|
In China
All Days
|
Previous Day
|
Next Day
|
Monday, February 17, 2014
GOTCHA DAY!
We have Grace Cheng Mei!
We three arrived at the Guangdong Civil Affairs Office earlier
than Grace and had a little wait before she came in. We saw her
from across the room as her ayis (nannies) led her to another
smaller room. She seemed to recognize me right away as Deidra
told me later because her gaze followed me as she walked into
the other room.
When our turn came to receive her, our guide had us stand in the
middle of the room so that they could bring her to us. She came
immediately and began talking in a loud voice to anyone who
would listen. Our guide told us that she was saying something
like, “That’s my mama.” Grace had a bag of things special to
her, and the photo book we sent her was among those things.
Sophia and I had packed her a backpack full of goodies (which
later I regretted packing quite so many different treats because
she wanted to eat all of them in one night). Also among the
treats were some small toys. At first Grace didn’t understand
that the backpack was for her to keep. She kept taking things
out and putting them into her bag.
Mine, Sophia’s, and Deidra’s hearts were captured immediately by
this beautiful, strong, stubborn (boy they weren’t kidding when
they wrote this piece of information in her referral
information), brave little girl whom God has chosen to be our
daughter and sister.
Later when we arrived at our hotel, Sophia and I took Grace to
our room and skyped Kevin and the boys. Our dear friend Deidra
stayed in her room while Sophia and I navigated our way to Grace
for most of the afternoon because it was clear early on that
Grace took to Deidra. Who wouldn’t? She is wonderful and lovely.
And most of all Deidra is understanding beyond measure about the
importance of allowing Grace the space to bond with her mama and
sister first. It had to be difficult for Deidra to do that, and
we will always love her for that sacrifice.
Thanking God for Skype because we left it on all afternoon
(early Monday morning for our guys back home) while Grace was
introduced to her new life. It felt like Kevin and our sons were
right there with us as they watched us struggle through the
afternoon. Ted and Kevin prayed with us and for us. What a
blessing. What unfolded was just plain difficult. Grace was so
scared, but incredibly brave at the same time. She tested us
right away with her strong will and is pretty rough right now.
She tried to bite and kick me at times, and at other times she
let me rub her back and sing songs to her. She even sang along
with us. The candy we had packed in her backpack was a disaster
because she gorged herself on it for hours and tested me with
it.
You would think after adopting children from hard emotional
places already I would have had more sense than to do that, but
yesterday afternoon I just didn’t think it through with the
candy. After we ate a bit of dinner in our room, Deidra helped
remove the remaining candy secretly. She was a tremendous help
just by being in the room and directing Grace to me each time
she called out to Deidra. Sophia is such a big help as well and
will be a great big sister to help Grace learn how to be in a
family. |
Waiting for Grace
Welcome daughter and sister
Meeting Grace
Hearts melting
Kevin's girls
Sisters |
Throughout the rest of the day, Grace showed us her amazing
spirit. She did seem to learn the few boundaries I was beginning
to set in a loving but firm way. She wants to order us all
around, and she does it in a very loud tone. Her fuse is very
short right now, and patience does not seem to be in her
character at the moment. Grace throws herself on the floor and
bangs her head, tries to kick things around her (including me),
and shouts. She is very frightened at this point, of course. And
she will probably be difficult to handle for a bit of time.
Prayer need. But we have been down this road before, and God has
given us this treasure named Grace, so I am trusting that He
will give us the strength and wisdom to handle her and help her
begin to know what it means to have her own family to love and
cherish her.
She is incredibly beautiful. She is enormously brave and strong.
She does have the capability to follow directions when she
begins to feel safe. And she calls my name loudly all the time.
Mama! Mama! Oh, be still my heart.
Sophia and I helped her with her bath. I stood in the tub with
her as she washed herself. She was a little afraid at times and
really doesn’t like her hair washed. Then Sophia took a shower
right next to the bathtub. Our shower and bath is wonderful. You
can stand next to the tub and turn on the shower to either a
shower spray or have it come out of the ceiling as rain shower.
Delightful and it made her smile to see Sophia standing in a
rain shower. Grace didn’t want to get in the shower, but she
enjoyed seeing the water spray anyway.
Oh the joy of seeing a child who has lived her entire life in an
institution begin to experience life on an entirely different
level. Her squeals of delight when I poured water on her feet or
put cream on her after her bath or helped put her brand new
nightgown on will always stay with me. I am crying as I write
this. We have a long way to go with our Grace. Kevin remarked
upon watching her today that she is not anywhere near the level
of an almost eight year old girl. But God. . .He will make a way
for her to blossom and grow. I just know it.
God knew what he was doing by having Kevin stay home this time
with our little sons. Elijah would not be able to handle Grace
as she is right now, and this gives us some time to help her
adjust and learn to trust us before we bring her home. Deidra
and Sophia are just the right people to have here to help me
begin that process. At times Kevin and I have struggled with him
not being here for Grace’s Gotcha period, but today it was clear
that God’s plan was better. Elijah, who still struggles at times
with his own issues and is very unnerved by any kind of
transition or change in his life, would not have done well with
this moment in time. He needed one of his parents to be with
him.
Prayers are needed for the days and weeks ahead for our Grace
and for us. Thank you for all the prayers already offered as we
have come a long way already tonight. She fell asleep next to me
(with Sophia safely tucked into her own bed - a good thing for
Sophia), and Grace is still sleeping soundly as I have slipped
out of bed and am writing this in the dark. I start to tremble a
little as I think of the job ahead, but I know that I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me. He will give our
family and our Grace the needed strength. Goodnight from a new
mom of 5! |
Website by
myadoptionwebsite.com
|
