It's been awhile friends, and a lot has happened

I've been absent for awhile, but I'm back now. We can call it blogging maternity leave, and that will make me feel heaps better. But really it was just that things got crazy, and then they got even crazier, and then I went back to work and blogging has been the last thing to return. But here I am, I'm back and hopefully going to be regular again. *Hopefully*

So while I was absent, this happened: 24 hours before meeting Yiyi. 

And then this happened: 3 minutes after meeting Yiyi. 

And then this happened: 30 minutes after meeting Yiyi. 

And then this: 4 hours after meeting Yiyi.  

And then this: 24 hours after meeting Yiyi

And now this is happening: a few weeks home

We did it. We went to the ends of the earth and back for our child. We surrendered to what seemed "normal" and what felt "normal" to what seems, and is, right. 

In one day, in one quick moment, we became parents. Parents to a 10-year-old girl. Parents to a child who has long been without parents. Parents to a child who perhaps thought she wouldn't have parents again. And we went and we got her and we learned how to love like no other and we came back. 

And now we go out the day of a snow storm, shopping for snow pants. And we go out the morning of a birthday party to buy a present for the birthday child. And we drive around town to pay our bills the day they are due because we forgot to put checks in the mail the week before. And we cook less and go to Costco more. And I try to fit formerly 12 hour work days into 6 1/2 hours. And the truth is, none of that really matters. Because what matters is, we have a child that we needed and who needed us. We have a child who is learning to trust us. We have a child who is learning to love us. 

And it couldn't feel more normal. 

She's doing incredibly well. Incredibly well. She's terrific really. She's a wonderful child who is nothing like we were told. She's spunky, funny, and a little sassy pants. And she's smart, loving, and kind to others. She's emotional and insightful. And truly, we're in awe every day as to how well this child is transitioning and acclimating to her new life. She's truly a blessing to our family in every sense of the word. 

We truly cannot believe how blessed we are and that we get to be her parents. 

Over these next few weeks, I'll be working to share some information and insights from our adoption of an older child to share with all of you readers who are interested in learning about older child adoption. I've got some good stories and I can't wait to share them with you! My hope is that our stories and insights will help someone to normalize older child adoption, be drawn to older child adoption, or even share it with a friend who is in need of such information. Obviously my information is not the end all, be all for older child adoptions, but it's helpful as I'll work to examine all issues from both sides, as both a mom and an adoption social worker. 

Please, feel free to dialogue with me about topics you want covered or want to know more information about. Whatever piques your curiosity, let me know and I'll think about how we've dealt with that issue. You can send me a message or post it as a comment and I'll give thought to how to address it. 

Note: I have to moderate all comments now because I've been featured in some GOMI forums and the comments have gotten somewhat ugly. Some people are just sad, I guess. But good thing they are sending the comments through so I can read them and keep these women in my prayers. Bless their hearts! So if you send a comment through and you don't see it show up right away, I'll post it as soon as I can and then make a note to address that topic in the future.
Note 2: And if you are reading this through hearing about me on the GOMI, thanks for stopping by! I'm so glad you did and hopefully this blog will brighten your day in some way. Remember - we're all moms just the same, just struggling to parent our children the best we can. Please reach out to a friend or counselor if your sadness is getting in the way of you being the best mom you can be.  

So with that, I'll leave one more darling photo of this precious girl I cannot believe I'm fortunate enough to have in my life!