What was Gotcha day like?

...a day of mixed emotions...for both us and the children. We met the children today and signed commitment forms that pledged we would do our very best to care for the children as best we could and give them all the mental, physical, and emotional support they each needed. Making this commitment was easy verbally, but now considering the weight of this can almost be overwhelming and scary...another myriad of emotions.

It seems surreal. Something I’ve waited for, dreamed of…pinch me! Andrew came in and hugged and kissed Ben saying, “Mi Papa, Mi Papa!” Then I got a big hug and kiss with a “Mi Mama, Mi Mama!” Oh, the precious kisses of a child…Tatiana was a bit uncertain of what was going on. Once we went to the market, she began to call us “Mami y Papi;” She likes to take pictures, and she is very “Princess”---! In Florencia, we are having difficulty with computer access as the hotel staff speak no English and we speak poco espaniole. Diego is just as we expected! He is a little Benjamin as both our interpretor and lawyer have nicknamed him.

What is really neat is that earlier today when one of us, Ben or me, would leave the room the children would quickly put on their shoes and try to leave the room and sometimes would to catch the parent! They would say something in Spanish and then emphatically "Mi, Mama" or "Mi, Papa!"

They are very active children. We were told we may be in Florencia until the middle of next week. For the most part we will stay at the hotel. So, please pray for us. There is not much room for the children to run and play. No outside area to run in. Currently, we’ve allowed them to “bounce” some may refer to it as “jump” on the bed; however, we know if we go back to the hotel we stayed at previously in Bogota, that won’t be allowed! But there’s not a lot to do…we got play doh, dvds, they love the photo album, cars, and Tatiana loves her lip gloss. Andrew was very upset when Tatiana’s shoes fit and his did not. Diego is actually in the last stages of potty training…still wears a diaper but gives you the verbal and physical cues…I didn’t catch it earlier at our first lunch together…and well, we had our first “accident.” But now armed with diapers and wipes, we are good to go…and the catch phrases are—“Chi, Chi” or “Tu, Tu”…We’ve also went to the pool, and Andrew loves it…the water is cold here. No hot water or heated pool! He jumped around and dove in…it was fun.
One last happy…or maybe a few more…Andrew is counting in both Spanish and English. He recognizes and recalls family photos. We tried to read a bible devotional and pray with them…and it seemed to fail miserably; Ben said that the only ones listening were me and him…but later we sang the song “Hallelujah…Hallelujah”---ya know the song, that is really repetitive but calming and reassuring …well Andrew was the first to say it…How-day-du-ja and even when we weren’t singing anymore, we heard him saying it…Tatiana also began singing it as well. Diego verbalized something like “How-lay”---so a big Thank you, Jesus! How awesome it is to know that God has entrusted me and Ben with these Jewels. I love them so much and yet to know them…. They are so precious. Hallelujah…!

Well, Ben is passed out and it’s only 9:30!!! He’s snoring; so, I know he’s beat! Continue to pray for our safety and that there are no kinks in the adoption process, that the children continue to bond with us, that the airplane ride home will be smooth, as well….

We love you all…thanks!