Cry Baby

Today was our US Consulate appointment.  We were the only ones in our group that had an appointment today, everyone else was yesterday.  Our guide took us and we sat in a large waiting room with about 12 other families, all there for their child's visa.  We all stood and took an oath that all the paperwork we have done is true.  It's not really "our" oath, it's our child's, but because they are a minor we take it on their behalf.  Then one by one we were called up to a window (kinda like a bank teller) to sign a document and that's it.  It was pretty harmless, but because of the white powder attack last week their security is on high alert.  For us that equaled not being able to bring any camera, bags, food or drink in with us.  The appointment was about an hour, so it was hard to keep the little one entertained with nothing.  

I got choked up several times and my eyes swelled with tears while at the consulate.  When you cram that many adopting families into a small room there is a lot to observe.  Some of what I observed today was one dad holding tight to his blind son.  His blind son's head resting on his new daddies shoulder.  I saw a father and mother stand at the window with their new 11 year old daughter.  I overheard the man behind the counter explain to the parents that he would be asking their daughter some questions about whether or not she understood that she was being adopted and would be taken to another country forever.  He said he would be making sure she wanted that.  In China orphans have the option to decline being adopted after the age of 10.  I watched and listened as the man behind the counter spoke Chinese to the young girl.  I got so choked up as she looked up at her new parents and then at the man and quietly said something in Chinese while shaking her head yes.  I watched as a family pushed their new daughter in a wheel chair through narrow spaces.  I studied a family who brought all of their children, two bio kids, and three adopted but all from different countries.  They were a beautiful display of color, race and love.  I saw two different sets of parents who are starting their second generation of children.  They are in their 50's and have children in their 20's, but are now starting over per say through adoption.  I saw a boy with a missing arm walk up to the window with his new parents and brother.  I saw a dad feeding his daughter with a cleft palate her bottle, wiping her chin as she drooled some of the milk out, kissing her forehead as he held her close.  I watched parents walk up to the window with a set of twin boys, one with down syndrome.  I saw a daddy (my husband) with a little girl with white hair both wearing red, white and blue smiling at each other as he tickled her belly.  There was so much love wrapped up in one small room it was overwhelming.  Adoption ROCKS!!!  I'm telling you I could have sat there all day and just watched family after family interact with their newest child(ren), parents, siblings, even some grandparents, and aunts and uncles were along for the ride.  It was the most incredible visual display of Jesus right before my very eyes and it made my eyes swell and my heart scream "yes, yes, this is what it's all about!"

Well, if my tears weren't enough for the day, here is our little peanut in all her glory...of tears that is.  I don't have any pictures of her smiling today because she had no smiles to offer.  We have no idea what her issues were and we have given up trying to figure it out, but if a picture says a thousand words, then here's 100,000 for you.

The start of what would become many tears.

Crying for the famous statue shot.

Have I told you how much she hates the stroller!?!

Refuses to wear her sunglasses, but cries because the sun is in her eyes.
 (well there is no sun because it's always raining, but it's still to bright for her light sensitive eyes)

Scott was explaining to her that the license plate says Pennsylvania.

Crying as daddy put her down on the chair at Lucy's Restaurant.

Even though this is at Lucy's, it's a totally different time during the meal.

The only time today she wasn't crying, but it didn't last long.

Crying over apple pieces in my hand.

Crying because there are no more apple pieces in my hand.

Crying because I started taking the apple pieces out of her bib trap.