This Reminds Me

Keith and I leave Saturday for St. Pete to adopt Guanna-to-be-Julia.  Our court date is Wednesday, May 10.  Please be praying our 10 waiting days are waived so we can bring her home soon.  And then I can post a picture of the six of us.

That sounds so strange – the “six” of us.  Six.  More than five.  Siete.  “Shehst.”  Half-dozen.  One of three identical digits Rachel believes is birthmarked on Hannah’s scalp.  One short of the Windstar being full.  One too many for the truck.  The number of years we’ve been in San Antonio.  And also the age of Guanna-to-be-Julia.

Of course, we weren’t always five.  First just the two of us – when dinosaurs ruled the earth.  Then along came Rachel, or, as Keith called her with the pointy knot on her head, “Alien Baby.”  Toss in a 5-week hospitalization for both Lois and me to get her here safely.  And finally - squeeze 11 lbs., 6 oz. of newborn Hannah, and stir.

When I was in high school, we all had to slow dance to “One is the Loneliest Number.” Remember that?  Shhhhhhhhh.  Be quiet.  Listen.  You can hear the melody being whispered now.  It’s in Russian.  And it’s slowly wafting out of Children’s Home #47, drifting over Europe, crossing the Eastern Seaboard right into my head – and heart.

So be still – and listen.  Do it now.  Time is short.  Because one plus five adds up to a whole new tune.