It’s done. All the paperwork, all we stressed over and prayed about and worried wouldn’t be done in time. It’s done. The two last documents were picked up by Grace’s daddy himself in New York City today. He walked in the back door from Mark picking him up at the train station with his subtle Chinese smile of excitement. He may not have looked too excited to most people, but that little up-turned mouth was actually sort of like cartwheels. He carried that burden too these last 6 months, worried about how this would all play out, if the timing would work so that no one violated their visas, how to apply for exactly what was needed. And, now, at least on paper, they are ready to go home. I’m reminding myself that I’m supposed to be celebrating that tonight.
I’m not sure how we’ll all be come Tuesday because as the paper link chain has gotten smaller, our linked hearts have just gotten bigger. I find myself talking to people about how hard it’s going to be on all the kids to have them leave. And, it will be.
But, honestly, maybe it’s just easier to talk about how hard it will be on them than talk about how hard it’s going to be for me.
