Feels Like a Family

Since that first night at the airport, Andris has become a different child. Monday was one of the most difficult days I could ever imagine. Andris didn't understand much of anything I was trying to say to him and didn't seem to be making much of an effort to try. He didn't eat much and didn't want to do much of anything with the family. I was so emotionally exhausted when Frank got home from work. I really wanted to make Andris feel loved, and I didn't want to fail the whole purpose of him coming here.

Frank got home and started to get the Christmas tree out to put up. Andris had written in his bio that he would like to help decorate a Christmas tree, so we waited until he got here to put ours up. Slowly, as we arranged branches, Andris began to help. He started to smile a little bit and helped Lily hang her ornaments. Frank and I just sat back and watched as the kids began to interact with each other and complete the tree decorating.

Before bed, Frank brought out the Lego Toy Shop for the boys to start building. Andris happily joined in and we watched as Lego bricks broke the language barrier.

Tuesday morning came and it was time to take Andris to the dentist. We used google translate to explain what was going to happen as best we could. I was so nervous that he would have cavities and he would be in pain and it would hinder his ability to trust us. I prayed the entire way to the dentist that the Lord would heal every hole in his teeth and make his dental visit easy and comfortable. Amazingly, he had NO cavities. I think I was more proud to hear that than even if he had been my own son! While I was waiting with him in the exam room, he started to communicate with me just a little bit. On the way home, we dropped Frank off at work. Frank hugged each of the kids, including Andris, before he left the van. Andris' smile was beautiful!

At home, we had lunch and then went outside to play. Andris mentioned that he would like to play futbol. We searched for our soccer ball but couldn't find one so we loaded up in the van to go to WalMart. Andris didn't want to leave the store right away, but he was clearly overwhelmed by how much stuff was in the store. When we passed the shoe department, I helped him pick out a pair of shoes. He was so excited and grateful! When we got back to the van he told me thank you. From that moment on, he was a different child! He tried to talk with me, he played with the kids, and he had a constant smile on his face. We spent the rest of the afternoon outside playing soccer and playing on the playground.

After dinner, I used google translate to tell him that all of the kids were going to shower and get ready for bed. Then we would build some more of the Toy Shop. He took the computer and began to type. "Or I could show you things on the computer websites" was the translation. I figured this was just a ploy to get out of taking a shower, and in training they had told us not to let the kids on their "MySpace" equivalent websites. I couldn't tell him no though, he had finally started to open up and "talk" (type) to me. I handed over the computer and he went directly to this MySpace site. I didn't know what he wanted to do, but then he went to his picture gallery. He showed my pictures of his mom, dad, brother, and sisters. He told me all about where the all were and that his mom had died when he was 2 years old. What a heartbreaking story, and what a breakthrough! We sat close together for the next 2 hours as he showed us pictures of his teachers, friends, school, and his grades.

This has been such an amazing day! I can't wait to see how Andris fits in with our family. After only 2 days I can't imagine him ever not being here. The day he leaves is going to be the single most difficult day of my life.

Andris is here!

Wow! Where to even begin? We have spent the entire last week in a whirlwind. Thursday night was the WIC banquet and I was in charge of decorations, Friday night was Franklin's birthday party, Saturday was the girls' first dance recital, and finally Sunday was the day to pick up Andris at the airport!!!

Sunday evening came, and we loaded up the van with coats, snacks, and a welcome sign. We headed to the airport where we would wait for 2 hours for the flight to land. We talked with many other families who were also hosting children and had a good time despite the wait.

Finally we got word that the plane had landed! In that moment, I think I experienced every emotion possible. I teared up just thinking about how the time had finally come to meet Andris. I was scared and excited all at once! We made our way to the bottom of the escalators and saw the group of kids in red shirts stepping off of the steps. At first, I didn't see Andris and Frank ran off to chase a run-away Julia. Then, there he was. He was a lot shorter than we had expected and was wearing a hood that he was practically hiding in. He looked very scared. I gathered our family around and we welcomed him with hugs. At that moment I had no idea how we were going to make this quiet child a part of our family.

Final days before Andris

I am almost in tears typing this! We are $150 away from reaching our goal! I knew we would get there, I had a peace that God would provide - still, seeing it actually happen is amazing!

With one week before our deadline, we still owed $990 to make Andry's trip possible. It seemed like such a daunting amount to raise in only one week. The day before our deadline we still had not received any extra donations, our balance of $990 was still staring us in the face. I called the office for a final total to write a check ourselves. I had no idea where we would come up with the money, but knew that God would work it out somehow. I then left to take the kids out for a milkshake. We had been cooped up in the house for quite a while and I knew that they were feeling some tension from me, therefore causing them to be antsy. During our drive, I received calls/texts from several people saying that they had just donated. We went grocery shopping, and while I was in the store the New Horizon's office called to tell me that we had so many donations come in at the last minute, they had worked it out so that they could extend our deadline to December 4th to allow time for more donations to be made! When I checked our account that evening, $550 had been donated since we left the house!!! Since that time, we have received over $200 more! God's ways are mysterious, I know He could have helped us raise all of the money a month ago, but He didn't choose to. I guess we just needed an amazing lesson in trust and faith.