Today makes 6 months exactly since Robert and I met Arouna. We arrived at his orphanage at around 11am on September 9th and held him for the first time. On September 23rd, he arrived on American soil.
It's been a crazy ride as far as first adoptions go. From changing countries we were adopting from, to our adoption agency going bankrupt and taking $8,000 from us, we've definitely experienced our share of bumps and challenges.
Tonight as I sat on the floor with Arouna after giving him his bath, he was very still with his head against my chest. He was looking up into my face and very calmly babbling to me and sucking on his hand. And all I could do was sit there and look into his eyes and feel so much gratitude for my little boy. As I sat there holding him and him slobbering all over the front of my shirt, I couldn't help but feel so proud of him. To feel so humbled that I have been given the opportunity to be his Mom. It still is very surreal.
And then I thought about how privileged I've been to be the Mom of all of my kids. Each so very unique and special in their own way. Each so very different with different talents and gifts. Each of them only on loan to me for a very short time. In spite of me and all my mistakes as a Mom, they have blossomed. They are each still on their own journeys and I get to witness those journeys and be a part of them. Some of the journey isn't fun to watch, but is painful. But it's just part of being a Mom and parent.
I don't take this gift of being a parent and Mom for granted. I have friends that are praying for this and I'm praying for this with them.
I guess this post is just a bit of a reflection for me. Reflecting on the last 6 months with Arouna and the last 23 years with the others. It's all a little surreal still and I feel very blessed.
