Gotcha Day - Day 10

I can't tell you how relieved I am...Thank You Jesus.  Rob said he walked into the Civil Affairs office and Josiah came right to him. Right into his arms. Goodness...I'm so grateful. 

He did pretty well at Civil Affairs and on the ride home. He cried a tiny bit in the van and the elevator but got over it quickly. In the hotel room he was into everything. Exploring the room. Running around. Climbing on things. Throwing his ball. Throwing his car. Rob said there is definitely no signs of high muscle tone in any of his limbs. He looks great. Very healthy. Praise God. He says "Mama" and "Baba". He knew from the pictures that we sent that Rob was his Baba.  When I Skyped with them he pointed to me in his photo book and said "Mama" and then pointed to me on the computer screen...melting my heart already.  The orphanage director told Rob to keep an eye on him because he's been known to get out of his bed at night and leave his room...What? Oh my goodness. He is still in diapers. No signs of potty training yet. He says about a handful of other words none of which we know because it's in Mandarin. He ate very well for dinner and had a blast in the bath tub. He seems really adventurous...that suits his Daddy very much. It was funny to see Rob trying to keep him still to Skype with me. He was all over the place. The last email of the night from Rob said "by the way, your job is hard...very hard! I am doing ok but this is stretching me in a huge way...i like it though. Cant wait for the mohawks and then Shamien Island...Starbucks here we come!!! "
I know that He knows how hard it is to be home with little ones, but he's never done it completely alone like this. And by the way...He's doing an amazing job. I am totally impressed with my husband. It's not that I didn't think he could do it. I just didn't think he would do it this well : )

After bath he started grieving. He ended up on a pallet on the floor and pretty much cried himself to sleep. Rob did great with him though. Overall a good first day together. The grieving breaks your heart, but God's grace is perfect and in a matter of days the grieving will stop and it will be like he's always been with Rob. It's a beautiful thing.

All this time I've hated absolutely hated that I couldn't go. From the moment we booked Rob's tickets its been a frustration for me. I have prayed and prayed for God to give me peace about it and peace didn't come. I knew in my head that it made more sense for me to stay with the girls. I knew they couldn't handle me leaving them for two weeks, but it killed me to think of not being there in those first days with Josiah. I remembered Izzy grieving and holding her in my arms and she wept for hours. Comforting her the best I could as she cried herself to sleep those first nights. It was awful. I remember the frightened look that still sticks in my mind on Mari's face when she realized that she wasn't going back to Hidden Treasures that first night. She held me so tight. I couldn't imagine not being there for Jos. But today something amazing happened to me, God's grace has poured out on my soul as well as Josiah's. I have had complete faith in my husband to handle whatever comes his way.  I know deep down inside that God is with them both. I haven't had peace about this since March when we booked Rob's ticket and today peace came raining down on me. Not only do I have peace finally but there is something special about Rob being there alone and being able to bond first with Josiah. Something that feels appropriate for a father and son. They will come home and Rob will go back to work and Josiah will be with me all day every day. Rob doesn't get to spend as much time with our kiddos as I do. What I've come to realize yet again is that God's plan is perfect even when it doesn't make sense to us. He is sovereign over all things. Clearly this is how it's supposed to be and finally my heart is settled about it.

Now, don't get wrong... I can hardly wait to love on my little guy...my big guy too. I pray these 10 days fly by and maybe I'll get more than 2 hours sleep tonight : )