As I write this post, Sahar and the other Solace children are probably just now venturing out over the Atlantic Ocean, en route from Dulles airport in DC to Dubai. Caroline finally fell asleep about an hour ago – she had been sobbing pretty much non-stop since saying goodbye to Sahar at the airport. This is tough – knowing that someone with whom our family has shared so much, and to whom we have grown so close, is getting farther away from us every minute, and will soon be on the other side of the globe. For Caroline, at nine years old, it’s still a difficult concept to grasp and comprehend. Some of you out there may be asking why in the world our family chose to do this, and put ourselves through these emotions. That’s a valid question, and I have actually asked myself that question more than once tonight.
Tonight, I have encouraged Caroline to find joy in the fact that we had such a good experience with Sahar – we were blessed to have such a brilliant, sweet, mature, and beautiful girl in our presence. While we would love to keep Sahar here with us indefinitely, she has a family who must be missing her immensely, and who likely anguished over the decision to let her travel to America in the first place. We continue to struggle with the concept of her being in an orphanage, yet still having a family, but Sahar’s love for – and connection to – her family seems so strong and genuine.
Tonight, Caroline and I happily discussed how much Sahar changed over six weeks… The first few days, we struggled to get her out of the bedroom and we saw her eat very little. Recently, we had found ourselves having to force bedtime on her, and we struggled to keep the house stocked with her favorite foods.
I have many more thoughts to share, and plan to do so in subsequent posts. For now, this is an Irish blessing which I found and posted as my Facebook status earlier today…
Bryan
Tonight, I have encouraged Caroline to find joy in the fact that we had such a good experience with Sahar – we were blessed to have such a brilliant, sweet, mature, and beautiful girl in our presence. While we would love to keep Sahar here with us indefinitely, she has a family who must be missing her immensely, and who likely anguished over the decision to let her travel to America in the first place. We continue to struggle with the concept of her being in an orphanage, yet still having a family, but Sahar’s love for – and connection to – her family seems so strong and genuine.
Tonight, Caroline and I happily discussed how much Sahar changed over six weeks… The first few days, we struggled to get her out of the bedroom and we saw her eat very little. Recently, we had found ourselves having to force bedtime on her, and we struggled to keep the house stocked with her favorite foods.
I have many more thoughts to share, and plan to do so in subsequent posts. For now, this is an Irish blessing which I found and posted as my Facebook status earlier today…
To our Afghan daughter, Sahar: "May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind
be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall
softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow
of his hand..."
Bryan
