$300 lost in India

 It may have been $300, or $400, or $500.  It was a large chunk of money.  

Sitting in the airport in Delhi before boarding the flight to Chicago, I sat in the chair with Elijah waiting for Susie who was shopping.  I had emptied my travel pack to organize my things when Elijah suddenly had to pee.  I quickly gathered my things, including what was disheveled in my lap as well as all of our luggage so I could take Elijah to the bathroom.  When I got back and sat down I noticed that I had everything except our cash, about $300 or more.  I searched everywhere but had no luck.

I wanted that trip to end in the worst way.  Meeting Mihika was a terrible experience and the thought of dealing with her disabilities was overwhelming.  I knew it was going to be hard with her, but to get back on that plane and to be heading home was a comfort I was deeply longing for.  Over the last few days I got more and more excited at the thought of sitting in those airplane seats next to Susie and Elijah in that dim plane with that Indian airplane meal in front of me and then watching the hours tick by as we got closer and closer to home.    

So, when I lost that $300 it interrupted my ability to savor boarding that plane and enjoying the ride home.  It was one of the biggest let downs of my life.  It was that much of an emotional roller coaster.  

However, I bet some person in India really appreciated finding that $300.  It probably went a lot longer than $300 would have went for me.  

This story is a microcosm of Mihika's story of coming into our family.  (And I'll try not to reflect only on the silver lining here, which may cause me to minmize the grief.)  Losing that $300 did cause a lot of grief; it caused mostly grief.  But it was a blessing, a help, a benefit to someone else.  Like that $300, adopting Mihika has been mostly grief, but has been a blessing, to others and to our family too.  Maybe in ways we don't realize.  Like how that $300 was a big blessing to someone in ways I will never know, adopting Mihika was a blessing in ways we will never know.