Reflections

As we are about to celebrate Christmas, I sit and watch Hope & Maggie.  This is their first REAL Christmas.  Yes, they saw Christmas trees, and santa hats and even got a present (I think) in China, but this is their first REAL Christmas.  Where they will learn what Christmas is all about. Where they will spend it with a family.  Where they will experience the laughter and singing that we all do this time of year.  And let me tell you, the girls are EXCITED!  I took the kids shopping to buy each other gifts.  They LOVED picking out something for their siblings (they all loved it).  But Hope realized that she did not buy something for Maggie, and Maggie did not buy something for her (because they were together when we shopped).  So I told them I would pick something up and show them and see if it was okay.  Bill & I went to Epcot the other night, (just the 2 of us) and I found 2 things.  I picked up a Tinker Bell Coloring kit for Maggie, and a Disney back scratcher for Hope.  Why a back scratcher???? Well when we were there a few weeks ago, Hope saw it, knew what it was and kept asking for it. She said "Everyone can use it".  So, I wanted to make sure we picked it up.  One by one I brought them in my room to show them their gift to the other.  And they both said "Yes, good for her, but not for me".  LOL  Hope could not wait to wrap up Maggie's gift and put it under the tree. She also could not wait for Maggie to wrap up Hope's gift so she could see the shape.  LOL  I keep telling them "on 12/25 we will open them all".  They are counting down the days.

The girls made cookies for all of their teachers (they took 10 or 12 I think) and passed them out last week. They were beaming. And the teachers said "for me???" with huge smiles.  The girls loved it.  Then yesterday one teacher gave them homemade chocolate chip banana bread.  Hope & Maggie said "everybody to share from teacher".  Again, the girls were beaming.

I love that they want to share things with all of us now.  It's precious.  And now every day Maggie kisses me on the cheek when she gets out of the car, and Hope blows me kisses (she's too far from me to actually kiss me).  And at night, they both want hugs AND kisses from us.  I love that I don't have to force a hug or kiss on them, I love that they WANT the hug & kiss.

We still have some hard moments with Hope.  It's mainly just attention seeking issues that we have.  I broke down on Sunday because I realized that I hardly spoke to Jadyn all day on Saturday, which was her birthday, because Hope was demanding all of the attention.  Hope will interrupt anyone and not have anything to really say.  She just does not want anyone to have our attention.  We are working on this.  Telling her she needs to wait her turn.  And she does try.  Some days are really good.

When we came home on Sunday there was a package for us with over 3000 photos.  These are photos of the girls from about 2006 until right before we met them this past August.  And they include photos of the kids from the orphanage.  (no, we did not get over 3000 pictures of just the girls LOL).  These photos are priceless to me.  These are the earliest photos that we have of the girls.  I did not even recognize Maggie.  When we were looking through them (we only got through about 600 photos LOL) I realized how much they have had to go through.  I am able to see what their life was like when they were younger.  Some of the photos they look happy. Some they look so alone and sad.  I'm so thankful they are home.  I'm so thankful they tell us that they are happy. I'm so happy they say they love us.  Because I worry that they might not. I worry they might not be happy.  But last night we were having a discussion about another one of their friends from Huainan who is not happy right now, and I asked "are you happy?" And they both said with HUGE smiles "Yes, very happy".  They want to call their friend and tell her "don't be sad, be very happy".

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Here are 2 photos of the girls.  Our precious Hope & Maggie.

Maggie 12/2007 age 7

Hope 1/2008 age 8