Finally Together!

One part of our journey is over and the other just begins!! Our trip to Guatemala was very smooth and we could not figure out why the flight was so empty, there was almost no one at the airport and there was no traffic. For those of you who have not been, all of the aforementioned are usually packed with people! It was Dia de Trabajo ( I am probably spelling that wrong), "labor day", which made it a great day to travel. We arrived at the hotel and Pedro from the hogar, our attorney's son, came to pick us up at around 11:oo am. He told us how ready Maria was and how all day yesterday she was talking non stop about us. However, I had a feeling although everything he said was probably very true, I knew when reality hit, it would be a difficult thing to deal with. Sure enough, when we drove up, all the other kids were playing and waving and Maria sat in a chair by herself with her head hung low. She bawled when she saw us! I could only imagine what was going through her mind, so many emotions, good and bad. We stayed for a while and gave our gifts to the other children, caregivers ect. I held her tight in the car while she cried on the way back to the hotel. Luckily, I brought some photos in my purse of our last visit. She would look at them between sobs. Once at the hotel it took her about 15 minutes, some chocolate and that was it. She became the Maria that we had spent time with before, happy, laughing, chasing, playing. Even better, she began instantly to bond with Grant. This was new, she had always been a little stand offish with him. Now she holds both of our hands, yells Mami, Papi, Rachael!!! Rachael is thrilled beyond belief, can't stop picking her up, sissy this, sissy that, sharing with sissy, showing her things ect. She wakes up happy, she is so much more comfortable with us this time. Before it would wax and wane a little. Now the only time she gets scared or worried is if we ride in the car or she sees our agency rep who reminds her of the hogar. Driving to Antigua to our apartment today she was terrified. She thought we were going back to the hogar. When we walked into the apartment she bawled. I know she thought we were going to leave her. But again after about 10 minutes she knew we were not leaving and she bounced right back to Maria! Ok, more on the apartment later. Had to get this out tonight for everyone I know who is thinking of us. We are so incredibly blessed with two happy girls!!