As you have realized by reading the blog, Axel came along so he could meet with his birth family. But he came along for another reason too! Audrey was in the same foster home where Axel spent nearly three years. I knew his foster parents and extended family would be thrilled to see him, and I have had a feeling for awhile now that Axel wonders just what happened to those people he sees pictures of now and then. We didn't even have names for everyone so we couldn't help him retain the memory of their names.
Let me tell you about the first day we went to the foster home….
As you enter the city of Kragujevac, there are two large roundabouts. The second one has this Fiat sculpture in the middle.
When we arrived in this roundabout Axel got very excited. "House! House!" he signed, pointing in the direction of the foster home. It is right on the other side of this roundabout. To know he recognized where he was. Oh! I was so excited for him!
We pulled into the driveway and got out of the car. Just then the foster father came out the front door to the driveway. Axel saw him and RAN. He RAN to the father and threw his arms around him. Oh, I was in tears, our facilitator was in tears, the father had a tear in his eye.
We walked into the house and Axel strutted in like he had never left. He gave his foster mother a big, warm hug and said hello to those he remembered (social workers, etc.) Over the course of the next three days while we visited, every extended family member, along with close friends, came to say hello to Axel. Nobody could believe how much he'd grown, but even more…how he is just a typical teenager now. They gave him his favorite Serbian snacks, and loved on him for three days. Axel soaked it right up.
Before the trip I was nervous. Would Axel worry I was going to leave him behind? Would he want to stay there instead of coming with me? Would the emotions of this reunion be too much for him?
I needn't have worried. Axel understood why were were there, to "get the new sister Audrey", and that he would be staying with me. He truly loved seeing everyone, but was also ready to return to the hotel with me at the end of a visit. Axel understands we are his family, forever and always, and that in a land far away, on the other side of the world, are people who also love and cared for him, enough to let him go.
Let me tell you about the first day we went to the foster home….
As you enter the city of Kragujevac, there are two large roundabouts. The second one has this Fiat sculpture in the middle.
When we arrived in this roundabout Axel got very excited. "House! House!" he signed, pointing in the direction of the foster home. It is right on the other side of this roundabout. To know he recognized where he was. Oh! I was so excited for him!
We pulled into the driveway and got out of the car. Just then the foster father came out the front door to the driveway. Axel saw him and RAN. He RAN to the father and threw his arms around him. Oh, I was in tears, our facilitator was in tears, the father had a tear in his eye.
We walked into the house and Axel strutted in like he had never left. He gave his foster mother a big, warm hug and said hello to those he remembered (social workers, etc.) Over the course of the next three days while we visited, every extended family member, along with close friends, came to say hello to Axel. Nobody could believe how much he'd grown, but even more…how he is just a typical teenager now. They gave him his favorite Serbian snacks, and loved on him for three days. Axel soaked it right up.
Before the trip I was nervous. Would Axel worry I was going to leave him behind? Would he want to stay there instead of coming with me? Would the emotions of this reunion be too much for him?
I needn't have worried. Axel understood why were were there, to "get the new sister Audrey", and that he would be staying with me. He truly loved seeing everyone, but was also ready to return to the hotel with me at the end of a visit. Axel understands we are his family, forever and always, and that in a land far away, on the other side of the world, are people who also love and cared for him, enough to let him go.
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt must have been such a full circle moment for Axel and for you. How wonderful that he remembers with such fondness his time with his foster family, but also that he knows in his heart that you and Dean are his forever parents. Your prayers were answered hon, that he could soak up the love with no fear and happily return with you and his new sister Audrey to America.Praying you have a great journey home without any passengers wearing some of Audreys dinner in their hair *smile* and that you and Axel can sleep some.
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