G O T C H A

I know most people count Gotcha Day as the day the embassy signs the paperwork making you a forever family...That's not the date I use - Gotcha Day is November 17th - the day we got on the plane to take you home and knew we never had to look back. The adoption took a turn at the very end - when the phone rang and it was Thanassis on the other line, my heart sank - what came next was crazy...he wanted to know why I hadn't come to pick you up? Excuse me? Well, it turns out the adoption agency hadn't finished paying everyone...I called Aunt LeLe at 2:30AM and asked it she could jump on a plane in 4 HOURS.. She said ABSOLUTELY! I packed my bags - put a note on the door at the store and told everyone I would be back when everything was resolved bc I wasn't coming back without my girl - met Aunt LeLe in Atlanta and off we went - heading to Guatemala like tornados while making our plan of attack! The best part was our element of surprise! No one knew we were on our way until we got there...we sat in the lobby of the Radison until the attorney got there - the next morning after some demanding you were brought to me!

(I immediately took you upstairs and changed you into a smocked dress..hahaha - you also rolled off of the bed and landed between the bed and sliding glass door - I thought "what have I done to this poor baby?") Let's just say the surprise worked - that mean old adoption lady got the money to the right people just in time - embassy interview - check - celebration dinner - check -airport bound - check but none of that mattered to me my heart wasn't happy until the plane took off and the wheels went up! This is the first picture we took as soon as we were Atlanta bound...You were the BEST traveler and had everyone mesmerized ... people stopped in the airport to look at you, you were so gorgeous! Aunt LeLe headed home and we hopped on a plane to Charleston...we arrived at 11:30PM and when we got there - there were lots of people waiting on you with signs and balloons and then your Grannie saw you...I could tell her life had changed forever....you have been a blessing everyday since even on the rough days and even when I haven't been my best (i'm sorry if those days seem plentiful)...I can't believe 8 years have gone so quickly and so slowly at the same time - You have changed my life and are further proof that God is great