Happy Homecoming (Part 2)

(continued...)

We ended our 2nd Homecoming Day with jammies on, gathered around the computer to watch the dozens (maybe even hundreds!) of videos and pictures from our final days in Russia (June and July of 2008): Visiting the kids in their "Russia Houses." Our morning in court. The tulips that were in bloom everywhere. Yelena, Sergey, Marina, and the many people in Russia who led us step by step through the process. Eating a steady diet of Pringles and M&M's. A parade. Dancers in the town square. Fireworks. The red and black lacquered furniture. The rows and rows of little beds lined up in the orphanage. Gotcha Day. Walking out of the orphanages for the last time. The faces of the little friends our children left behind. The women who care for those precious babies. Living in hotels. Elevator rides. Washing clothes in the sink. Pushing that ridiculous stroller all over Krasnoyarsk and Moscow. Playing in the fountain. Reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear again and again and again. Red Square. Blogging in the business center. The kids only speaking Russian. Airports. Surviving those long flights.

Lexi. Still just a baby really. Hair framing her sweet little face. Stuffy nose. Soaking up every outdoor moment she can. Rolling in the grass. Splashing in the fountain. Smiles. Giggles. Fitting so perfectly in my arms. Snuggled against my chest. Thumb in her mouth.

Lexi. My sweet silly baby.

Natalie. So protective of her little sister. So protective of her own fragile heart. Eyes that seem to suspect more than her three year old soul should know. She keeps her armor on for a while. But when we load the van to leave the orphanage for good she scoots close to me and says, "Ya tibya loobloo, Mama." Yes, my precious daughter. I love you too.

Natalie. My strong, brave, lovely daughter.

Justin. Jumping into Papa's arms. Anxious to show us all he can do. Such a smart boy. Taking my face in his little hands and kissing me on the cheek. Claiming us as his own from day one. Frustration with the language barrier. So proud to be a big brother.

The son I never imagined I'd have.

Justin. My capable, tender-hearted son.

***Insert big sigh here***

Ahh, how far we've come.

How much we've all learned about love... about trust... about grace.

I loved celebrating Homecoming Day with my family.

Celebrating with Scott. My husband and very best friend. Whom I truly love more with each passing day. Truly. So fun to bungle our way through parenthood together!

Celebrating with our children. Who fill me... no... who, overwhelm me, with depths of emotions I never knew existed.

And yet, and yet... as good as it is to celebrate being home... My heart has a place of longing for my eternal home. Sweet heavenly home with Jesus. Ah, now that will be a homecoming :)

But we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth. A home of righteousness. All of this is in keeping with God's promise.

Dear friends, I know you are looking forward to that. So try your best to be found pure and without blame. Be at peace with God. Remember that while our Lord is waiting patiently to return, people are being saved. (2 Peter 3:13,14)

We read the book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, again and again when we were in Russia.  The kids loved it!  Within a couple days, Natalie and Justin were reciting it.  Their first bits of English.   

This video was shot in the bathroom of our hotel room in Moscow.  The bathroom doubled as a playroom, family room, library, laundry room.... (But, you'll see that Lexi is actually using it for it's intended purpose!)