Heading to Delhi

We have been together as a family for three days now. Day one was full of shock and sadness from little Evelyn, and mom and dad therefore took our turns in tears. We know family is better than institutional care, but it’s hard to convince a two-year-old that different is ever better. Evelyn has thankfully been easy to sleep at nap and night, helping us avoid further tears of exhaustion. 

Evelyn is comfortable with Dave, and only Dave. She is in his arms unless she gets passed to me for Dave to take a bathroom break, during which she sobs and throws herself over my arm with her arms stretched out toward the door. In the morning she woke up with a frown that looked like the model for the emoji and a furrowed brow that seemed to say “So you’re still here, huh?” We are thankful she is comfortable with at least one of us and it’s fine she’s chosen Dave, at least until he needs to use a restroom at the airport… or on an airplane… but we can only do what we can do as we wait for her to learn that mom is nice to snuggle too. 

In these first few days we’ve learned Evelyn has OPINIONS. She has a very clear and understandable way of saying no, the least of which was grabbing a bite of food she had no interest in and throwing it at the wall over Dave’s shoulder. Curd rice (rice and yogurt) makes a pretty good paste should you be in a bind for such a product. God bless this housekeeping crew. 

Many of you have asked about Kira. Kira is doing well and enjoying the blessing of a the same-age friend to greet at breakfast and meet up with for play during nap time. At the moment they’re enjoying sharing gummy bears and Encanto figurines in the lobby. She is ever the first born and my mini-me, being the one to dispense malaria meds and set out her preferred outfits for the morning. She offered her candy-shaped highlighters for my use as I checked and re-checked our binder of documents for our upcoming appointments, asking and hoping that such a file folder could be hers when we return home. I seriously don’t think the child could have turned out more like me if I had birthed her. As one who was caught in my closet making labels for my toy bins out of masking tape and washable marker at age 8, I am so proud. 

Tomorrow we move to phase two of our trip with a flight to Delhi. There we will complete the visa medical exam, the visa appointment (giving Evelyn a visa to enter the U.S.) and acquiring exit permits. Then we will start our trek home next weekend. For one more week I am going to try not to think about Evelyn’s response to car seats (there is no such thing here). 

One specific PRAYER REQUEST for our time in Delhi - We have some routine tests scheduled for Evelyn in Delhi, but with some updated information from the orphanage, we are hoping we can forego a test that would require three visits over three days and just do the one instead. Please pray we have no 3-day test!

It feels like we’ve been here forever, so I hope this next week does not make us all too lonesome for home. Pray for endurance and more bright blessings on the way! Thank you friends!!