So, How is it Really Going?

Better than we could have hoped, but definitely a journey.
Insert contended chuckle.

People adopt for lots of reasons.

Can't have biological children.

Want to give a child a home who doesn't have one.

A combination of both.

Regardless of the reason, it's SUPER important to understand (as much as you can) just how hard adoption can be. For everyone.

Adoption is beautiful and life-changing, and hope-filled. It offers a fresh chance, new beginnings, and the opportunity to love. But it can also be painful, tearful, and slow-going. It changes family dynamics. It changes how you view the world and yourself. And it requires patience that many of us just don't have apart from the help of God.

So, how is it really going?

We prepared for the worst. We think with regards to adoption it's the best strategy. It's important to think, "How will we handle life if this child has a hard time with the transition?" because at some point most kids do.

Violet had some hard days in China. She's also had several meltdowns here at home. Since being home, nearly every one has been over communication issues. Usually her not thinking we are understanding her when we actually do and the answer is just "no."

Can you IMAGINE wondering if people are understanding you? How EXHAUSTING it must be to try to translate what we're saying and doing all day. And how emotionally exhausting to TRUST that we will take care of her!

The majority of the time, she acts like she's been here forever. She has been fitting right into our family routines. She shares unbelievably well. She doesn't seem to have issues with food (either hoarding it or overeating). She is obedient, but is not afraid to share her own ideas or opinions. She doesn't let her limb differences define her. She is confident and happy. Sweet and silly. These are very good signs that she will adapt well to life here in our family and in general.

And the rest of the kids?

Noah and Joseph rock the world right now. They are so helpful with Violet and seem to also sense Mia's insecurities and go out of their way to play with her, create special times with just her, etc. We are so thankful for them and proud of them.

Gabe is delighted with Violet and loves having another sister, but she keeps a cautious distance and it's hard for him that she's not super physically affectionate with him, yet. Gabe could kiss her all day, but she would most definitely NOT appreciate it. :-)

And Mia? It's just as we expected. Both wonderful and a challenge. Her own painful past haunts her and having Violet here dredges all of those feelings up again. Add in normal selfishness ("but that is MY whatever") and it can get pretty fun here at times. BUT, we are believing and praying that God uses this adoption to help heal BOTH girls' hearts. By learning to love and share and give and serve, all because of Jesus, they will find the freedom they both need.

So our days? FULL of laughter and tears and everything in between. It's a wild ride. May God work here and be praised in our midst!

Tent Time

It's pretty cool having an older brother who can build super awesome forts in your bedroom...and even cooler to have a sister to share them with!

Just in Time

I'm so glad Violet came home before the big day! Although SHE thinks she looks silly missing her tooth, we think she couldn't be more perfect!

A Clean House

It's no secret that I don't keep a perfect house. Lord knows I try. I take after my grandmother who had sign in her kitchen that said

You'll know dinner is ready
when the smoke alarm goes off.

It was the only "decorative" touch in the room.

The good news for this crew is that I can bake. And I bake A LOT. And I'm not bad at cooking.

But cleaning? I can clean. It's the keeping it clean part and the home management thing that I'm not so good at. From everyone I talk to for ideas and every book I read, it seems to be easy for those who are organizers by nature. Me? I'm a dreamer, not a detail girl.

This is where I admit that my grandmother had a closet you opened with one hand outstretched ready to catch whatever fell on you. Lucky for me it was usually my favorite plastic snow globe. I credit that closet for my Christmas snow globe collection.

Organization does not run in my family tree. Except for one sister. There's always ONE in a family!

It wasn't as hard to keep up with life before my heart condition, but since then, I have to move more slowly. I can't bop around anymore which has significantly lessened how much I can do in a day.

So why did we adopt again? In our minds, a child is still far better in a cluttered home with laundry dirty in baskets than lonely and without hope in an orphanage. We also decided beforehand that if it was necessary to hire some part time help, we would consider it a worthwhile expense if it meant helping another child.

And so here we are...Today I received a book that has me both excited and scared. It might be my best chance at managing a large crew. That is, without Aunt Bee or Alice moving in. Although, if you know either one, please tell them that the sweetest family full of perfectly behaved and coiffed children reside in a parsonage with the most handsome pastor and they could earn sweet rewards in heaven for helping us out. Ahem.



It's huge and intimidating. And it might take an entire bag of chocolate to get through it. Uh-Oh.

Here's to new ways to taking this home to new heights...just not the laundry piles!