Good-bye

Well, it's been quite an emotional week. Our dear boy, Gavus, had to go home to Brazil on Saturday. Gavus (as he was so affectionately "nicknamed" by our nephew) lived with us for a year. It was an amazing year with this 16-year-old boy. He came here a very insecure, awkward, and sad young boy and left a confident, empathetic, and sweet young man. It was such a privilege to get to know him!

We grew to love Gavus and he became one of the family very quickly. He cut his summer vacation short to come back for the extended family camping trip in August. He spent hours in the kitchen baking and chatting with me. The poor kid came home way too many times to me chopping veggies and crying over dinner. He certainly got to see first-hand how adoption is not an easy path!

I spent several hours crying uncontrollably after our final good-bye on Saturday. Thankfully for my husband, his departure hasn't totally set in yet so I'm feeling quite happy the last couple of days to get some privacy with my man.

Gavus was placed in our home for a year by nothing less than an angel. He would tell you that he had an amazing year and he definitely grew in ways that none of us could have imagined. But the fact is, he helped to fill a hole in hearts that was burning so deeply. We will always love "our first son" and we look so forward to introducing him to our children! Love you Gavus!