Will Nashville ever be the same??

The Kaz Kids together for the first time!! First night in Nashville...Addison, Haven, Joshua, Noah, Ricky, Ana Grace
HI MOMMY ! ! ! ! !
Cute ain't I? - Joshua Prudhomme
Look at me Daddy! - Serik, Haven, Addison, and Ricky
I'll come to you anytime especially for some popcorn! - Stacy and Ricky

So this past weekend Judson, Ricky and I had one of the best family weekends ever. I think it ranks in the top ten since we brought him home. Even as I type this my mind races and I pray that I make sense of everything.

We just celebrated our first adoption survival weekend with the amazing friends that we met in Kazakhstan. I was so excited leading up to the weekend and by Friday I was like a kid at Christmas…I could hardly contain myself! Judson and I were the first family in Kaz (from this group) so we were the first family to leave Kaz…we only had the opportunity to met Haven Marie! In Nashville we finally met David and Kim’s little bundle Joshua, Keith and Teresa’s angel Ana Grace and Chris and Gretchen’s tyke Serik. All the kids are perfect!!! I mean perfect, in all ways. I know I am a little partial but really they are all healthy, well adjusted, loved, funny, smart, amazing little angels. I could not believe how perfect each one of them was…I just wanted to squeeze and kiss all of them all the time!!!! I did contain myself for the most part. Ricky would have just thought that was normal behavior for mommy but I did not want to scare the other children!!!

It had been almost one year since we had seen all the families but it seemed like it was just yesterday. We all picked up right where we left off. I just keep thinking “Has it really been a year since we were in Kaz?!” All of us had issues (and I mean big obstacles to overcome) getting to Kaz and/or while we were in Kaz and here we were celebrating our children in Nashville, TN.

It is weird, but it seems adoptive parents have a bond like nothing I have ever experienced with anyone else. For example, we just met Chris and Gretchen this weekend and I really enjoyed getting to know them. Gretchen and I talked like we had known each other for months. Not once did we have to resort to the “How’s the weather here?” question. We just talked about our kids and our experiences and life. It was great! Gretchen if you are reading this, I really enjoyed chatting with you and I hope to see you soon. Maybe the next time we get together we will not get kicked off the comfy couch:o)

We did a lot of really fun things like go to the Nashville Zoo, we ate way to much, shopped at the mall and attended a massive church (it had an indoor playground). The thing I enjoyed the most was “chat” time, no matter where it was. To just spend time with the ones we love and shared our experience with was a blessing from God Himself. The only sad part of the weekend was saying goodbye to our friends. It is like a little hole is left in your heart that only they can fill and understand. It is the part of your heart that holds your adoption story. I can not wait to see our friends again. I hope it is sooner rather than later!!!!!

One last parting thought- For those of you who are thinking about adopting, do not be scared to take that leap of faith. Our children are living examples of what a little bite of love (OK maybe A LOT OF LOVE), proper food and nutrition does for a child. All of our children were not pictures of heath when we met them. As a matter of fact, they were all below average in every level known to man and did not know how to show or receive love. Look at them today!!!! Each one of them is a poster child for health and love. They are happy, healthy, and well loved. This weekend I saw five, live and in living color, examples of how a little TLC changes lives!!! Are you ready to show a little angel some TLC today?