AMAZED!
There is no other word to describe the past few months of our lives. Tonight, as I write, I am watching my daughter crawl around the floor on her hands and knees, shake her head "no" when she doesn't want milk, sign for "more" when she doesn't want me to stop reading, and laugh when she lets out a little gas. Four months ago when we met her, she couldn't even sit up on the hotel room bed without support. Now, she's almost ready to walk. She's eating table food (except for puree prunes, which I still feed her occasionally), clapping when she hears "patty cake" or "If you're happy and you know it...," waving bye-bye when daddy leaves for work, and getting the shapes into the shape sorter, at times, independently. She's smiling more, opening up to others, and we've been able to leave her in the church nursery several times with no problems.
If someone had told me how hard this transition was going to be, I probably would have hidden under a rock. I've decided it's a good thing that God doesn't show us all the places He's leading before we get there because most of us would protest and argue that we are not capable of following. Just recovering from jet lag was one of the hardest things we've ever had to do. Traveling to Taiwan was just the beginning. It has taken us and Amber Joy this long (we've been home four months tomorrow) to adjust to what I would call "the semblance of the new normal." We've had major changes in naptimes, other parts of her schedule, food, discipline, and mom and dad's emotions. I've never been through post-partum (officially), but I honestly believe that some of what we've experienced is comparable. Not only are we first time parents, but we had to fly halfway around the world and back with a child who already had 11 months of history and didn't know us at all.
Justin and I were talking last night about how worry right now about debt, work, and anything beyond today is actually very silly, especially because we have experienced God's faithfulness first-hand. For those of us who know that God has been busy working out the story of our lives from day #1, to regress into fear and anxiety makes little sense. Our story did not end with the completion of our adoption...it has only just begun. Each day when the enemy tries to tell me that I'm not a good mom, or that I'm not patient enough or creative enough or smart enough to be Amber Joy's mom, I am reminded that, not only was she chosen for us, but we were chosen for her. According to God's promises, we are qualified for this job to which He has called us. We are not perfect, but we are the perfect match as a family.
We can't thank you enough for reading our blog, keeping up with us on Facebook, and all of the notes, gifts, financial contributions, participation in fundraisers, food, and most of all, your prayers. I will do my best to post as I can.
Ephesians 3:20 (The Message)
"God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."
There is no other word to describe the past few months of our lives. Tonight, as I write, I am watching my daughter crawl around the floor on her hands and knees, shake her head "no" when she doesn't want milk, sign for "more" when she doesn't want me to stop reading, and laugh when she lets out a little gas. Four months ago when we met her, she couldn't even sit up on the hotel room bed without support. Now, she's almost ready to walk. She's eating table food (except for puree prunes, which I still feed her occasionally), clapping when she hears "patty cake" or "If you're happy and you know it...," waving bye-bye when daddy leaves for work, and getting the shapes into the shape sorter, at times, independently. She's smiling more, opening up to others, and we've been able to leave her in the church nursery several times with no problems.
If someone had told me how hard this transition was going to be, I probably would have hidden under a rock. I've decided it's a good thing that God doesn't show us all the places He's leading before we get there because most of us would protest and argue that we are not capable of following. Just recovering from jet lag was one of the hardest things we've ever had to do. Traveling to Taiwan was just the beginning. It has taken us and Amber Joy this long (we've been home four months tomorrow) to adjust to what I would call "the semblance of the new normal." We've had major changes in naptimes, other parts of her schedule, food, discipline, and mom and dad's emotions. I've never been through post-partum (officially), but I honestly believe that some of what we've experienced is comparable. Not only are we first time parents, but we had to fly halfway around the world and back with a child who already had 11 months of history and didn't know us at all.
Justin and I were talking last night about how worry right now about debt, work, and anything beyond today is actually very silly, especially because we have experienced God's faithfulness first-hand. For those of us who know that God has been busy working out the story of our lives from day #1, to regress into fear and anxiety makes little sense. Our story did not end with the completion of our adoption...it has only just begun. Each day when the enemy tries to tell me that I'm not a good mom, or that I'm not patient enough or creative enough or smart enough to be Amber Joy's mom, I am reminded that, not only was she chosen for us, but we were chosen for her. According to God's promises, we are qualified for this job to which He has called us. We are not perfect, but we are the perfect match as a family.
We can't thank you enough for reading our blog, keeping up with us on Facebook, and all of the notes, gifts, financial contributions, participation in fundraisers, food, and most of all, your prayers. I will do my best to post as I can.
Ephesians 3:20 (The Message)
"God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."
Amber Joy is precious and I have loved keeping up with her progress through reading your post on facebook. You are truly special because as you say, God picked you out to be her parents. God Bless you as you raise this child in the love of the Lord! She is adorable.
ReplyDeleteAnne Land/ Jeff's mom