Bella, Post-Adoption: 3 Years Later

Three years ago today, we met our then 26-month-old daughter for the first time. We had traveled nearly 30 hours, to the other side of the world. We stood there, in a hotel lobby, impatiently waiting for the clock to strike 10:00 am, when she would arrive. We had been told to go to the conference room to wait, but we were gifted with our first look right there in the lobby, as we arrived a few minutes early, and so did she! Right before our eyes, she was brought into the hotel. We weren't expecting to see her at that moment but suddenly, after nearly 18 months since starting our adoption journey, there she was. 

Prior to that exact moment, there was uncertainly, there was fear, there was anxiety, there were tears, there were doubts. 

And then we saw her, and instantly, there was immediate, heart-stopping, breath-taking, all-encompassing love. 

She was ours. We were hers. And so, our story began.

_______________________

Here we are, three years later. And what a wild, crazy, unprecedented, unexpected year it has been (#Covid). This may sound crazy but...quarantine may be the best thing that happened for our Bella this year. You see, while our girl has been making slow but steady developmental progress since we brought her home three years ago, over the last six months, coinciding with the time we were all suddenly and unexpectedly quarantined at home together, her development has exploded! She is talking more than ever, getting stronger by the day, and tackling all kinds of therapy goals. We are just so proud of her and how hard she works. Many things don't come easily and automatically for our Bellaboo, but you would never know it from the absolute joy she spreads wherever she goes. 

Truly, everyone should be so lucky as to have such a source of light and inspiration in their lives every day. You cannot be around her and not feel happy. It's virtually impossible, I tell ya. ;) And our girl has big things ahead of her! She'll be starting her second year of dance with two of her favorite friends <3, continuing her weekly therapy regimen (although we will have to say farewell to two of the best therapists in the world - who have been with her since the days after we brought her home - since she is aging out of their program), and....going to kindergarten!!!!! That's right: our littlest Lu is off to the big leagues! 

There are simply not enough words to explain how much our Bella means to our family. I cannot imagine life without her, and we are so very thankful for God's plan for our lives, together. Today, we are so happy to be celebrating exactly three years to the day of when we met the most beautiful, most joyful, most inspirational little wee warrior. How lucky we are to have our girl here with us, continuing to spread light and love, three years later. Onward we march, together. <3

_______________________

Bella Elizabeth, 

You are an answered prayer. You are a dream come true. You are proof that God hears, and answers, prayers, in His perfect and holy timing. You are light. You are love. You are joy. You are ours. We are yours. And we absolutely adore you. Happy three years HOME, baby girl. We've gotcha, now and forever. 

With All My Heart, 

Momma

A father to the fatherless and a defender of widows is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68: 5-6. 

For a look at Bella's third year home, click here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrkR7j_Eodk

_______________________

(Year 2 video posted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQQ1T2l4go0) 

(Year 1 video posted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDaIREXM-Fk)

(Gotcha Day video posted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJzWYI_rjwo)

(Adoption Journey video posted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z33Be7meJSk)

Lu Fam Beach Trip 2020

Over the weekend, we returned from the second of our two extended family beach trips we take every summer. For this trip, we ventured back to our original beach trip stomping grounds: Edisto Island, South Carolina, with my hub's "side" of the family. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I hit the jackpot in the "in law" department. <3 We look forward to this trip every summer, and this year certainly did not disappoint. 

AND the weather could not have been more different than that of our first extended family beach trip last month: we saw not a single drop of rain! But also, it was HOT! This meant we spent equal parts on land and in sea/pool and had a great time each and every day, soaking in time with family we love. And now, a photo dump from our time in Edisto with our Luton family: 

We arrived and wasted no time quickly unpacking and hitting the beach and pool. 

The days typically followed the same format: awake and eat and play indoors before it seemed a decent hour to head out to the beach. There was lots of time spent in the water: jumping waves, boogey boarding, throwing footballs, and cooling down. 

And lots of fun time spent sand-side, playing cornhole and Tidal Ball, feeding seagulls, catching sand fleas, lunching, listening to music, flying kites, napping, and just enjoying the beautiful sights before us. 

The days concluded in the pool, where there were many games of pool baseball and keep away; there were girl chats with deep questions (one of my favorite times of the week); there was floating and swimming, and well, good ol' fashioned fun! ;) 

After showering off and enjoying dinner together, the evenings consisted of games and puzzles, relaxation and conversation, laughs and more laughs, and a whole lotta fun. :) 

And thanks to #Covid, there was also a mask-wearing trip to the souvenir shop (as well as a round of 28 holes of golf for the fellas, not shown here ;) ). 

Evenings on the beach are always my most favorite. One night I walked with my hub; another with my kiddos and niece; others with just each kiddo: I just love these times with them so much. <3

And then there was the very last night, the one that ended in sparklers and glow sticks as we watched the sun go down one last time. 

This is the last year I'll ever have 10-, 8-, 6-, and 5-year-old kiddos at the beach. That time is passing in a blink is not lost on me. What's more, what I've learned from Covid is that time is precious and tomorrow is never promised. So, we soaked in our time together, crafting new memories and storing them away as tales we will share and reminisce on for years to come ("Remember that summer Pop rolled from 0-155 in 'Greed'? I still can't believe that happened!"; "Remember the trip when we caught the most epic boogey boarding waves together over and over again? Those things had to be 8-10 feet high!"; "Remember when we played beachball baseball for hours on end in the pool, Pop vs. the rest of us?"; "Remember that night we stood on the beach together, staring at the sky and it's countless stars while amazed at seeing Jupiter and Pluto with our naked eyes?"). Those and so many more, tucked away, with promises to be re-told for many years. 

 

Thank you for the beautiful time, Edisto. You were one for the books. Until next year... <3