First we reunited with all his friends from the orphanage. These ladies worked so hard on behalf of my son when he lived there. Several of them remembered him- it was so sweet to see their joy at seeing him again.
Isaac had to sample the little fruits from the tree out front. It was the only thing that calmed him the day we first met.
And he got to hold the baby who is currently sleeping in 'his crib'. This is where he lived the first several months of his life. And now this baby is here. And my brain just can't hold on to all those emotions- the joy that Isaac found a family, the overwhelming gratitude that we get to be that family, and the grief for this sweet baby who has no family yet. Isaac is beginning to process all that his adoption means and I am thankful he got this time here.
My sister was able to spend time with the little boy she is sponsoring through Holt. He is 5 years old and absolutely full of energy! Just the sweetest! I love how Holt organized that time for them to share. Sponsorship does matter! Isaac had several during his life and I just love that there were families holding his picture and praying for him before I knew him.
And then...off to the foster family's home. Isaac has always referred to her as Me (there's a dot over the e and it means mom in vietnamese). As soon as the van arrived, he threw the door open and ran to her! The Holt worker asked if Isaac remembered her- he just nodded and hugged her tighter. It was the most precious thing ever. The couldn't get enough of each other- he hugged and laughed the entire time. No language was needed- they just wanted to be together.
Then grandmother showed up. She couldn't get enough of squeezing Isaac- she clearly loves him so much, too! He's almost as tall as she is! Between Me and Grandmother, Isaac was being held the entire time. It was so beautiful. Eight years and it was like no time at all had passed.
And then it was time to go. And no one was ready. And we had to go anyway. And how do you just leave? We all cried and Me walked him back to the van and Isaac didn't stop waving until we were out of sight. The last thing we saw was Me wiping her eyes- the same thing we saw as we left 8 years ago. My heart has been broken again for this wonderful family and for my son. So much love and loss and redemption here.
