The first time ever I saw your face...

It is hard to put into words the feelings that go along with meeting your children. It even sounds weird. My first four children started as wrinkly little bundles who needed to be fed and changed and snuggled. That's it. I got to know them as they grew into little people.

But my youngest two children I met....in a hallway. A nanny with very little English saw us coming, led the girls towards us, let go of their hands, smiled and walked away. And there we were. Crouching down in a dark hallway, getting a first look at our girls.

Right here...this is the spot I met my daughters

They were shy, and we were weepy.

We spent the next two weeks getting to know Naldje and Melissa.

Naldje has a great sense of humour, she's full of spark, and opinionated. She is fiercely devoted to Melissa. She sparkles across the room.

Melissa is a little quieter, but don't be fooled, she holds her own.  She is sweet and independent, thoughtful and determined. She sings so sweetly to herself when she is happy.

Their laughs are audible gold. Pure sunshine.

They went from being shy when we met them, to howling when we left for the night. Their eyes lit up if they caught us looking at them. They liked having us there.

And from the moment we got there, I was dreading leaving. With every flutter of my heart, I was reminded that in the blink of an eye we'd be gone. Yes, we'll go back to get them, but I don't know when. At least that's what's supposed to happen, but until they're home, I'm not sure I believe it will really happen. And I have no way of reminding the girls that we'll be back. That eventually they'll be with us forever.

I was unable to fully enjoy the moment, because the moment itself reminded me of what was to come.

And just like that our two weeks was over.  We said good-bye and left. Someone explained to the girls that we'd be going back to Canada, and that soon they could come too. I'm pretty sure they didn't get it.

We're told that if all goes well the girls could be home in six months. Pray, please pray, that all goes well. It would be so good to have them home by the summer.

We are heading down to Haiti for a short mission trip in March, and we hope to visit the girls for four days at the end of that trip.

We'll travel to Haiti again to pick up the girls when they are able to come home. We'll stay in Haiti for a week so they can get reacquainted with us before we take them on the biggest trip of their life.

That's the plan. Stick with the plan people.

When you think of us, and wonder how the adoption is going, will you remember to pray for the girls?
Pray that they'll have hope in their hearts.
Pray that their little spirits will feel loved and cherished.
Pray that their nannies will remind them that they have a family who loves them.
Pray that they'll be healthy and safe.
Pray that they'll come home.