Ten weeks ago today we landed in America with the newest addition to our family. I am not sure that I believe it has only been ten weeks, but that is what the calendar tells me.
Ten precious things James has learned since becoming part of our family:
1. to laugh without hesitation ~ feeling reckless joy
2. to be at peace when I walk in a room ... almost no more jumping out of his skin when I come near ~ understanding his mother's love
3. to use a fork, spoon, toilet paper, toothbrush, lotion, comb ~ confidence is growing
4. to let Jack have his way sometimes (okay, most of the time) ~ brotherly love
5. to color, paint, and hold a pencil ~ education is a gift and he knows it
6. to acknowledge us as his very own family ~ stifling his fear of abandonment
7. to sleep in his cozy bed with less fear of monkeys, elephants, and hyenas attacking him or us at night ~ safety
8. to sing and gibber jabber aloud like no one is listening ~ comfort is blooming
9. to hold my hand ... as in with fingers tightly clasped around mine ~ feeling wanted and protected
10. to look at pictures of "home" and his daddy without crumbling and calling himself by his birth name ~ finding his identity without losing his history
The first eight weeks and three days home were suffocating. Mere words here could never illustrate James's suffering or our inadequacy. Nine weeks to the day of driving away from his orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and it came together. Our lives blended and each day since has been a fresh, gracious, humbling new beginning. He has taught us deeply compassionate love and mercy and we continue to be in awe that our Father chose us to raise, protect, and help heal this little boy.
~it feels like forever~
Ten precious things James has learned since becoming part of our family:
1. to laugh without hesitation ~ feeling reckless joy
2. to be at peace when I walk in a room ... almost no more jumping out of his skin when I come near ~ understanding his mother's love
3. to use a fork, spoon, toilet paper, toothbrush, lotion, comb ~ confidence is growing
4. to let Jack have his way sometimes (okay, most of the time) ~ brotherly love
5. to color, paint, and hold a pencil ~ education is a gift and he knows it
6. to acknowledge us as his very own family ~ stifling his fear of abandonment
7. to sleep in his cozy bed with less fear of monkeys, elephants, and hyenas attacking him or us at night ~ safety
8. to sing and gibber jabber aloud like no one is listening ~ comfort is blooming
9. to hold my hand ... as in with fingers tightly clasped around mine ~ feeling wanted and protected
10. to look at pictures of "home" and his daddy without crumbling and calling himself by his birth name ~ finding his identity without losing his history
The first eight weeks and three days home were suffocating. Mere words here could never illustrate James's suffering or our inadequacy. Nine weeks to the day of driving away from his orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and it came together. Our lives blended and each day since has been a fresh, gracious, humbling new beginning. He has taught us deeply compassionate love and mercy and we continue to be in awe that our Father chose us to raise, protect, and help heal this little boy.
Above all,
preserve an intense love for each other,
since love covers many a sin. ...
Each one of you has received a special grace,
so, like good stewards responsible for all these varied graces of God,
put it at the service of others.
1 Peter 4:8, 10
Oh, Erin what a beautiful post. Praying that God continues that growth and healing for him and for all of us. I am so thankful for God's redemptive work.
ReplyDeleteYou are really pulling on my heart strings these days! I'm so happy things are getting easier for you and your family. You are such an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYES! Redemption is the theme of my year. I hope that pulling at heart strings pulls more and more people to defend the fatherless. xoxo
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is..... :) xo
ReplyDelete