Our last orphanage visit

(This was supposed to be yesterday's post but I didn't finish in time)

Three weeks ago today was our last day to be just Ivy's visitors. It was a cold windy day so we had our last 2 visits indoors. There was excitement in the air as we were so close to walking out those gates with our girl.

She was in such a happy playful mood. It was almost like she knew something really big and exciting was going to happen. I believe it was all our prayers that God would instill in her the sense that we were her mommy and daddy and she belonged with us.

Our facilitator was there and she was able to translate some very nice things that one of the head nannies had said. She told us how all the nannies, director, and dr. could not believe the change within Ivy during the time we had been visiting. They said they did not recognize her as the same child, she was learning a lot and her legs had become much stronger. This was very encouraging to hear as sometimes it feels like you hit a brick wall with bonding when your visits day in and day out are confined to such small areas doing the same things over and over.

It was really a surreal feeling. Everything we did we commented on how this was going to be the last time we would do it. It would be the last time going up those stairs. The last time knocking on the head nannies door letting her know we were there. The last time Ivy would be brought out by a nanny and come to me very excitedly. The last time we would play in that room with those toys. The last time we would sit on the couch covered in a bright orange fleece blanket.

She had no idea that after one more sleep, her life was going to change forever.

Outside those four walls she had a family all her own just waiting to love her up one side and down the other.

I think she was ready....

for life to begin.