or resident of an institution. Mila is forever a child of the King, the daughter of my heart, sister, granddaughter and friend. She is forever KNOWN.

I asked to be dropped off at the apartment we lived in for 60 days and to walk that Holy path to the orphanage one last time.  We picked up our friends along the way so very thankful to have our Albanian brothers & sisters walking along side us.  Seems Mila was not waiting ONE.MORE.MINUTE and literally RAN the last 50 yards into my arms!

Kamila Naomi...YOU. ARE. LOVED. FOREVER <3

365 Days Later

It's been 365 days since I said yes to Albania...more accurately "GO for Albania" according to my 2017 calendar!  

There was no way to anticipate the journey that we would be on up to this point! This is when I am glad the Lord holds things back from us from time to time. When you don't know where you are going, you can't get anxious about the ride...just trust the driver. 

The original Albanian Team is together again and boards the plane bright and early tomorrow morning. Thankfully, all this crazy flying back & forth gave us enough airline miles to have our favorite Annie join us again.  I felt strongly that we all started this journey together and we should end it together. We left Albania last time in such a hurry full of confusion & hurt. I'm excited we can redeem our time there this time and fill our 'leaving Albania' memory tank with joy and longing for the people we love there...and with a new daughter & friend in our midst as well. <3 

Specific prayer requests:

*Travel mercies. We have a LONG day of travel on Saturday, including layovers in Chicago and Vienna. We'll need to be somewhat refreshed and have all our luggage with us when we arrive in Albania on Sunday afternoon as rumor is we will be again going straight to the orphanage to pick our girl up. 

*Miraculous bonding of our sweet girl to us as her new family. She has the benefit of knowing us and of a few Skype calls over the last 90 days, but we are also the family that comes and leaves. :(  We need now to convince her heart that this family stays together FOREVER.  

*Peace over my girl's heart as she separates from all that she has ever known, including some lovely women who have cared for her for the length of her life. She has already left her Nana & three lifelong roommates in Shkodra and has been brought down to the baby orphanage in Elbasan to await our arrival. The Sisters there also know and love my girl. Please pray over all of their hearts as they grieve.  We are making arrangements so regular contact can be maintained, which I am excited about.  

*Continued knitting of Isaac and his sister together. Isaac is about to graduate from only child to sibling and my girl is moving from an institution of 57 residents bustling with Sisters, caregivers and visitors to a home of three. They both will have big adjustments to make and I'll need wisdom to walk them both through it. 

*Miraculous understanding of communication. My girly has been getting English tutoring and I'm still trudging through Albanian learning but the language barrier reality is about to hit our home HARD. It's been my prayer that the Holy Spirit would open all of our hearts & minds to understand each other as we wait for the right words to come. At this point we have no way even judge her level of need for speech therapy so we'll be winging it big time. 

*Continued building of relationships in Albania. We'll be able to spend time with our dear Albanian friends, another American adoptive family currently in country, the Sisters at the orphanage, as well as the nurses at the maternity hospital that cared for my girly way back when. I'm sure there will be others as we remain open to any opportunity the Lord has for us, even on this short trip. 

*Mercy on our flight HOME.  This will be my girly's first airplane ride...you know, a good starter flight--around the EARTH. We've arranged an overnight layover in Germany then a polar flight direct to Seattle to make life as easy as possible, but there are a lot of unknowns. Isaac is a stellar traveler. I'm praying that she can find flying as enjoyable as he does. 

*Transitioning HOME. Life starts anew with jet lag and medical appointments straight out of the gate. I know it will be hard; grief, frustration, anger, pain for all of us is expected. I'm praying for the Holy Spirit to be actively present in all of our interactions as we adjust to our new normal. Even joy to overflow from our growing family.

*Favor with work.  My split leave has been approved...kind of. I was anticipating part of this next leave to be unpaid, but now I'm being told that insurance benefits will be held back as well while I"m home navigating the world with a child with medical needs. I don't even have the breathe to fight this one so my hands up are in the air; God is just going to have to provide for us through it all. 

*For God to be glorified THROUGH IT ALL. This has been my prayer from the beginning. No matter what happens, who we met or what we did that the absolute truth of who God is would radiate from our family story. The trials of the last 5 months have given ample opportunity, but we continue to pray that HIS WILL would be done and HIS LOVE to shine, not ours. 

Thank you again for all your lovely physical, financial and prayer support. We literally could not have done this without you!  For those in the Seattle area, please feel free to join us at the airport on Monday 10/29 about 2pm for our American grand reveal as a family of three <3 

Soaking in Fall

We are on the plane to the other side of the world in less than a week, and honestly I have no idea what life is going to look like for us when we return with our newest family member: jetlag, transition, medical appointments, school testing, navigating language & cultural barriers, and walking into the holidays in the midst of it all. Isaac and I are soaking in every ounce of Fall that we can before we hunker down for our new normal. 

Boo!

Happy Fall from this crazy kid of mine <3