I thought I'd be back sooner, but I couldn't seem to write anything. I've been overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings, but words weren't coming, so I just let the thoughts and feelings win and have their way with me.
We were able to go to the agency and get pictures of the boys on Tuesday, and learn more about them. I'm going to post the pictures, because I know that when I was considering adoption and waiting, the pictures were one of the greatest pleasures. I do feel torn, and very protective of the boys, so I may not leave the pictures up too long. Plus, the sadness and confusion of their situation is very plain in the pictures, which were taken only a few days after they arrived at the orphanage. As Beckmann said, the day the pictures were taken was probably one of the worst days of their lives.
As for the naming, we are going to keep both of their first and last names, and add Beckmann's last name to the end. They are H and L, they have been for a few years now, and we cannot wait to meet them and discover their personalities, and learn with them how to be a family together.
So much to do. More paperwork, compiling photos to send to them of us, our home, their school and church, the dog (to prepare them for the hyena-looking creature they will have to share a home with). Their care package has to fit into a gallon-size ziplog bag, so each will get a small photo album, a disposable camera (hopefully the nannies will have a chance to take some more pictures before we arrive), and a small toy. We're hoping that families traveling before us will also be able to take some more pictures for us. We'll return the favor when we travel for another family waiting to travel.
I'm off.