One week HOME

 
 Just one week ago our family was separated by country borders and across an ocean


 My husband and 6 girls sat anxiously waiting at the airport
 
 
 for our arrival
 

surrounded by family and friends they waited and waited

 for the long anticipated arrival of baby Noah

With signs made with love and open arms....

lots of open arms
 
They waited .....people who have loved him before they met him
 

people who have prayed and sacrificed and served on his behalf
 

people who believed

he was worth it

All waiting at the finish line 

Ready to change a little boys world forever 


Finally the moment we had all been praying for arrived

 

 

Noah was HOME

 

 

 

Walking around that corner and seeing my family and friends and knowing we were home is a feeling I will never forget

 It felt like what I imagine heaven feels like

An abundance of love

A feeling of belonging 

 a sense of knowing who you are and where you are supposed to be

 I felt as though I could barely stand up I was so overcome with emotion

 An overwhelming feeling of relief to see my whole world together in one little circle

 Almost 5 years ago Mia was in Noah's shoes....she was coming home 

 Watching Mia on the welcoming end of this journey was extra emotional

 With tears in my eyes, I watched as she softly welcomed him home,  Knowing she spent 4 1/2 years, 4 times as long as Noah, in the same circumstances as we just brought him out of

 it's a connection that doesn't need words

 these two will always share a special bond in knowing what it feels like to be lost

 and also what it feels like to be found

 The tears on Kyra's face as she welcomed him home spoke volumes

 Little does Noah know how long ago Kyra was hoping and praying him here

 we laughed when she told us years ago that she wanted us to adopt a little brother with down syndrome

 and here he is now

 safe in the arms of his oldest sister

 When I got the chance to really hug Kris, I didn't want to let go. 

I have never felt so safe and so grateful to be in that moment.....home 

I could finally let the weight of the world,
 

the weight of this little boy's world,
 
be lifted from my shoulders
 
we had done it

 

we had brought him home

 

As we woke Noah from his sleep getting off the plane, he had no idea what was waiting for him outside that terminal

 
 His entire world was waiting through those gates



His entire world was about to change
 
 

One week ago, Noah landed in America
 

 The moment he walked through the customs terminal, he became a citizen of the United States,

And so much more 

 He also became a loved son,

 
 

  He became a grandson

  He became a brother

 



 

 
 
 
 

 
 




  He became a nephew


  He became a neighbor

 
 

He became a friend  


He became a cousin

He came HOME

And as we drove up to our home and saw the trees lining the street covered in yellow ribbons,
 
the banners and balloons surrounding our home
 
and the pictures of our journey
 
 and our boy
 

Spread all throughout the house 
 

it was the perfect welcome
 
for this perfect little boy

Of all the amazing pictures that captured this day so well, my favorite moment was this one


Tucking this little boy safely into his very own bed, in his very own home, with his very own family



And every night for the past week, I tuck him safely into bed and my heart is full

it brings a whole new meaning to the term safe and sound

No longer alone


No longer staring at a ceiling

no longer ignored

no longer afraid

no longer unwanted

All the sleepless nights of worry

(This blanket was Kris's when he was a baby) 

All the stress of paperwork

All the questions and what if's?

All the hours of preparation 

All the travel

All the fundraising

All the days away from loved ones

All the unsure moments and tears

All of it was worth it
 

  Because He is totally worth it

 
He is HOME
 

and He is

OH SO VERY LOVED!!!