One Year Ago. . .Part 2

 

In the room, she watched my every move. She stayed close as I would dry my hair, or apply my makeup. Outside of the room, it was like showing me any kind of love or affection was betraying her family. So, outside of the room, I was the enemy. She'd point for me to go away. She'd pull my dad to take her anywhere that wasn't near me. It wasn't until Peyton kissed me via SKYPE that she decided she'd "kiss" too. And all of sudden she realized in some surreal way that she might actually like me and have to share me with someone else.

I blogged, I cried, I skyped, I prayed. My daughter was right there in front me yet I don't recall being able to celebrate with joy. I loved seeing her wear the clothes I had shopped ever so carefully for her, and packed in ziplock bags so they'd smell like home. I anticipated taking photo after photo, to realize when I came home, I had hardly taken any after picking her up. She hated the flash, she hated me. Perhaps it wasn't worth capturing on film?

There was the missing document at AIT, which nearly pushed me over the edge. But God knows best and that extra day in Taiwan was what we needed. The flight was actually pretty uneventful. Easy for me. I sat in bulkhead by myself, and watched movies. Only think I did was get the bottles ready. Dad sat behind me with two seats, although the two of them shared one. He couldn't move, barely ate, not sure really how he did it, but he did. As we were about to land I remember seeing a plane next to us and I was able to make out the words on it. . .way too close. Up we went at a fast speed to only delay our landing by another twenty or thirty minutes. If it weren't for that, I think we might have made it home with minimal tears. When we touched ground, I had never been more relieved in my life. This burden had been lifted. Sure there was the anticipated car ride home in a five-point harness, but I'd be in MY minivan, with MY husband, and MY son.

Seeing Darryl and Peyton at the airport was incredible. My heart and eyes swelled at the sight of familiar faces and I could feel the love. The only two things on the face of the earth that I needed more than anything, my husband and my first born. My life line, my comfort, my home. Peyton was so excited to meet his sister, and surprisingly I think she recognized them from Skyping with them. We made it to the car, Dad rode with Gracyn in the back, I couldn't get enough of my husband and my son, and we stopped for a bite to eat, at none other than McDonald's. I had figured out in Taiwan that she was a fan of french fries with ketchup and SODA. . .