Airport People

It was suggested that we not have a big crowd of people at the airport when Isaac came home. Our family was welcome, of course, and we had a couple of friends there (Amy and Sam, fellow adoptive parents) who had offered to take photos and video. Oh, and you probably have seen and read the story behind Rhonda--my online friend and photographer--being there. :o)

I also had arranged for another friend of ours, Kirk, to shoot professional video. Kirk (who, by the way, sang at our wedding ... in Spanish, no less!) has his own media company, and he and wife Amy (we worked together at Samaritan's Purse/Operation Christmas Child) are adoptive parents themselves. (Did you catch all that?) But Isaac's sooner-than-expected arrival changed those plans because that was the week Kirk was going to be out of town. Sooooo ... Kirk asked a fellow media friend of his, Rob, who was available and willing to do the job. YAY! So Rob shot the footage, and Kirk will do the editing. So glad it all worked out. That night was the first time we'd med Rob, and he was soooo nice. His son came along as well.

Also in attendance was LaWanda, a representative from our agency. It seems that week is a busy time for traveling because our social worker was out of town as well, so she couldn't be there. But we were excited for LaWanda to be there with us--and she brought her son to be with her, too.

So all of these special people were there with us as well as our family--Tanna's Mom; my brother, Johnny; and our nieces Rebekah and Riley. I know the rest of the family who couldn't be there were all with us in spirit--and many of our loved ones were following in real time on Facebook. (Technology can be so amazing!) We know they had been praying for and thinking of us, and we are so appreciative of their love and support.

Some people have asked me why my brother, Johnny, and our nieces Rebekah and Riley (my sister Robin's girls) were here when Isaac came home--but the others weren't showing up in the photos. I guess it seems like an interesting mix, so here's the story on that.

My sister Robin and BIL Steven were on a church mission trip to the Czech Republic, which had been scheduled for quite some time. I told her that we would be happy to have their girls (Rebekah and Riley) come and visit us here in Georgia while they were out of the country. What fun! They agreed! YAY! So it was all set--arrangements were made for R & R to come to the ATL and hang out with us for a week or so. We were really looking forward to it! (Post to come!)

In the weeks leading up to their departure, my sister and I talked about Isaac's impending arrival. I remember telling her that it was possible that he could come home while the girls were visiting, but highly doubtful. I was thinking we might receive our travel call that week, and that Isaac might come home a couple of weeks later. In fact, at one point I said that I thought it practically would be a miracle if he came home the week my sister and BIL were out of town. Well, we all know how that turned out!

Just in case that miracle did occur, we had a backup plan: If Isaac arrived while R & R were here, Uncle Johnny could potentially drive down to be here to welcome his new nephew, and then when he returned to Tennessee (the next day), he could take R & R back with him. And that is essentially what happened.

Based on past escort arrivals with our agency, we thought Isaac might fly home on a Tuesday--but it turned out to be a Wednesday (even though it was after midnight on Thursday before we actually saw him). Anyway, the arrival time was so late that Johnny was able to drive down after work. He got here around 10 p.m.--just in time to get unloaded and then turn around and head out to the airport with us. SIL Anne (Johnny's wife) is a teacher and was already back at work--and seeing how it is BTS time, it unfortunately wasn't going to work out for her to be here. And with it being such a quick trip (Johnny was leaving with R&R the next morning, after a very late night at the airport) ... it just wasn't the best idea to bring Abigail and Anna-Claire along.

Whew! Did you get all that?

So that is why Uncle Johnny was here with two of our nieces, though not his own girls. LOL! Grammy and Grampy were also in Tennessee, and with Grammy's health and it being a late night, etc., etc., it wasn't a good idea for them to be making the trip. After all, Grammy had just been back in Tennessee for a few weeks after her week-long hospitalization here in Atlanta in June (and her recovery time at our house). We can't wait to take Isaac to Tennessee one day soon so that he can meet the family there--not to mention our family in Spain and out in California that he has yet to meet. Lord willing, he may be able to meet all of his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins this calendar year when they all come and visit the South. I hope so!