From Edwin
It’s strange, it’s very difficult to get past the mindset that all of this will be over in two weeks. All of this, getting to see my family, getting to see my siblings, having support with making food, bathing Evolet, cleaning the house, gone again in 14 days.
It’s already been a whole week, and it feels like I just got here. It feels like I have barely spent any time with my parents, with my siblings.
It’s felt like normal from the moment I set foot in my parents’ house, even though I’ve never been there before.
I just want to stop time, or slow it down. I am so mentally unprepared to leave again. I’m so emotionally unprepared for what happens after we leave again.
I’m trying my best to focus on the “now”, and enjoy what’s going on in the moment, but it’s extremely hard to accept that it’ll be two, three years before I see them again.
Evolet just got used to them, just started feeling comfortable with everyone.
This is going to be a thousand times more difficult than saying goodbye the first time, or saying goodbye in the US.
I’m just not ready…
From Amanda
This was the first time we got to introduce Evolet to her family in South Africa. I never thought I’d spend 23 hours ono a plane with a 3 month old, ever, in my life.
But seeing Evolet with her family and creating a bond that will last her entire life. Evolet and I got to experience our first rugby game together, and then Edwin and I got to take her up the cableway in Harties.
Not only did she get to meet and spend time with her family, but we had her baptism as well while we were in South Africa.
But, it was also my birthday when we were there. As a horse-lover, I absolutely was not going to miss out on the opportunity to go horseback riding in South Africa for my birthday with the love of my life.
Edwin, Nadya, and Kayla got matching tattoos on this trip (I got to help with offering the idea that each one had their favorite character colored on their tattoo). Edwin also caught up by getting a tattoo that matches one that Nadya, Kayla, and mom, and then a cover-up tattoo he’s been wanting for a while.
Saying good-bye is always the most difficult parts of seeing the family again. It doesn’t get easier, no matter how many times we need to do it. I can’t imagine the pain that it is for Edwin and his family to have to say goodbye over and over again. The goodies we bring home mean so little to fill the time between visits again. I love this family, and wish nothing more than to have a day where we can all be in the same place for more than a few weeks at a time.
