MoViNG!!

AAAAA!!! I can't believe we're moving!! In our almost 21 years of marriage, my husband and I have lived in the house we live in now the longest.....6 years! So, I am not a stranger to looking at houses, showing houses, packing, pitching, sorting, cleaning, closing, unpacking, remodeling, settling in....and the many more wonderful things that go along with moving. Many moves have been hard moves, sad moves. This move is super exciting for me. We are not leaving our town, our church, or the friends we cherish. We are just leaving a home that has been a good home for us but has somehow shrunk over the years. It's been, um, fun(?) going through closets and boxes that haven't been opened in 6 years. We've taken bags and bags and boxes and boxes of miscellaneous items to our church to donate for their annual youth garage sale. HOW did we collect SO MUCH STUFF?!

We close on our new house on November 2nd (in only 3 days!!!!!) and will be moved in by the 6th. What does one do while one is waiting after one has already packed? Take advantage of the empty kitchen cabinets, of course!!

Commitment

This cool bear came to visit at our house. The coolest sister ever is under all of that fur, but, shhh, don't tell anyone! The littles still don't know it was Kayla!! Faven did say that she knew it was a 'she' because she could tell it had boobies!!! Hahaha! She's so observant!

I wanted to do a follow-up on my last post. I talked about the many trials in the early months of our adoption. I'm told that adopting an older child is much different than adopting an infant. The transition for an adopted child into the family is much more complicated if they're older (don't quote me on this...it's just what I've heard). However, this does not mean that everyone will experience the hardships that we experienced with our adoption. Each family is different. Each child or children being adopted is different. They will respond to change, their family, their new home, their new pets, their new school, the new food, and their past experiences in different ways. Some families may experience a transition much easier than ours, some may be harder. I believe that the key to success in raising children, whether biological, adopted as infants, toddlers, pre-teen, or as a teenager, with or without disabilities, is commitment. As I said before, I wondered whether or not we had made the right decision, but, from the moment we became their parents, I was committed. Through the good, bad, and the ugly, Faven and Diborah were stuck with us! (o:

I would not change our decision. Do I still advocate for older child adoption? Yes! I believe that the older children need homes, they need families, committed families. If you are considering or in the process of adopting an older child, do your research, talk to other families who have gone through it, and strap on your seatbelts and get ready for an exciting ride!! And know that through perseverance, you will receive an awesome reward in the end! To love and be loved by a child who will have a brighter future because you stepped out in faith.

Are these sisters not just the cutest thing(s) ever?! These are my daughters....on good days and bad! Did I say bad? Is it politically correct to admit that somedays they drive me insane? Ok, then, I won't say that....

But, I will say that we have all come a long way in 9 1/2 months!

It's been a while since I've blogged, mostly because I haven't been inspired to share anything. I'm not a writer and just won't do it unless I really feel led.

So, here I am! As I said, Faven and Diborah have been home for 9 1/2 months. I would like to share with you some things that deserve some applause.....

**Language! We survived for a while on limited Amharic on our part and no english on theirs. But, it has been amazing to watch them grow and learn and now know how to communicate fully in English with anyone they meet. I always say that it's because they get sooooo much practice!! (o:

**When the girls first came to our home, they were terribly unruly for many reasons I won't go into. Now, they are well-behaved (ok, as well-behaved as my other children!) and respond to discipline....100's of gray hairs later! Faven's reading tutor at school was listening to her read from her book. She shared with me this story about Faven...

"...on one of the pages the little boy says, "Stop, Mom." Faven read that, shook her head and said, 'Oh, we don't say that to Mom at our house. That would be not respect. My dad would not be happy.'" A-ha!! She gets it!!

**Bonding did not happen as quickly as I would have liked, but I am finally starting to feel a bond with Faven and Diborah and I can sense that they are also bonding with me. Yesterday, when Faven was playing house with Emma, she said, "I am going to go over here and sit by my real mom." She was talking about me, by the way. Wow, that sounded good!!!

**Both of the girls love school.

**Not as much fear. Faven can walk to and from school by herself. Diborah can climb on the playground equipment without fear of falling. They both sleep in their own beds! Hooray!

The work of the enemy is very powerful. He does not want to see good being done. After bringing my daughters home, I questioned whether or not I had done the right thing...for myself, the girls, and my family. I felt like my family was the poster child for why NOT to adopt because we were so stressed and struggled with behavior problems. My husband and I had worked very hard in our community to raise money for the orphanages in Ethiopia and had been very vocal in advocating for older child adoption. Then, just 4 months after bringing our daughters home, we separated. I had so many doubts and fears and struggled with my faith.

But, God is good, and He prevailed!! My marriage has been restored, my faith has been restored and we are all feeling like a family again!!

I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who did not give up on me and my family when I felt like giving up! I am also SO thankful for friends (some who I only know through blogging) who cared for me enough to keep in touch and check in on me occasionally! A friend who will listen, support and not judge is priceless!!!!