Adams' Adoption Day

June is another busy month for adoptions in our family!  Adams adoption day is June 6.  He could hardly wait until it was his turn to go out to lunch with mom or dad.  Lunch at Duncan House with dad was fun and yummy!

Five years ago I was in Sierra Leone wading through the red tape of adoption in a country that was on the brink of closing down its international adoption program.  Despite the difficulties of getting our time in court I loved my time in Sierra Leone...getting to know Adams extended family that loved him dearly. 

After our day in court we had to wait for visa approval which had a history of being a very long process, sometimes taking up to six months or more.  So I went home without my kids, but hoping to return soon.

In September of that same year I returned to Sierra Leone to spend time with my new kids in their country, get to know their extended families even more, and to see if we could push a little on getting their visas.  What a wonderful time we had in their birth country for two months!  Some of it was frustrating since we were just waiting and waiting...and we really wanted to be all together as a family of eight back in Alaska!  But it was also a time of bonding and getting to know our newest additions.

Adams was almost three years old and absolutely fearless!  For instance, he had never gone swimming in either a pool or the ocean, but while I was there he experienced both.  He showed no fear whatsoever as he jumped off the side of the pool...and he didn't want mom to catch him!  No way!!  That pool was about three feet deep and he could jump off the side and manage to keep his balance with his toes on the bottom and his nose above the water.  His fearlessness scared so many of us in those first few months!  He still has those same fearless qualities and a zest for life that is unmatched by many!

We are so thankful for our fearless little boy...our family has forever been changed by our African boy with his charming smile and exuberant nature!