8 Months Home

Awesome Photographer! 

Sorry I have been MIA here lately!
The blog has been seriously neglected due to lack of time!
God has been stirring some things up in me,
and I am spending a lot of time with Him to process it all.
B is doing AMAZING in her adjustments. She is going to preschool 3 days a week, for just a few hours a day, and she LOVES it.

SHE HAS BEEN UNDETECTABLE SINCE DECEMBER!
WOOT WOOT!

I am in awe of God at the way He has knit our family together so tightly, and so quickly.
This is NOT to say there have not been struggles- there have been; A LOT!
But I have been able to step back and see that God is and will continue to work it out, in all of us.
This is why the disciplines are SO important! They don't let you get too far away from Him!
As long as I keep pressing in to Him, I am confident that HE, not I, will carry us through.
I am seeing more clearly as I pray, meditate, and trust God, the things that feel so HUGE and scary, are not really as big of a deal as I made them out to be.
Some of the more difficult adjustments have been both of our 'babies' fighting for their 'place', food issues, and control issues.

My 8 year old had a hard time having a new 'baby' in the house. He has been great at expressing his needs and hurts, and I think we really have come a long way. He and his little sister are the best of friends- and the worst of enemies, just like in every family! ;)

The food issues just really break my heart. If anyone in the house is eating she doesn't want to miss out. We have been talking to her about slowing down and 'listening' to her belly.
'What is your belly saying?' Is it hungry or full?
Most of the time she answers hungry! :) But she has actually begun to leave food on her plate and say she is full, so we are encouraged. And she is growing crazy fast, too!

The control issues are getting better, and I honestly think for the first few months, I was the problem.
So hard to admit, but looking back, I was just saying 'no' more than 'yes' and she really needed to hear 'yes' from me.
 I was the one who was with her all the time, and I was the one making boundaries that she never really had before, so I was the one she liked the least!
It was breaking my heart! I was getting angry right back at her... I know, real mature!
But it was HARD! She seemed to love everyone in the family, but me!
All of my 'rejection issues' came rushing to the surface... not pretty!
Once I began to go to God with my frustration and pain, and allow Him to give me a new perspective, I was able to respond in love, and not from a place of hurt, fear, or rejection.
I feel like we have really turned a corner the last couple of months, and we are really beginning to enjoy each other.
Adoption is healing and redeeming for EVERYONE! I can't wait to do it again! ;)

Outside of our home things have been crazy too, of course!
Since the end of last year, we began attending a new church, I went on 2 retreats! (I have the BEST husband!)
I was able to share about HIV adoption, and why we are 'fools for Christ' at Discovery church in Simi Valley. Such an honor!
I have started to teach a womens group on The Gospel of Ruth by Carolyn Custis James (highly recommend it!) with my mentor, which is such a blessing!
And I have begun to train for a half marathon for Project HOPEFUL! (i hate running)
We are going to run the Chicago Half Marathon in September to raise awareness,  oh and $ too! (click here to donate) For Project HOPEFUL's work for orphans with HIV/AIDS and other of the most overlooked orphans.

Now you are all caught up with us!

I have a few posts brewing in my brain, so I'll be back soon. (i hope)

OH MELT MY HEART!!!