First Days Home

Those first days home were a mixture of extreme joy and happiness and extreme frustration and adjustment. I can't even find any pictures on my computer from those first days. I am guessing it is because they are on Rick's and not mine, but it very well could be that it is because we were so exhausted and overwhelmed that we didn't take a lot of pictures.

It was really hard to give our 3 kids who had been without us for so long the attention they needed while trying to adjust ourselves, Cody, Isaiah and Laila to the right time zone. Isaiah was REALLY aggressive those first months home. He would bite, hit, pinch, etc. You name it, he did it. It was so hard. We knew that his little world had been turned upside down more than once. We had to show him that this time, the change was for good, and that we loved him deeply and unconditionally. I know he was grieving the loss of his mother, his friends at the orphanage, his "home," and his country. He had to learn our language. He had to adjust to the new climate.(It snowed the day after we arrived home. I am pretty sure it was the first time he had ever seen snow.) He was being given new foods. Poor little guy. It makes me sad to even think about it now.

The adjustment didn't just fall on Isaiah and Laila. Cody, Lauren, Abby, and Sam had quite a bit of adjusting to do as well. Sam had been dethroned from his position as "baby" of the family. Lauren and Abby were constantly fighting over who got to take care of Laila, our new baby. Cody had to readjust back to school and his culture after being away for over a month. Rick and I now had to figure out how to live life as the parents of six children. Just typing this exhausts me. It was a really hard time.

On the other hand, we had so much joy and excitement in our hearts and amongst our community of friends. We were surrounded by help with meals, school pickups, clothes for Isaiah and Laila, gifts for our family, and playdates for the big kids. Everywhere we went, people were so excited to meet Isaiah and Laila. So many had journeyed with us and followed our adventures in Africa. This wasn't just about us. It was a group effort of God's people coming together to fulfill His plan. This adoption would not have happened without God's people surrounding us and supporting us so much.

Now, here we are, one year later, a family of 8. We have our groove on how to function. We have overcome most of the initial adjustment, especially with Isaiah. (Don't get me wrong, he is a work in progress behaviorally, but most of his behavioral issues at this point appear to be a result of his strong will and personality. He is much like Cody was at this age.) There is no question in any of our minds that we are family. It is understood and accepted and we like it that way. While in Africa, I wrote the statement in my journal, "I am forever changed." I believe that is true of our family. It is a good thing. It is God's plan.