Littlest Angel

Woke up this morning feeling more than just a  few butterflies, perhaps more like the monarch migration across the Southwest to South America?  Got ready, hopped in our cab and away we went to the Songkhla Children's Home.  Upon arrival it became quite clear that we were not completely expected, however in typical Thai style they greeted us with a smile and a glass of water and hurried to get everything together for us.  A few moments later they walked us down to Wi's house (the campus, for lack of a better word, has individual buildings with bedrooms, classrooms, play rooms, etc for the children).  As we walked up to the front stairs we see this tiny little naked boy running across the doorway giggling uncontrollably with a nanny two steps behind chasing after him laughing waving clothes at him!  John and I looked at each other with huge smiles and said "Well, that's our boy!" and just shook our heads laughing!!!  Once they wrangled him long enough to get some clothes on him, he put on his Power Rangers mask and walked outside to meet us.  They basically said "ok, this is him, feel free to go wherever you want and we will find you before lunch."  So we found a gazeebo (yes even though it was outside the floors are just as shiny as the photos inside the buildings) and gave him some of the presents we brought for him.  His favorite was our photo album of him that we have been clutching in our hands for two years.  He thought seeing himself like that was the greatest thing ever!  After about 10 minutes he started to relax and scooted over next to John, pointed at his mask and gestured to take it off.  John leaned over, took off the mask and Wi gave him the biggest smile!  I cannot tell you how amazing this little guy is, truly inspiring.  We hung out like that for a while and played with Spider Man and looked at his photos, then the social worker came and got us to go for lunch, so we sat with Wi while he ate then helped get him cleaned up, walked him inside and tucked him in for his nap.  John and I were both beside ourselves with joy but sad that we would have to wait until tomorrow to see him again. We walked back up to the admin building to say thank you to the director and ask what time to come back the next day and she said "Did things go well?" Uh...yes... "Does he look happy?"  Yes the boy never stops talking or laughing!  "Well then, go back to the hotel, get cleaned up and get some food and be back when he wakes up from his nap, he will want to see you!"  So off we went back to the hotel, got cleaned up, quickly shoved some food down our throats and hurried back to the Children's Home. 
We waited again in the admin building and they brought him down to us. He had just woken up from his nap and was groggy so they handed me his milk, he climbed up onto my lap (!) and we cuddled while he woke up.  After that, he jumped down, grabbed our hands and brought us to the place we had played earlier the morning. We spent the afternoon laughing and coloring, bouncing around the side play area, talking to the nannies and writing down everything they told us about him. Before long, we gave him dinner, cleaned up his area and turned him back over to the nannies to get him ready for bed.  The director had someone from the staff drive us back to the hotel and we are about to fall asleep with BIG smiles on our faces, we have a son!!!

*The director there, Kuhn Suda, is the tiniest thing I have ever seen, but she keeps every single child in line and loves each one like her own.  It is really remarkable to see her in action!  Every care taker we met knew every child's name that walked past and the children all wai and nod to every adult, even the littlest kids there press their hands together and smile politely...then break into a fit of giggles and go chasing each other around the yard!  I know this is an orphanage, but these children are some of the happiest and most well taken care of kids I have ever seen.  There are about 200+ children there, of all ages, and our deepest gratitude goes out to the care takers, they obviously are working their tales off to give these kids the best they can.  More later, as you can imagine, we did not get a whole lot of sleep last night!  I leave you with a few photos from the day...
Love,
Nancy and John

Check our those floors...and that is OUTSIDE!!!