Thankful...

I write this post with great hesitation. I haven't wanted to exhale yet, because I know that we are still in what is considered to be the "honeymoon phase" of the adoption process... But I can not hold it in any longer.

I am giddy with joy.

Our entire trip to China and back was nothing short of miraculous.

Our last-minute fundraising was nothing short of miraculous.

Our first full week as a family of 8...

Nothing short of miraculous.

It's as if there was this big gaping hole in our family and it has now been filled. These girls have done better than we ever dreamed or hoped for. Our biological children are doing better than we ever dreamed or hoped for.

I was prepared for all of the worst events:

-Flight delays
-Cabin fever (14 hours on 1 plane)
-feeling like the trip would never end...
-antsy children
-food/water poisoning while in China
-sleepless nights
-potty training issues (I packed wipes, pull-ups, and disposable changing pads just in case)
-eating issues
-uncontrolable crying
-institutional behaviors
-bad attitudes
-long flight home
-grumpy kids
-chaos once returning home

...And the list goes on...

I was prepared for a really nightmarish time of adjustments for all.

NONE of those things occured. NOT EVEN ONE!!!

In my wildest dreams I would've never guessed that our story would look so totally opposite of all of that I was preparing for.

After being home a few days, I was cleaning out the kids play closet and I just sat down and cried.

I am so incredibly thankful to the Lord for all that HE has done!!!

Ashlyn is everything the Lord told me she'd be... and more.

She is pretty, kind, smart, helpful, funny, pleasant to be around, loving, tidy, cooperative, calm, happy, and just the perfect addition to our family. I am so proud of her. I know it's not been easy for her. But I also think she's doing really well. We have kept her busy doing all sorts of things and giving her time alone to rest as well. She is good about going and having fun with the kids, but also being confident enough to say no, when she just wants to mellow out and watch a movie or take a nap. I am thankful that she wants to be with us and that she doesn't close herself up in her room. She is a trooper and my little hero.

Abby is simply an angel from heaven. She is smart, sweet, quiet, funny, playful, imaginative, good sleeper, good eater, and all around cutie pie. My only minor concern for her is that she will reach out for people to hold her sometimes...  I'm not talking about perfect strangers in the grocery store... friends of ours that she's never met before. But still... I will have to work on boundaries with her.

We have been SPOILED by friends and family. My good friend Tiffanie arranged for us to have meals every other night until the end of January. We have LOVED having our friends stop over to bring meals and stay to meet the girls. Ashlyn is shy and she was very overwhelmed at first by all of the people who would want to hug her and talk to her, but she's almost completely over that now. Our long-time friends/mentors, Wyatt & Tina Anderson came over with their daughter and son-in-law last night to bring dinner and gifts. At one point, Tina and I were standing in the kitchen talking and Ashlyn stood with us the whole time, as if she was part of the converstation. Love is a universal language. I am pretty sure she feels how loved she is and I think she really likes it.

Ansley's 2 best friends live right across the street; Elizabeth & Anna. These girls are just the sweetest things. Elizabeth and Ashlyn have become fast friends. They spend alot of time communicating back and forth with "Say Hi". Thank goodness for technology!

What I love the most is just how much fun this has been. I love that Ashlyn loves being at home with us. When Ansley heads out the door to play across the street, Ashlyn likes to linger here at home. She and Aidan are watching "Nanny McPhee" for the 3rd time in 2 days right now... I love to hear her laugh. I love how sweet Averleigh and Abby are together. I love it when Averleigh calls her, "Abs". I love it when she calls Ashlyn, "Ashie". I love it that when it got really quiet this morning and I went up to check on the little girls, they had gotten in bed with Ashlyn and she was showing them how to play with her translator.

I ventured out to BJ's by myself this morning with 5 of my 6 children... all by myself... and no one got lost or even had a melt down!!!

Right now Abby and Averleigh are taking a nap.

The cleaning ladies just left... The smell of vinegar and Fabuloso is so romantic.

I am one happy momma!!!

Brownies!!!

Abby & Averleigh: flying to the moon on daddy's knees! Huge hit with miss abby!!!

Our first family movie night as a party of 8!

It got a little crazy a time or two... You know how daddy's are...

 

Blessings,
Rebecca