Two years ago, WHAT?

Yes, two years ago today we landed in Ft Lauderdale with Gabriel -- our forever family. Our adoption process that had taken soooo long, had come to an end -- right there in the airport. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that it has been two years already.

During our adoption process I remember reading other people's stories. Their stories all talked about how time had flown by once they brought their children home, but I never really thought too much about it being us because we were going through so much paperwork and more paperwork to make all this happen. These stories all belonged to other people, not us. And then one day, December 6, 2007, our story began.

I have realized that there are moments that you will never forget. Some you wish to forget them while they are happening and others you hope they never end. Picking up our son in Guatemala will forever be one long moment in my mind. But two years ago, during our Embassy trip, I experienced a moment that I relive quite often because it is a daily reminder for me of how incredibly blessed Greg and I are.

We were sitting in the waiting area of the US Embassy with Gabriel and Colleen, our adoption facilitator in Guatemala, waiting to be called for our appointment. Colleen turned and said to me, "...you are one of the fortunate families...do you have any idea how blessed you are to be bringing Gabriel home for the holidays? Any family here would give anything to be in your place" at which point, I was left breathless and started to cry. I couldn't even say a word but I could tell she knew that I completely understood. I felt all the emotions of the last year and half come crashing down in one moment and I was so overwhelmed with emotion that all I could do was take that moment in.

Shiny gifts are nice for Christmas, but two years ago today, I got the best gift of all -- our son.