A Tearful Good-Bye!

 

Our last picture taken together.

On Wednesday of this week we drove up to Atlanta, Georgia so that we could have the girls at the airport first thing on Thursday morning.  29 children were heading back to Ukraine after a fun-filled and memory-making summer.  Families from all over the US were having to say good-bye to the children that had been a part of their families for 5 weeks.  To say that it was an emotionally charged atmosphere seems to minimize the event.  

It is very hard to put words to the feelings you get when you watch a 6 year old cling tightly to his passport as he listens to instructions that he must follow as he goes through security.  

And you realize that he essentially is alone in this world.  

No mom or dad to comfort him, to give him a snack, to help him through the 18 hours of travel that lie before him.  No lap that he can lay his head on when he needs to take a nap and no one that can answer the many questions he might have about when they will finally be back at what is considered home.

Saying good-bye to the girls was difficult.  It seemed so final.  Yes we are proceeding with an adoption and yes they have said that they want to be adopted by us.  But there are so many miles and so many uncertainties between us that it is a challenge to stay positive.  

Tears were shed, many hugs were given and re-given, then finally we watched them leave and waved good-bye til we could not see them any longer.  Then we drove a very long 7 hours home.

I apologize if I sound down.  I have much to be grateful for.  Our summer was like no other and will surely be one that we will never forget.  Transitioning back to "normal" life here at the Wells' home may just take some time.