Home Sweet Home

Well, we made it!  Over this past year there were many times when I feared that this day might never come.  It is still surreal having her here with us in the room that has been waiting for her for so long.  Here is the recap of our last day in Kazakhstan and our journey home.

Last day in Kaz:
We were so blessed in Almaty by miracle after miracle!  First of all, our housing situation.  We were trying to avoid using our agency's coordinator because she was too expensive.  James was more than familiar with the documentation and we didn't feel that we needed her for that.  Our friends, the Issac family, knew a women in Almaty who runs a bed and breakfast and they also knew a driver who would drive us!  Dorothy was the name of the women we stayed with and she was wonderful!  Her house was clean and safe and we enjoyed her company. Our driver was fantastic and very helpful as well.  The Lord provided for us big time with these connections.
We weren't looking forward to having two "do nothing" days in Almaty but there was nothing we could do considering the Embassy is closed on Wednesday.  On Tuesday night we got an email from the Embassy saying that they would make an exception and would conduct our exit interview on Wednesday.  Great, but we still needed to be sure there was space for us on the Thursday morning plane.  Once again, thank you Lord for seats on the early flight home and for the Embassy allowing us to check out on their day off.
      

    Ava's last stroll in Kazakhstan

Flight Home:
To say that Ava was perfect on the flights home is an understatement!  She was better than perfect!  She slept for about half of both our short and long flight home.  When she was awake, she kept herself entertained with coloring, stickers, and cuddles from Mom and Dad!  On the 11 hour flight she walked up and down the isles a few times and gave everyone a good smile and giggle.  She walked around with her big grin and had to check out what everyone was doing.  She was a popular little girl.  We got such comments as, "You have the most calm, well behaved child" and, "She is such a beautiful, happy girl",  It felt good to show her off to the world and to see others recognize her as the wonderful child that she is.

 Do you like how we improvised with Ava's head band to help her earphones stay on?

Arriving:
We were greeted by my wonderful Mom and Dad at the airport!  I have never been happier to see their faces!  We were so excited to introduce Ava to her Mimi and Papa and for them to finally meet their first grandchild.  It is clear already that Ava will have a special relationship with them throughout her life!  My parents and James' mom have done so much for us in helping bring Ava home.  We couldn't ask for better parents or better grandparents for Ava D.  I know that at times this journey was harder on them than it was on us.  Congratulations Grandma, Mimi and Papa, your little granddaughter is finally home!

 Hello America! 

Under normal circumstances I would not allow my picture to be taken after 24 hours of traveling but this is an exception.  I am kicking myself now that we didn't get any pictures of Ava with her Mimi and Papa on her first day in America but that's ok, there will be many more opportunities to photograph her with them!

Welcome Home Ava:
Ava was excited about her new home from the moment she walked in.  Our dog Zoe was a little excited too which was making Ava nervous at first but after about 20 minutes she was chasing Zoe around the house and would call for her if Zoe wasn't following her from room to room.  People said that after we brought Ava home my obsession with my dog would die down...Wrong.  I am so happy to be back with my four legged furry child!  Ava recognized her name on the wall and was overwhelmed with joy at the sight of all her new things!       

Ava next to her name that James painted for her with love before we even met her! 

Ava got a new princess dress and crown from Mimi and Papa and wanted to play in it right away.  When we had to take her dress off  for bath time she cried a little!  She really is a little Princess!  

April 15, 2010
This is not a made up story I promise!  Ask my husband!  Two years ago when we were in the application process I was praying for our adoption and for our future child when God gave me a date...April 15th.  I told James on that day that there was something important about the day April 15th but I didn't know what it was.  I thought, maybe it would be our child's birthday, maybe it would be the day we met her, I wasn't sure but God clearly told me that this date was a big day in our adoption journey.  When our flight home was scheduled for the 16th of April I thought to myself, darn that must have been me and not God after all all those years ago.  Then, we got the email that the embassy would take us in early and I knew that truly God had prepared my heart two years earlier for this day, April 15th!

 
Well, this is it...Our adoption journey is over but the journey of our life with Ava is just beginning.  We would love to keep all of you updated on Ava's progress and her adjusting period here at home.  Keep checking our blog for those updates.  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU, every single one of you for taking this wild ride with us.  To know that you have been following our story has made it seem far less lonely than it would have been without you.