Picking Up Victoria at VCT

No apologies for not blogging over the past week. I've just been focused on the family. :) But I'll try to catch up a bit. There's simply to much to say, but I can highlight a bit.

Friday morning our driver picked us up from the Jayamahal Palace about 10:15am. It wasn't the driver from VCT because that one was picking kids up from school, so we hired a cab. We had to WAIT 15 minutes for him to get there. Then he couldn't find VCT!!!! We were in the general vicinity, but it took about 45 minutes instead of 25. I thought this was the day when the waiting would end!!!!

We finally arrived and took some pictures outside. We simply walked on in and a lady directed us upstairs. We explored as we went, not knowing where our little girl was. We got to the top floor and walked past some offices and found the director's office. THERE SHE WAS!!!! My beautiful Victoria!!! She was in the director's office with her foster mom and sister. We could tell she recognized us, but was quite shy. We sat down in the chairs and spent some time gently getting to know her. We had a few toys for her which she would take and then walk away with them. (Did not fulfill the intended purpose.) After some time, she got more and more comfortable with us. I was able to hold her on my lap for a bit.

Then she got real comfortable, realized she was the center of everyone's attention, and all personality broke loose! We spent the next hour or so chasing her around the offices and up and down the stairs of VCT. She had a big bag of candy and she handed pieces out to everyone. We took pictures of her and her foster family, talked a lot with her foster sister who speaks good English and spoke with Mary Paul, the director, for a while.

Then VCT served us lunch downstairs. Our first meal with our girl! We weren't sure how the day was supposed to go or when we should leave, etc..... It was very unstructured, but relaxed and we spent a total of about 3 hours there. Mary Paul said we were free to go whenever we wanted. No showing ID, or signing papers or an interview. NOTHING! That had all been done the past 2 years. We were there to simply pick her up! It was weird - for lack of a more creative word.

Victoria said her goodbyes. I gave the foster mom and sister a big hug and we walked her to the vehicle. (One of VCT's drivers this time.) She was so excited and happy to come with us. She waved goodbye from the window of the car and we drove off with our little pumpkin! A few minutes later she was asleep on my lap. Whew! What a day for all of us!

It was very overwhelming in some ways for all of us. We were so excited to finally receive our daughter, but not knowing 'how it would go' or 'how she would do' and realizing the magnitude of what we were doing weighed on us. There were moments of "what are we getting into!!!" But peace overflowing, too. We had expected great things from God in regards to our reunion with Victoria and He so delivered!