home sweet home

We've been home just over 24 hours and, what a sweet 24 hours it has been.

Riding up the escalator at RDU last night and seeing a crowd of people we know and love off in the distance brought back a rush of familiar feelings I had not anticipated.

Immediately, I was brought back to the experience of running my first marathon almost 2 years ago, right before we officially began the adoption process.

The hard, hard work and exhaustion, not just of travel but of the entire process, was weighing on me.

But then, the faces of our biggest fans, waiting and looking for us, watching for our new daughter (their granddaughter, neice, cousin and friend)  - Indescribable.

We see them and they see us. They cheered us on to the finish line, giving the extra bit of wind in our sails we needed to cover those painful last few steps.

 Instantly, the payoff was big and the toughness started to fade away.

And joy and gratitude filled our hearts. We'd made it.

 She'd made it.

Lucy Hope, I pray you realize someday just how sought after, prayed for and anticipated you truly were.

 There's a mass of people pulling for you.

Some of the best you'll ever meet.

More importantly, there's a Savior who wants call you His child.

Finish strong, my love. Even when it's tough. It will be worth it.

You are worth it to us.

(A special thanks to Nathan Mah for these priceless photos! You are so talented!)