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11.02.2013

two months in

On September 2 we met a little girl who was willing to do ANYTHING to get out of my arms.

that day, particularly that morning seems so long ago now

Today, we've got a little girl who often will do anything to get into my arms to be held.


Granted many of those times it's when she sees someone else coming to me for attention, but she's realizing that Mommy's love is something to crave and so I'll take it.

The past two months have been a bumpy ride.  The tantrums, the full force physical fights between kids, the biting, the hitting, the rage that came without warning, and the screaming.  Oh the screaming.

I'm going to be perfectly honest here and say that in the days that we initially got home, when the honeymoon among siblings was over and a full force M-world war had erupted, I quietly questioned if we had indeed followed God's call on this one or if we had made it happen ourselves.

Blessedly in the dark days we had good friends rally around us to offer support and encouragement.  Friends that reminded us to focus on the highlights of each day instead of drowning in the rock bottom ones.  Friends that allowed me to be vulnerable and have that ugly cry at church.  Friends that didn't pass judgement when we struggled to figure out just how to discipline this strong willed child.

And it has been just this week that Ian and I find ourselves truly exhaling.  As she walks by in the house gratuitous kisses are bestowed upon me for no reason at all.  She is content to sit in my lap longer and can sustain eye contact long enough to smile.  Just this morning I wrote the following in an email to our adoption fellowship group, "This past week has been one in which both Ian and I find ourselves saying that truly the good moments are outweighing the bad.  Yes, there are still squabbles frequently in the house, but the intensity and duration are significantly smaller AND we're hearing more and more the big kids thanking Jesus for the fun they had with their little sister that day in their prayers.  HUGE progress.  We're also all sleeping through the nights now...even Daniel (for the first time since he came home) so that makes the whole world look brighter. "

Does that mean that we're all fully adjusted to being a family of seven?

No, not quite yet.  There's still so much to figure out.  But today, exactly two months later, things are looking up.

And with a crew like this who has fun together in the smoother moments, things are looking good!

again, as stated in the previous post...daniel is wearing pajama shorts under that pumpkin!
Indeed He did place the desire in our hearts to add another treasure to our fold and He continued to give us glimmers of hope in the most difficult of times.  God is good!

[Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.] Hebrews 10:23 NIV

4 comments:

Julie Claybrook said...

I love the "bookends". Elder daughter checking in front--youngest daughter checking behind! A girl's gotta keep everybody in line!!

Angie said...

Oh, dear friend. I remember those tough first months...and months. It is so very hard sometimes to become a new family all over again. We experienced those screams, tantrums, spitting, etc., too. Praying for peace and joy in your home, and thankful for those glimmers of hope.

likeschocolate said...

Yeah! So happy things have gotten better! God doesn't lie does he, he just doesn't say it is going to be easy either.

Unknown said...

Love your honesty. Sad that we live so far apart... :( Wishing I was closer to provide helping hands when needed.