Wishes for You, for Your Country, and for Our Family

One year ago today, I concluded a blog post with these words:

That my child-to-be is happy, healthy, safe, and loved, wherever s/he is, and that his or her heart might be ready and willing to accept parents who will love and cherish him or her forever.

That is what I’m wishing for today.  

One year later, I know it is Francis we are waiting for.  I know he is healthy and safe and loved.  I know where he is and I know he has loving caregivers preparing him to be part of a family.  I know that on July 19 he told our agency’s liaison in Manila that he is “happy and excited” to meet his mommy and daddy.  This in and of itself is the best birthday gift I could possibly ask for today.

Ironically, we were given a picture of Francis that was taken the day another family from our agency went to his RSCC to bring home their child, taken one year ago today.  The irony of the situation is that the very day that I wished happiness for my child, wherever he was, he looked absolutely – well – miserable!  You can feel his sadness looking at this picture, as he could not understand why every time a family came for a child they never came for him.  Francis, we love you and we are coming soon.  My wish for you again this year is for your happiness, and that you will share the beautiful smile we have come to love so much with those around you today. 

At the same time, my heart has been breaking over this week’s flooding in Manila.  This tragic loss of life and mass destruction tears at my heart.  My wish for the people of the Philippines is for an end to this devastation and a quick reconstruction.  Our prayers are with them.

A visa appointment had been requested for Francis prior to the flooding, and I received word on Wednesday morning that his medical appointment was to be on Monday, August 13, with the visa appointment presumably on Wednesday the 15^th.  He was to be in Manila for five days.  Yesterday morning, however, I received word that the appointments were going to be pushed back to “the 20^th and onward.”  My wish for our family is that the appointments will remain fixed at the week of the 20^th and we will be able to travel soon afterward.  Prayers in this regard would be welcomed.