Two years ago today, Birkely and I officially began our life together.
I had met her on an earlier visit, but this was the day we walked out of the gates of the orphanage together. That first day was fun and, as is the inherent situation of adoption, bittersweet.
Dedra and I had landed that morning after an overnight in Dubai. Emebet and Tenaye met us at the guesthouse to do paperwork and head over to the orphanage. It was so different than the Gotcha trip for Brynly. I was meeting up with friends and that made it so much eaiser and less wierd.
We arrived and Birkely was happy but sad...so much to deal with for a little girl. We said quick goodbyes as we would be back for a Goodbye Ceremony later in the week. We headed to lunch, meeting up with some other friends.
Eventually, we made it back to the guesthouse, which involved Birkely's first experience on an elevator. I wish I had taken video of that. Birke and I laugh about it now.
The next few days were spent running around Addis. We visited Miskaye, spent time with friends, shopped, visited the National Museum...I really wanted her to have some experiences in her own capital city. She had never seen much more of it than the orphanage prior to our trip.
It is funny looking back, how some parts of the personality I have come to know so well were clear even then. Even then she had an interest in electronics. She would stare at the tv then as much as now. She desperately wanted to get her hands on the computer. The only toy I brought that she really had any interest in was a little Barbie laptop thing.
It was a little strange with all the new experiences and the language issue. But it was our beginning and it was a precious time.
Happy Gotcha Day to my sweet, smart, Sporty Spice!
2 comments:
In the two years we have gotten to know Sporty Spice, she has blossomed into such an active, beautiful young lady. Her intelligence and her determination is amazing. So glad to be a part of watching her grow!
A mother of an adopted child responded to them when they said I'm not really yours because you didn't give birth to me. There isn't any way you can love me as much as your own child. I love you even more because out of all the children in the world I could pick any I wanted but I chose you so don't you see I love you as much and even more than if you were my birth child because I picked you to be mine because I knew how special you were.
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