Flowers, Medical Appointment, and Coffee (Monday April 19)

 On every street we wandered, there were these darling flower shops. Gorgeous, colorful blooms spilling out onto the street and lovely little vases and trinkets in the windows. I love them. I must have taken half a dozen photos of different flower shops we passed. In addition to the flower shops, there were also flower road side stands. Right next to the newspaper stand were buckets of tulips. After a few days, I began to wonder, how on earth do all these flower shops stay in business? Some of the little shops were in pretty prime real estate. Who is buying all these flowers? So, when our guide, Simon, came to pick us up for Emmaline's medical appointment on Monday, we asked. 

"How do all the flower shops stay in business?" He looked at us with such a confused expression on his face. "We buy the flowers," he replied. Robert was equally confused, "How often?" "Everyday...we buy the flowers and take them home and have flowers on our tables. How often do you bring flowers home?" Robert looked a little sheepish when he replied, "Maybe once a year." Simon was shocked. "You should do better my friend. Your life needs more romance." Maybe he's right. Maybe we need more fresh flowers in our life. They certainly were beautiful. 

Monday brought Emmaline's medical appointment. She had to get a blood draw for her TB test in order to gain entry to the United States. She also saw a doctor who looked her over and translated her vaccination card for us. It was a long morning, full of tears. The reward at the end was Starbucks for everyone. We had a Starbucks just about a block and a half away from our hotel and were pleasantly surprised to see the inside cafe allowed us to sit and enjoy our treats. Even Emmaline got an overpriced milkshake (minus the coffee, of course.) 

New Friends (Saturday April 17 and Sunday April 18)

 My parents' church hosts a "Missions Week" every year and my parents always love it. Usually missionaries come to visit and talk about their work and my parents delight in hosting them in their home during their stay. This year, because of Covid and the inability for most to travel, Missions Week was virtual, with many online videos and updates. Missions Week was a few months before we traveled to Bulgaria. My mom called me one day during the week to tell me she "met" someone I just had to meet. She had watched a video update of the mission team in Bulgaria and heard about a family there who she thought would be so great for us to get to know. 

We were thrilled to get the opportunity to meet the Buerger family on Saturday. Their family adopted a little girl from Bulgaria and then felt called to serve in Sofia as full time missionaries. We were privileged to be invited to share coffee and treats in their lovely home. There is something beautiful about people coming together who already have a shared faith and shared passions. Although we had never spoken before, the afternoon flew by with sweet conversation and laughter as their daughter and Emmaline played happily and we chatted about a million different things. 

As we walked back to our room that evening, we started praying for how we might be of service in Bulgaria. My deepest prayer, now even weeks later, is that we would have an open ear to God's voice and brave hearts to say yes to whatever He asks of us. 

For more information on The Buerger family's ministry: https://www.mtw.org/missionaries/details/buerger-john-ellen

Homesick and Its Cure (Thursday April 15 and Friday April 16)

Have you ever reflected on how different the Gospel of John reads in comparison to the first three gospels? It's my favorite. I have so many favorite passages in John that many of my pages are worn out from use. His gospel reads in a more reflective tone. There is theology mixed with the retelling of events. So many times he adds, "it was because of ... that this happened" or "He said this because..." John was writing late in life, years after he walked side by side with Jesus. I assume the passage of time made Him understand events even more. 

I did a terrible job blogging while I was in Sofia. I don't know what it was...but I did not pick up the computer very often. I fell in love with Bulgaria and my daughter, but I didn't capture those events here. I was blogging for Emmaline. I kept my journal this way for both Laura and Howie and then printed it for them to read later in life if they are curious what their crazy mama was thinking during their adoption process...and to allow them to see the marvelous ways the Lord worked to bring them into our family. I want the same things for Emmaline, and so I'm going to play catch up. But, now we are home, and she is so different than she was...her blog will read so much differently than the in the moment thoughts of her sister and brother. Who knows, maybe this one will end up being my favorite. I will never be John and my words certainly don't even have a fragment of the importance of His...but maybe the passage of time will deepen this little journal I'm making for my girl. 

Thursday April 15 brought deep homesickness for both Robert and me. We grieved for our children and did not love Sofia enough to want to stay another 10 days. Emmaline was improving but it was still hard and we just missed home and our kids so much we could hardly speak of anything else. We tried to get an earlier flight out, we tried to rearrange appointments, all in vain. In the end, our wonderful adoption agency rescued us. I mentioned when they checked in that I thought we should get out of the city and they helped us find a driver to get us to Rila Monastery the next day. 

The next morning we drove for about 2 hours up into the mountains to Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was exactly what our souls needed. Our driver, Dimitriv, was jovial and friendly. Robert sat in the front with him chatting about cars, family, church, and Dimitriv's dream to drive across the United States. He told us the history of things we passed and drove us up these gorgeous narrow mountain roads. I stared out the window admiring the country, wondering about the people in the villages we passed. 

We wandered around and through the monastery for another couple of hours. The monasteries preserved and protected Christians and the Christian faith during times of Muslim (during the Ottoman reign) and Communist persecution and suppression. The monastery and surrounding mountainside is absolutely gorgeous. The restaurant was closed and we were all hungry. Dimitriv took us to a local hole in the wall type restaurant that was the best food we had the entire trip. Robert tried Bulgaria's famous Rakia. (Robert said it made him feel "tingly all over" and Dimitriv replied to never drink homemade Rakia, because "it will kill you.") I passed on that experience. 

Something about the time in the country, and the conversation during the day, revived us for the rest of our trip. Although we liked Sofia and Bulgaria up to that point, I mark the day we visited Rila as the day we started falling in love. The next day (Saturday), we started talking about coming back forever. That was the turning point. The Lord said...look at all I have made, open your eyes to the people who need Me here. And, we looked, we saw. He changed our homesick hearts and made us know home is wherever He puts us. 

Walking Sofia (Wednesday April 13)

 Sofia is a beautiful city. Wednesday we set out to wander the city and take in all the amazing architecture and lovely city parks. We bundled Emmaline up in her new stroller after breakfast and walked a few miles, visiting many of the city's old churches. 

After our long walk, Emmaline let us know that she was ready for more yogurt! We stopped at a grocery store on the way home for essentials: yogurt, yogurt, yogurt, and bottled water. Emmaline picked out some graham crackers as well. 

We had lunch and naps in our room, followed by a laid back afternoon of playing together and walking down Vitosha Street for take-out dinner. 

Emmaline is blossoming more everyday we are with her. It's such fun getting to know our newest daughter. 

Passport Photos (Tuesday April 13)

 Tuesday morning Emmaline was hungry and we were so thankful to see her eat! She ate Bulgarian yogurt and orange juice for breakfast. We walked over to our neighborhood grocery store after breakfast and stocked up on Bulgarian yogurt, since it is the only thing we had been able to get her to eat. 

Tuesday afternoon we walked to the police station to get Emmaline's passport photo. The appointment was quick and easy. 

After walking back with Emmaline on our hip the entire walk, we quickly decided we HAD to find a stroller. This is a walking city, and walking with a toddler on your hip all day is not ideal. Many of the shops were still closed due to Covid and the only place we had seen strollers was a little boutique shop down by Sofia Mall. We did not buy one on Sunday because they were so expensive. But, after a day of carrying Emmaline around everywhere, we decided it was worth the price. We walked the mile to the store and bought their display model (so we didn't have to put it together!) and then happily walked back to the hotel, with Emmaline riding in her brand new, super expensive, Swiss stroller.

Family Day: Monday April 12

 After very little sleep, Family Day arrived! Robert and I woke up early to grab breakfast in the hotel restaurant before riding to Sliven, where we would meet Emmaline. 

The drive to Sliven was about 3 1/2 hours through Bulgarian countryside. We rode past the mountains and into the plains. We rode through rural villages, farms, orchards, and saw the people out in the country taking care of their homes and land, and shepherds with their flocks of sheep and cows. 

Sliven

We arrived in Sliven and waited for Emmaline in the Social Services building. She arrived a few minutes after us. We signed some papers and then loaded back into the car for the long drive back to Sofia. Emmaline seemed content to come with us and was eager to drive away from Sliven. 

Our first night together was hard. It's difficult to see your child, who you love, processing through so much trauma and hardship. She was afraid of everything and refused water and food. Although she was terrified of getting in the bath, once I let her hold the shower head, she seemed to have a good time. She played and enjoyed licking the water (we were thankful she was staying hydrated!) 

Sleep did not come easy, but she eventually went to sleep in her little bed, and only woke up once in the middle of the night. I laid down with her and she eventually calmed down. 

The first day is always hard. Strangers coming together and figuring each other out. And, although we have loved her for many months, she does not know us at all and does not have any reason to trust us. Even so, she seems perceptive and discerning. Children often are. She knew in that Social Service building who loved her and relatively quickly understood we are a safe place for her. 

We are so thankful to have her in our arms, finally! We have prayed for her and over her. We have hoped and looked forward to meeting her in person! Emmaline is full of spirit and fire. She has a terrific stink eye and will flash the cutest smile (but usually when she thinks you aren't looking.) We can't wait to know her better.

We love you, Emmaline Victoria! 

Travel Day and Sofia Day

On Friday, April 9, Robert and I woke up to a very quiet house. The kids were with Grammy and Poppy and it was the day we would finally leave to pick up Emmaline. We basically paced all morning, waiting for it to be time to go to the airport. I went out for a quick jog (just to ease my nerves), and we went over our packing list one last time. We headed to the airport way too early, just because we couldn't stand waiting anymore. We were thankful for the extra time since Covid has made everything more difficult in regards to travel. The airport parking was closed, so we had to find a park and ride. And there were several checks to make sure we had the proper paperwork before we were allowed on the airplane. 

The Atlanta airport always provides entertainment. Here were our two funniest moments: 

1. When we were checking in (the first time), the ticket agent looked at Robert and said, "My system says: 'This customer cannot go to Bulgaria.'" Robert looked at me with total panic. I just laughed at him and told the agent, yes, we can. I had all our documentation from the courts and Embassy. I think the agent still wasn't sure what he was supposed to do, because he said "I am not liable if they do not let you in." Gotcha. (Spoiler: They let us in, of course.) 

2. While in line for security, the man in front of us pulled out a TSA Approved card and flashed it at the agent, and tried to walk through the security point. The TSA agent stopped him and said, "YOU are TSA approved, your bag is not" and made him go to the back of the line. Hilarious. (For us, not so much him.) 

We sat on the runway in Atlanta for 45 minutes and all I could do was watch my watch and think 'We are going to miss our flight in Paris.' We only had a 2 hour lay over to begin with, 1 hour in Paris is not enough time to get to another flight. But, God smiled on us, because we hustled through that Paris airport, had an extra security line opened just as we arrived (thank you, Jesus!) We made it to our gate in time to grab a bottle of water and get on the plane. We are so thankful because that was the ONLY flight to Sofia until Monday! 

After about 14 hours of total travel time, we finally arrived in Sofia. Sadly, our luggage did not arrive with us and we are still waiting on it. It is hanging out in Paris until there is another flight to Bulgaria. We hope they remember to put our bags on the next flight! We would love to get some clean clothes, and all the clothes and toys and supplies we brought for Emmaline. 

We were thrilled when we got to our hotel and found out we had received a free upgrade to one of the suites. We have a lot more space to spread out and a little living room where we can play with Emmaline once she is here. 

We spent a very sleepy evening wandering Vitosha street (right outside our hotel), trying to find a few necessary toiletries and dinner. 

After a much needed full night of sleep, we had a quiet Sunday morning in the hotel room reading our Bibles, followed by a busy afternoon of grocery shopping and attempting (but failing) to find a stroller. We enjoyed street pizza and gelato for lunch and took in more of the city. The juxtaposition of the new and the old is interesting here. Modern buildings built next to (or on top of) ancient buildings. New apartments next to crumbling homes. It's been fun getting to know the area around our hotel. If Emmaline is up to it, we hope to see some more of the city and surrounding areas in the weeks to come. 

Tomorrow is the big day! We finally meet Emmaline! We know tomorrow will be difficult for her. Two people she has never met coming to take her away from all she knows. Terrifying. We love her and we are looking forward to getting to know who she is...but we know this beginning bit will be difficult. We pray tonight for her little heart and mind. We pray she will feel loved and safe soon. We pray for our own hearts as we try to meet all her needs. 

Our kids at home are doing well with Grammy and Poppy! We are thankful they are being loved on while we are away.