From Jill, September 29th...

"Most Blog-worthy"

Yesterday, something happened that was so profound that Carl and I both said this was one of the most "blog-worthy" things of this adoption journey. We were sitting in a public room in the hotel. The television was on, and a movie with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson was playing. There was a scene where they were talking very close, no smooching but you could tell there was some chemistry between them. When the scene was over, Collins turned to me with a serious look on her face and started asking me something. I could tell it was something big because of the look on her face and because it was several sentences put together. In our 2 weeks with her, we communicate through hugs and playing, by pointing and charades and a few key phrases like "Need bathroom?" and "I love you." But anything she says to us has been just simple things of what she needs or wants. When this happened I grabbed Carl because I knew something important was happening. A lady walked in that worked at the hotel, so we asked her to translate for us. She told us that Collins was asking, "Does Mommy love Datty (she uses t's) and does Datty love Mommy?" Uhmmmm. This from an orphan who has most likely not had a marriage modeled in front of her. She knows a life of 130 kids with female caregivers. How did she know this is the way it is meant to be? The One who thought up the idea of marriage and family put it in her heart. It gives her security. How amazing that this was the first message we got from her. She needs this from us. It's unfortunate that she has been with us for 2 weeks and she couldn't tell it just by our actions, that she had to wonder and ask. She has been our total focus, and in doing that maybe we were neglecting something she needed to see. Her question was a great reminder to this marriage that children aren't to be the center of the family. They're going to leave one day, and then comes enjoyment of the harvest years of a marriage after all those years of planting. Ours will be when Carl will be in his 70's but that's okay! Carl and I were blown away when this lady translated for us, and Carl said, "Tell her Mommy and Daddy love each other, and we love her and will never leave her." She did, and Collins gave us a huge grin. Then Carl gave ME a big kiss!