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| In Fargo for our first visit and James's 16th birthday |
The visit went about as well as any first meeting with a foster child could probably ever go. On Day 1, James didn't much want to make eye contact and I found myself worrying whether we were forcing a child into a situation that really didn't interest him and shipping him halfway across a continent in a wild scheme he'd only agreed to because he really wanted a new forever family. A couple days later, with the jitters worn off, the situation already looked quite different as we toasted with mocktails at his fancy 16th birthday dinner. By Sunday night, we were spending our post-dinner time together chasing each other around an outdoor rink having my first snowball fight on ice. We golfed, we shopped, and we ate way more than we needed to. We introduced James to lobster, filet mignon, and burrata. We learned just how much he loves bread - a requisite, as I understand it, for receiving his future French nationality - and how he hates raw tomatoes - he will truly be my son. His foster family was incredibly gracious all weekend. It broke my heart a little to see him playing with the foster cousins who soon won't be a part of his weekly routine (at least not in person), but we know that getting this forever family is what James most wants. James opened up about so many things we hadn't even planned on touching during our first visit. His resilience and matter-of-factness about life really impressed us, and he's got a sense of humor to boot.
We feel so lucky and excited to have found such a great match for our family. Now to bring him home!
