The stockings are finally hung. Seven stockings is a beautiful sight to behold. Beautiful.
I was home one night this week with only the girls; the big kids were at church with Daddy. I pulled up my Christmas playlist from last year, and I was half-listening to it while I did stuff with the girls and worked on my ever-lengthening to-dos. I haven’t listened to that playlist since last Christmas, so it was good to kind of re-hear all the songs from last year. It was a nice little moment with our Christmas tree lights twinkling, Christmas music, and the girls happily playing as I hummed along to songs here and there.
When all the sudden my ears perked up. And my heart.
On came the song that I’d forgotten about. The song I’d cried a few tears through the previous Christmas. Third Day has a song entitled “Merry Christmas” about a man who is thinking about his daughter to be adopted that’s on the other side of the world. He talks about how he’s hanging the stockings, but she’s not there, she’s all alone somewhere while her family is all here. And he’s wishing her a Merry Christmas.
But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine
It’s Christmas time again but you’re not home
Your family is here and yet you’re somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas
You can watch the video here if you want to hear the whole song:
Really depressing in a way, but in another way, it was so comforting last year to hear a song that kind of identified the way I felt. So it’s really more of an adoption song than a Christmas song I guess.
Anyway, I quit what I was doing and sat and just WATCHED the girls. And tried for the millionth time to let it sink in that they are HOME and HERE and MINE. It still doesn’t seem that way sometimes – it just took so long to get them here!
I was remembering all that I felt and wondered and thought last Christmas. Of course we thought we’d have them home pretty quickly – like March or April at the latest – so I had no idea the fight ahead of us. We were happy to have a referral, hoping for a court date, and dreaming of those two little sweet faces. It was hard to think of them not being here for Christmas.
As I was watching the girls and getting all misty-eyed, I guess I weirded Lyla out or something (I could see her thinking, “Mom, why are you staring at us like that?”) because she crawled over and wanted me to pick her up. So I stood and scooped her up for some good cuddle time. I was singing along to the song and giving that baby sweet kisses while I thanked God over and over and over that they WERE home.
And then came the end of the song. I had forgotten all about this part. The words go like this:
It’s Christmas time again and now you’re home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep, I’ll hold you in my arms
And I’ll tell you from my heart, and I’ll you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas
I forgot there was a verse at the end where the little girl came home, and she WAS finally there for Christmas. So then I was bawling all over Lyla and was really telling God my thank yous. 
It was a sweet moment.
So I am SUPER grateful to have our girls home. These past months have NOT been easy, but we’re coming into a new normal finally. And I promise to get blogging again sometime SOON!
Until then, I’ll leave you with a few cute girls pictures – they are getting SO SO SO BIG!
The girls really are a joy! A challenging, beautiful joy!
Ahhhh they are SO beautiful!!! I just love their little outfits! Great post, too!
Thank you for being so honest in your posts. We are in the process of adopting from DRC and I appreciate your “real” perspective on a family who is still adjusting.
What a beautiful post! I remember last Christmas well, & remember all the emotions surrounding it. I’m so thankful for THIS Christmas, & all the emotions surrounding IT!
LOVE U!
They get prettier and prettier! Did you do their hair like that?