Day 151

Johnny spent his first month of life with his birth mother and then lived at Hannah's Hope as we waited month after month to bring him home (150 days to be exact). During this time, he grew attached to his environment at Hannah's Hope and came to love his special mothers. He was very happy and so well taken care of. We are so thankful for the love and care he received while at the orphanage.

When we picked him up, Johnny took to us as his parents quickly. He was very affectionate and interacted with us without fear. But there was a part of him that he kept guarded. It is difficult to explain as the changes we have seen in him have been so subtle but each month John and I have been able to see him open up more and more and trust us with who he is. It is nothing big, just small seemingly insignificant moments when he seems to let go and trust us with another piece of himself. Children are amazing. Trust comes so easily. It would have taken me years to open up the way Johnny has and trust that my environment and the people in it were worthy of my love. That I could trust them to be there for me as time passed. But children understand what it really means to love and give and receive it freely.

Today marks the day that Johnny has been with us longer than he has been with anyone else. It is today that we have surpassed the previous caregivers and will continue to daily show him that he is ours and we are his. Though he is completely unaware that today is Day 151, I cherish this day. We do not take for granted the trust that he has given us as his parents. We are his forever home and are blessed completely by this son of ours...