The word chrysalis brings to mind a safe, warm, cozy place...When I think of it, I envision a lovely butterfly and the promise of something beautiful. There are so many beautiful things in our world: sunsets, the night sky, waterfalls, rivers, spring flowers, fall leaves, and New Life.
My husband and I are blessed with two grown children and several grandchildren, and this summer we will welcome yet another life into our family. Our daughter and her husband are expecting their first child, and this little one has special meaning to me. Many years ago, we began the adoption process to add a baby girl to our family of three. Our son had just turned eight, and it seemed the perfect time to plunge ahead. We were fortunate to know two couples who had been through the adoption process and so they gave us confidence and valuable information.
After our home study, complete with references and photo albums, was submitted to Holt International Children's Services, the wait began. God must have known we were more than ready because only four months later we received the news our daughter had been born and was waiting for us in Inchon, South Korea. Today, future parents have ultrasound images to cherish. We had two black and white photos of our beautiful baby girl. As a proud "expectant" mother, I showed them to family and friends and counted the weeks to her homecoming.
We were told our daughter would arrive the end of January, but as plans do, they changed. The phone call came right after New Year's Day 1983 and we headed to the airport a few days later. It all seems so long ago, but as July 26, 2016 approaches, the same emotions sweep over me. As a grandmother, my role is entirely different, but I hope to have an impact on her precious life and build memories to last a lifetime. As with the first embrace with our daughter so many years ago, I can't wait to see my daughter's baby, to stroke her velvet-soft face, to look into her eyes, and pull her close to my heart. Welcome home, little angel.
