5 Years Ago

2 translating guides
22 anxious to-be parents
2 siblings
5 grandparents,
7 extra travel mates
11 caregivers/hotel workers
1 orphanage director
2 body guards for said director
and 11 wee, quiet, slightly dazed babies, clean and shiney, bundled in new clothing
ALL 63 people crammed into a small boardroom
realizing their lives will forever change.
For the hotel workers and caregivers, the orphanage director and his entourage....all in a days work at the baby hotel. For the families forming....chaos, euphoria, trauma, fear, panic, elation....a miracle from God.

I cried at work today, returning with my clients from an outing around 2pm. I just glanced at the clock and realized that 5 years ago to the day at that time, I was nervously travelling up in an elevator with several families and one Chinese baby held by an obvious nanny. They got off on the 9th floor, we all acsended to floor 17 to wait for further direction from our guides. After sufficient time had passed, hardly daring to breathe, we all went to the 9th floor together, camera in hands and for me....not a clue as to what was going to happen. The song anticipation doesn't quite cut it here. In retrospect, it was a fog and totally surreal. I quickly scanned the room for the baby I knew I would recognize and had not seen her until I turned around completely and looked by the doorway. Sitting on the lap of a hotel worker was this tiny meek baby. Calm and oblivious. UNTIL she came to me.
I wish with all my might I had been better prepared for that one moment. For THE moment when I first held her. I think I went into shock and fair enough that happening but if only I had been better coached. "Receive baby. SIT DOWN. DO NOT SPEAK!! Give thanks and praise and take in the moment.....QUIETLY!!!! Zone out to all but this wee child you have been given---GIVEN "
Alas, I made a mess of that first meeting, really I did. Thank God that baby doesn't remember that meeting.
And thank God it got better.
Much much better!!

"Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the blessing you have given to me in Olivia. Thank you for her health and vitality, for all that she brings to my life and to those we know. Please always let me be mindful and sensitive to the fact that while 5 years ago today was the BEST day of MY life, it was one of the worst days of her life. Please help me to be the parent to Olivia that you have destined me to be and that she deserves. Bless her caregivers at the orphanage and most of all bless her mama and baba. Comfort them and protect them, that they may have peace in their hearts believing their baby is safe. In your name Lord Jesus, I pray."