ONE WEEK HOME!

WOW...CAN IT REALLY BE TRUE? WE HAVE LIVED A WEEK AS A FAMILY OF FOUR?!

It's completely surreal to see this little person we dreamed about for so long, and worked so hard for playing, eating, sleeping in our home!! I have to pinch myself multiple times a day. :)

Well, this week has been more than i ever wished and prayed to the Lord for. Every specific prayer that we prayed...every one has been answered and then some! Our Lord is such a tangible God, he lives in EVERY moment in our lives, he hears us and answers us, even in the smallest details. 

This little girl has blossomed before our eyes. A little girl who didn't smile often when we met her in the orphanage. We had never even heard her laugh despite doing every silly thing we experienced parents could think of to wiggle out a giggle. She was cautious, cordial of course, but always alert to when someone else would be coming back in the room for her, and gladly head back with her caregiver to her little group.

Now she smiles ALL DAY LONG...and her laugh is getting more and more frequent and more and more boisterous as the days go on. I was making dinner last night in the kitchen with Lance and the kids were in the playroom just laughing at each other over and over again...music to a mama's ears. 

We prayed for a smooth transition that the Lord would prepare her little heart to be a part of our family and deal the best possible way with all the changes to her world happening so fast around her. SHE HAS COMPLETELY BLOWN ME AWAY!!! I have said it before but will say it again, she is so brave. She has taken on every new situation like she was born to do it! She is a sponge, enthralled with this new place, our home. Her toys, her bedroom, her brother, her parents. 

She plays a little name game what seems like 50 times a day. She will pat me and ask, "Muppet?" (which is her adorable way of calling me mommy...hee hee) and I say, "Yes, Mommy." Then she will point to Rowdy and say, "AwwwDeee?" and I say, "Yes, Rowdy." Then "Daddy?" (which she says perfectly) We say, "Yes, Daddy" and then my favorite part is she points to herself, and asks, "Shto eta?" ("What is this?" but she uses it as a "Who is this" for this game) and I say, "RUSH" and her shoulders pull up to her ears in delight as a pure joy smile spreads across her face. She gets it, she gets that she is chosen and loved, and special. She initiates this game MANY times in a day, and I am thrilled to affirm over and over again who we are and who she is. 

She needs extra filling up, extra snuggles and kisses, extra affirmation throughout the day. I am so happy she is at my feet all day arms up, grin on her face, begging for me to swoop her up and give her love, which she receives with open arms held tightly around the back of my neck and giving ME kisses! Yes, Lord, this child was just made for this affectionate household. :)

Mealtimes have required the most of our attention. Teaching a sweet little girl that her food is her food and won't be taken away is something that will take time and repetition. We are teaching her with every bite, that she can take one bite at a time and enjoy it! Her chewing has improved LEAPS and BOUNDS in the last two weeks...Praise the Lord! We are still working on her ability to drink liquids without leaking, although I know she is capable, I think it is just preference of what she is drinking that determines how well she will drink it. SO trying some different things, but just think she doesn't care for water. Which makes sense, seeing that it takes so much to purify the water in Russia that she most likely didn't drink much if any water. I know she was given a lot of juices.

My sweet Rowdy Roo has just been an EXTRAORDINARY big brother! He has dealt with all the change and another little person getting mommy and daddy's attention wonderfully. This has been for him the play date that doesn't have to ever end! They have been two peas in a pod chasing each other with their push toys around and around the house. Just little shadows of each other! I have said almost everyday, "It's kinda of like herding cats around here!" haha BUSY keeping little busy bodies out of trouble and busy having fun! Rowdy, has been so kind and thoughtful. Sharing with her, getting her snacks, getting her pillows and covering her with blankets to snuggle. They share hugs and kisses, unprompted from me, all day long. It is really so sweet to see them caring for each other so much!!  I think because Lance and I are such affectionate people with those around us, us being affectionate with Rush hasn't seemed abnormal or threatening to him at all, which is such a huge relief.

Where there is bright light, the darkness tries its hardest to stomp it out. And boy, we have had a lot of wonderful light this week! Earlier this week I had a dark moment of guilt. Feeling guilt over this new divided love for my children...I have loved Rowdy to pieces for 4 years, I have loved the idea of Rush for a year and a half and I COMPLETELY ADORE HER, but I am in the process of falling in love with HER. We are making leaps and bounds in bonding with each other, learning about each other, and learning to love with each other more and more each day. Its all just a process that requires time together, knowledge of one another. I know those guilty thoughts are not from the voice of TRUTH. I am just overjoyed that I have lens on that see past that garbage of guilt, and can quickly pray to be washed in the truth. I know he wrote this story specifically for US, I know for a fact that the Lord built us to be parents to both Rush and Rowdy and I know He will provide us with everything we need in order to be the best mama and daddy for both of them! I am so proud and blessed to be their mommy! 

He gifted me this life and I am still in awe of his goodness! I get to live a life not many are granted let alone desire. 

Thank you Lord, for giving me the desires of my heart and making my heart YOUR heart, my life YOUR life, my hands YOUR hands, my love is YOUR love.