She's home, and yes, I realize I haven't even tried to post anything yet. There will be pictures to come of some "first's" in America, but for now just words. We've been settling, as much as you can settle with two energetic and lively Ugandan children running around a 1,000 square foot condo. Of course, we've already visited the beach and already overcome Maggie's first verbalized fear. She looked right at the waves and said, "Don't take me there. I fear." After some nice gentle pulls on the hand and a little nudge to put her feet in the water, her face changed from fear to pure joy. A little ocean will do a lot of good for a fearful little girl, even if it means you are just putting your feet in. As I mentioned in a much earlier post, "I come to the sea to breathe." Maybe Maggie comes here to breathe, too.
I know many people have opinions about how much to expose their adopted children to in the first weeks, months and years, but it is quite possible that those opinions are just that, opinions. In a full two days, Maggie has already done some grocery shopping at a huge supermarket, looked for some clothes at the mall, went to the beach, scootered at a local park, helped her family move out of their church building, peeled carrots and chopped veggies, met a ton of people, stayed at home by herself (ok, with her brother!), watched some movies, read some books, petted a bunch of dogs and changed clothes about 8 times. She has been busy and overwhelmed and tired and yet, she has also been managing things very well.
We are all doing the best we can to roll with everything. So, all I can say after day two is that we are floating along in the river God has placed us in and we are still keeping our heads above water. But like I said, it is only day 2!
Monday, August 6, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
En Route
So, my family is officially en route. Not sure where in that maze of atmosphere they are right about now, but I know they are getting closer with every minute. All things considered, I am surprisingly calm. There are many things rattling around in my spirit. It's not the rattling that makes me unbalanced, but the bumping into each other that usually causes the uprisings. So, for now, things are moving, but not bumping, and I am at peace.
Had an amazing and very honest talk with Perez last night while we shared my bed. God has gifted this boy with an ability to understand the deeper things of life at an early age. We were sharing our feelings about the last night of him being an only child. He said he felt terrible. He said he didn't want to be a "double child", meaning to have a sibling. He said he didn't want to share us, his mom and dad, with anyone and that he doesn't want to have to share his toothpaste either. And that he didn't know what to do when he felt this way. I hinted at the fact that sometimes when we are in this position of uncertainty there is nothing WE can do. But someone can. That someone is an almighty God who is orchestrating this thing in the first place. You gotta take it up with him!
We talked about how amazing Perez's story is and that because of his part in that story he will have a deeper and richer character, a better understanding of love, and a spirit that shines even in the challenging times. He looked at me and said, "Mom, I'm gonna have a lot more gray hairs after this!" I cracked up. We both rolled around laughing for a few minutes, which was a good relief from the tension of the earlier conversation. The thing is, he does already have three gray hairs! We joke about them often. But, the other thing is, he wasn't hinting at the fact that this adoption and his subsequent life change were going to make him feel older, but that he is going to come out of it much wiser. He got it. Not just in his head, or on his head, but in his heart. And as I prayed, he squeezed my hand and drifted off before I even said, "Amen".
The family dynamic is changing, but the heart continues to love with the same passion it had in the beginning.
From San Diego and the airspace above Europe with love,
Ali
Had an amazing and very honest talk with Perez last night while we shared my bed. God has gifted this boy with an ability to understand the deeper things of life at an early age. We were sharing our feelings about the last night of him being an only child. He said he felt terrible. He said he didn't want to be a "double child", meaning to have a sibling. He said he didn't want to share us, his mom and dad, with anyone and that he doesn't want to have to share his toothpaste either. And that he didn't know what to do when he felt this way. I hinted at the fact that sometimes when we are in this position of uncertainty there is nothing WE can do. But someone can. That someone is an almighty God who is orchestrating this thing in the first place. You gotta take it up with him!
We talked about how amazing Perez's story is and that because of his part in that story he will have a deeper and richer character, a better understanding of love, and a spirit that shines even in the challenging times. He looked at me and said, "Mom, I'm gonna have a lot more gray hairs after this!" I cracked up. We both rolled around laughing for a few minutes, which was a good relief from the tension of the earlier conversation. The thing is, he does already have three gray hairs! We joke about them often. But, the other thing is, he wasn't hinting at the fact that this adoption and his subsequent life change were going to make him feel older, but that he is going to come out of it much wiser. He got it. Not just in his head, or on his head, but in his heart. And as I prayed, he squeezed my hand and drifted off before I even said, "Amen".
The family dynamic is changing, but the heart continues to love with the same passion it had in the beginning.
From San Diego and the airspace above Europe with love,
Ali
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