Friday, May 21, 2010

The Many Faces of a Sugar Plum

I’m not certain if the blur in these photos is due to their source (snapshots captured from the DVD we just received) or if it caused by the tears that fill my eyes as the joy mounts, seeing Sonalika come to life in moving frames.


Hi Mommy, Daddy and Devi!


The DVD arrived yesterday in the mail, after several diligent days of checking the mailbox. Daddy and Devi were perched on the back of the sofa giving me the heart symbol with their hands through the living room window as I drove into the driveway after my aerobics class. Once inside, Devi. in ballerina footy pjs, grabbed me by the hand and pulled me to the kitchen island where we set the incoming mail, yelling, “come see, come see.”


Two stools were poised, red carpet style, in front of the TV awaiting the premiere viewing of our feature film. Unfortunately, when inserted, the DVD would not read, nor would it read in our computer. Such disappointed faces we all had going to bed last night.



Today, I’ve been able to convert the files and save them on a disk to bring home and as luck would have it, it is Family Movie Night. We will be postponing Bambi to take in our new release “Sugar Plum” starring none other than Sonalika herself!


Lucky for me, I got the first sneak peak of our two shorts, giving me much needed insight to the mystery surrounding the place where God found our daughter. Instantly, the image brings back memories of that thick, aroma filled warm Indian wind, witnessed in the swaying fabric of saris and in the floating wisps of our dear one’s curly hair. Most noticeable are the clean surroundings and absence of traffic. In fact, this place seems quite rural and serene.


The rooms have the typical marble tiled floors, but the walls are covered in brightly painted, nearly life-sized whimsical characters such as the Pink Panther and Mickey Mouse, in true nursery style. Everything appears to be very clean, orderly and calm. The scene ends showing a surgical masked ayah giving a small baby a bottle on the floor.



Focusing on a set of polka dot doors the camera pans wide and there is a view of the babies room. I can barely make out the tippy tops of black haired heads, each with a set of dark eyes straining to peer just over the top of two rows of cribs. Unmistakable! I can spot her beautiful round head. I know it is her, even though I’ve only laid eyes on a few still photos up to this point. Third crib on the left- this momma knows that girl, that face! The camera person zeroes in on Sonalika and walks toward her. She must know this person, as she pulls herself to standing in the chipped white painted crib, and I see with my own eyes a glimpse of her personality and become completely swept away. Unlike Devi’s mouth open wide smile, Treya shows an impish shy grin with Bambi like eyes that make contact and then look down and away, luring you in. A teaser, I see!!



I can’t wait to bring this gift home with me tonight and watch the reaction of an anxious daddy and big sister as they get to meet our sugar plum too. For now, I breathe this huge sign of relief, now knowing where she is, that the conditions are good and she is well cared for. Smiling the video comes to it’s end as I watch our sugar plum happily zoom in and out of the viewfinders scope, seated in a scooter in a courtyard of playing children.


16 comments:

Kristi W. said...

What a blessing to finally have that long-awaited video!!! I hope it helps you through the last leg of your wait to bring Treya home. She sure is a gorgeous little thing!!!

:)Kristi W.

Karen said...

Ohhhhhh! She just takes your breath away, doesn't she! What a treasure!

Peter and Nancy said...

At last!! The daily wait for the mail must've been agonizing, and then it wouldn't play??

She is such a lovely girl, with those soulful eyes . . . How fun to have video too, so you can watch her move and interact with other kids. Happy movie night!
Nancy

Traci said...

She looks fantastic! So happy for all of you!

Lynda said...

So happy for you Julie! Makes me want to go back and bring another little sweetheart home all over again. Such a special gift to see her in action and that little smile, at last.

Lynda

Sandy & Butch said...

she's a little heart stealer for sure!

Candice said...

Such a cutie pie! I can't wait till you get to bring her home to her sister!

Candice

Emily said...

Finally, a glimpse of Sonalika in action! What a character she is, so much energy. All we have in this long wait are these precious pictures and dvd shorts. I'm so glad you got a glimpse of her personality so that you can continue to imagine her in your day to day life. She's growing so much, yay!! Emily :)

jasonliberty said...

BEAUTIFUL!!
Liberty

rhonda owens said...

Rejoicing with you!

Teresa said...

What a cutie!! We are still waiting for our DVD and I hope it comes soon.

Eric and Cheryl said...

Julie, I just love the pictures of her riding the little bike. You get a little glimpse of her personality...so sweet with the little smirk of a smile. I love her and can't wait for her to be home in your arms. I am so excited to see Devi become a big sister, I think she might be the best one ever. What a precious heart she has.

The Pfeiffer Family said...

Oh, Julie! What a sweet little princess you have. I am just starting to catch up on blogs and was so excited to read that you finally received video and photos of your girl. Congratulations!

April :-)

Anonymous said...

Julie:
She is just so beautiful.Those eyes just reach out and grab you.I love the description of Devi and Daddy waiting for you with such anticipation.Such a neat picture in my mind. So happy for you and praying that things go very quickly so that sweet girlie can get home to you all.
Leveta

Anonymous said...

Julie:
She is just so beautiful.Those eyes just reach out and grab you.I love the description of Devi and Daddy waiting for you with such anticipation.Such a neat picture in my mind. So happy for you and praying that things go very quickly so that sweet girlie can get home to you all.
Leveta

Carole said...

Hi,

Are you working with JOH? If so, I am as well. I'm waiting for guardianship for my three year old in Delhi.

Carole clkerper@hacc.edu