Met Ya Day

Dear Evie,
Never ever will we forget your Met Ya Day, November 9th, 2013. 
We saw your face on February 8th and have loved you ever since.  We've pursued you, prayed for you, filled out giant stacks of paperwork, cried over you, gotten fingerprints, our home studied and so much more for you.

At 8 AM, a driver from New Hope/Heartbridge picked up your mommy, daddy, sissy, Mrs. April and Caleb.  We made small talk on the way there, but it was you that we were really thinking about. 

Then, we pulled into a gate and walked into your building, knowing you were upstairs.  We could never describe the feeling.  It was a mix of pure excitement, relief and a heavy dose of fear.

 

After walking up the stairs, with hearts pounding, we peaked into the glass and saw a nanny carrying you down the hallway into your room. 

 

Though we'd seen you, we still had to wait for Mr. Robin, the amazing man who has given his life to leading New Hope/Heartbridge.  He warned us that you might be really scared of us.  Guess you have a thing with strangers. 



Then finally, after pursuing you for 3+ years, we walked in, and there you were getting your hair worked on. 

You started crying as soon as we all moved closer to you.  They tried to hand you to us, but you didn't like that idea.  You've had a lot of people coming in and out of your life, haven't you?

Your nannies and nurses did everything they could to calm you down, but the tears kept flying. 


We walked down the hall behind you to start learning to care for you and you just were not happy. 

Later, you started to smile and play a bit. 

Back in your room later, mommy and daddy stepped back a bit and let Sophia and Caleb start to play with you.  You clutched an apple and blanket the whole time, just not so sure. 

Finally, you started to trust them a little, and you let them hold you. 


We spent time loving on your buddies as well.


Mrs. April found a few she wanted to talk home with her.
 
Then you let mommy hold you, just for a minute. 

Baby girl, we love you.  We know you don't understand all that is happening, but someday soon you'll start to trust.  Then, we'll see that smile of yours. 

We know it is going to be hard.  To be honest, we are pretty darn afraid as well. 

We'll start with just taking care of you and the rest will come. 
God writes awesome redemption stories. 

 We'll play a lot too.  We can play pass the apple as often as you'd like.

Your big sister has big plans to take care of you.  You pleased her when you slowly fell asleep in her arms.  We knew it had been a big morning for you. 

We left you on this day in your crib sucking on your blankie.  It was hard to walk away, but forever is coming soon. We'll be back for ya. 

We got one more peak at you on that day.  After a little tour, we came back by and saw you sitting up in your crib looking out at us through the glass.  No doubt you were thinking back through our morning together just as we were. 

Love you, sweet one,
Your Family