First Week Home!

Our first family photo as a family of eight!

As I type these very words I am reminded that three weeks ago in the Civil Affairs Office in Guangzhou, China a scared 14 year old was introduced to her parents. Parents was a word that Selah could never even imagine prior to that very day. She had no idea what that even meant.

We looked at her tiny frame and those very sad eyes and for the first time we were met with the stark reality of her past. She was so tiny, so scared, so alone in this world. She was given to us with all of her worldly belongings. She wore two jackets. Her shirt she wore was a pajama top. Her pants were knit leggings with an attached skirt. She wore boots that we now know were too small for her feet.  She had in her possession one child-size backpack. The contents of the pink back pack were unknown to us. She came with nothing else. 

Selah has done beautifully with our family. It really is quite amazing to see how she has come to accept us. That is not to say she understands how a family works. She is learning and fitting in beautifully. She has never experienced a true family before. She had a foster family for 18 months but that was only on the weekends and school holidays. She has not spoken of that family. We have been told that this is the first time in her life she has experienced true acceptance.....true safety........true love.

Fourteen years is far too long to live as an orphan. Fourteen years where no one was there to hold you when you were sick. Fourteen years without having a mommy's and daddy's bed to run to when there is a thunderstorm. Fourteen years where you don't have a mom to prepare your meals. Fourteen years where you don't have a best friend/sister to share special secrets. 

That is no longer her story. She has her own bed. She has her own clothes. Neither of which has she ever possessed before. She now can experience the same joys as our other children. She saw snow flakes for the first time this week. Honestly I thought she would be so excited. She was not! She said, "It is very cold!"  

While the hugs still are not all that welcome, we will be patient and try to understand the circumstances surrounding her beginning. We still wait for her to call us "Mama" and "Baba". Just yesterday Jeremy saw her in the schoolroom. She was writing on the white board. She asked Jeremy when his birthday was. Then she asked, "Mother?" I'll take it! She referred to me as her mother! 

Selah seemed to enjoy helping us take down the Christmas decorations this week. She is meticulous with how she organizes things. She is happy to help in any way. She offered to watch Mariah the other morning in case Jeremy wanted to go back to bed. Mariah is a handful so Jeremy declined the offer.

Here are some photos of her special very first Christmas.

This is her American Girl doll from my parents.

My mom spent many hours sewing clothes for this doll.

Reaching in her stocking for her chocolate.

And her electric scooter to match Rebecca's and Ben's.

We also began doctor appointments this week. Selah's heart is concerning a few medical professionals. So this week we are scheduled for an echo, EKG, and chest x-ray. Then she has an eye doctor appointment as we were told she is near-sighted. She tagged along to Mariah's first dental exam in preparation for hers. We already know she has a lot of dental work ahead. She has many cavities.

Mariah never shed a tear. I'm not sure she loved it but she endured. No cavities and good to go!

School started up in an abbreviated fashion last week too. Selah helped grade some of the math papers. Then she told Rebecca, "You are very smart, Rebecca!" 

Selah attended our church for the first time today. It was such a blessing to see her beside me in the pew. We certainly fill the pew! I was shocked when I heard her singing. She really amazes me! Every time someone came over to meet her she stood to her feet and shook their hands, smiled, and said, "hello." I hope you understand how incredibly difficult that was for her.

I took the girls shopping on Saturday. Selah needed clothes. We went to Old Navy and Selah conspired with Rebecca for this photo.

We found some great deals! She got four pair of pants, several tops, three sweaters, a couple of dresses, socks, and a pair of tights. She did great!

Since we took down all of the Christmas decorations on Friday we also treated Selah to Chinese for lunch. She really enjoyed it. We got a chuckle out of her "fortune" from her cookie.

Saturday was spent shopping then completing the unpacking that began six days prior. Yes, I put that off for six days. But this is what I was up against.

Keep in mind, that was not everything.

I did want to share what we came home to a 3am Sunday after being gone for 17 days.........

I still cannot believe everything that was purchased for our family. We were given:

*2 gal milk                                 *jar of peanut butter
*4 boxes cereal                           *jar of jelly
*roll of paper towels                    *box of spaghetti
*package of toilet paper               *jar of pasta sauce
*10 lbs potatoes                          *large container of butter
*2 bags apples                            *celery
*1 bag oranges                            *2 bags baby carrots
*4 loaves bread                           *1 gallon of orange juice
*1/2 gallon orange juice                *2 pkg 18 count eggs
*24 bottles of water                      *cinnamon rolls
*several bunches of bananas          *large bag of frozen french fries
*4 boxes toaster strudel

I have a feeling I know who so graciously gave to our family. Please know how overwhelmed we were again. This was a life-saver for our family. The last thing I wanted to do was go shopping. This was better than perfect. Thank you so much. Please know that our family was so blessed by your huge hearts!

Then we had our sweet friends Caleb and Danae make dinner for us. All we had to do was pop it in the oven to bake the yummy pasta. 

Another friend, Karen, made us a delicious pot roast with potatoes and carrots. she included a cake, cookies, gallon of milk, fruit, and a few other goodies. 

We are so surprised at the sheer amount of people that are following our journey. This is an example of the numbers we have seen reading my blog.

Thank you all so much for your support. It may seem easy but it is not. We are living the reality of blindly following the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

Our hearts are full of joy!

I Peter 1:8     Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: