8 Months!

Another month has passed.  We've been the girls parents for 8 months now.  Wow!  What a journey this has been.  Still having growing pains, but for the most part things are going very well.

Maggie is blossoming into an American teenager.  She loves the friends she's making. She even received a phone call from a friend the other night. Her first phone call!  She was beaming.  She walked into the other room so we would not listen.  LOL.  Typical teenager, right?

Hope is trying.  She has her good days. And they are becoming more the norm for her.  BUT, we still go through some rough times.  The other night was one of them.  It's hard when she breaks down like this, because it disrupts the entire family.  The other kids are starting to be affected by the breakdowns.  And it's not just crying, it's a full blown toddler tantrum, from a 13 year old.  The other night's lasted an hour.  Maggie ended up in a corner crying.  She said she's mad at Hope for doing this.  She informed us that Hope was kept with the little kids in the orphanage up until they found out that she was being adopted with Maggie.  Then she was allowed to go upstairs with the big kids (kids her age).  This broke my heart.  I literally broke down crying.  So for 12 1/2 years, Hope was not allowed to grow up. I don't know why they did this.  It makes me angry.  Our sweet Hope has so much to overcome.

After Hope finally calmed down, she told us "If you & daddy want to send me back to China it's okay with me".  WHAT??????  We asked her "Do you want to go back to China?"  She said "No, but if you want me to go back it's okay with me".  BROKE.....MY.....HEART!!!!!!  We told her we DO NOT want her going back. We know that she had a hard time there.  We want her here with us. We are her mom & dad.  She said she did not have a hard time in China.  But then she told us about the kids who would be mean to her.  Physically & emotionally.   :-(   After all of this was discussed, we found out that a couple of girls that they knew, were being adopted by families.  And they acted bad so their families returned them back to the orphanage.  SO....Hope's thinking that since she is bad, that is what families do, return the kids.  Again....broke my heart!  

We have a lot to overcome and we are praying that God can give us the right words & actions.  It's been 8 months, and she is finally sharing more with us.

These past 8 months have also shown me how many people there are who are helping us.  It's the little things that are HUGE for us.  Friends who are here when I need a shoulder to cry on, or laugh with; family who supports our family and loves our kids. And then there are the strangers who are becoming so important in our girls lives. People we did not know before we adopted the girls.  People who did not sign up with us to bring the girls home.  I'm talking about the teachers.  I am just blown away with how much these people are loving our girls.  They are priceless to me.  Showing them compassion and also guidance. Teaching them things that the girls are loving.  Being there for them.  Even spoiling them.  I was scared to adopt an older child.  How would we teach them. How would we communicate. Well God has provided.  I'm in awe with how much love & support we and the girls receive.  We are forever grateful for the kindness of those around us.

Now I will leave you with some photos.  Yesterday marked 8 months like I said.  And it was a busy day (that's why this post is a day late).  It was a good day.  Hope was in a better mood.  The kids had fun playing with their cousins.  And all 4 of our girls donated their hair to Locks of Love.  Hope was scared and even cried.  I know her fear was she would look like a boy.  In China, they cut her hair to look like a boy.  Another emotional scar we need to get through.  But we promised she would not look like a boy and once they cut her braid she smiled and we gave high 5's.  We are so proud of our girls donating their hair. They know why they donated.  And I think it made them feel happy to be able to help other kids.

Thank you for being here for us.  We do have good days, but the hard days I can't get through without the love & support from others.  Thank you for praying for our family.  6 kids is a lot.  Exhausting. But also rewarding.

Look how long their hair was

How much was donated

Hair looks so cute 

40 inches of hair being donated

Cute hair, all ready for summer

8 months as sisters

Maggie

Hope

Hope on rope swing at her cousin's house

Watching their cousin play baseball.  

Maggie on rope swing

Maggie LOVES playing "baseball"

Hope is fascinated with baseball

A precious, happy moment with Hope