In and Out

Well I haven't had much time or energy to post many updates on the blog. Miss Abbi is a ball of energy, and like many kids adopted, have a lot of energy since this is their first shot at freedom and complete one on one attention. She actually slept without her shoes on last night!

NO SHOES!

 First time since we got her! She also made it most the day without needing a snack in her hand the whole day! This girl is so super brave!!!! No tears at bed time either!
We also made our way to the pool here and she LOVED it this time!

Last Saturday we went to an island called Sheaman Island. A very popular popular place for adoptive families to go walk around and shop for gifts and such. And we also went to a pearl market where they string pearls in front of you and you can get much better deals on real pearls than in the US.
Sunday we skipped going out much so Abbi could have a day of relaxing and rest but we did get some adoption paperwork ready to get Abbi's visa soon,
Today we went to the Safari Park Zoo. They had a lot of animals from all over including pandas. Abbi had a really rough day of seizures so she slept a good bit of the beginning of the trip. But when she woke up she was not sure what to think of all of the animals. She would cover her eyes but then her brave little self would peek through her fingers every once in while to get a glimpse of the animals! The day went by pretty fast and later we went to dinner with another adoption mama and her mama, that I had first met on facebook!

The attaching is coming some moments better than others. From any outsider she might look like she is head over heels in love with me and trusts me completely, but that isn't there yet, and may not be for some time. She cries if I walk away (but then she cries if anyone of us leaves the room, not just me), follows me to the bathroom and back and reaches out for me a lot, all wonderful things, but she will also reach her hands out to anyone willing to give her a hug and deeply deeply loves and craves any and all attention. It is hard to see if you have not walked this journey before, to anyone else she looks like she is all in and adjusting well, and she really  really is, but she also is trying desperately to fill that hole that has been empty for so long. But she is doing awesome! And I completely contribute that to the fact that this girl is SO BRAVE!!

This adoption we ended up with a bigger agency and there are about 7 families who travel a the same time. We all ended up in GZ together and whenever there are appoints and such, we all do it together! Having been on our own last time I LOVE being in a group! There are a few girls Emma's age who she has gravitated too and the girls are having a blast getting some free time outside of the stress of being the sideline of an adoption. (It isn't as bad as it sounds, but imagine how the first child feels when the new baby comes...) Also in this group are a few ladies I got to meet in the facebook adoption groups, so it is fun to finally meet in person! It has been a blessing to share this journey with these sweet families!
Also having the chance to be together almost everyday I get the chance to not only see adoption through my eyes (our adoption process) but through the eyes of the children they are bringing home! Some are little and some are older and just seeing them learn to love, and play and trust and experience life outside of the four walls for the first time, it is amazing! Like I always say I will never tell you adoption is easy...because it is not. With those same looks of freedom I see eyes un-trusting, uncertain, frightened, but I see strength, I see kids wanting to let go of all that held them back and love and play like kids should! There are times when you want them to just jump in head first because you want them to experience and other times you want them to slow down so they can know that this is their lives now, they do not have to experience it all in this single moment!
Friends, these kids need homes. They need people who are not afraid to obey God's call and jump in with both feet to do His will, whatever it is!
I leave you with this quote I came across this morning from a book I am reading...

"We are constantly advised to take care of ourselves (which is important) and to maintain balance (which has value); but it can be tempting to stop when the Holy Spirit is still saying "GO!" Instead of listening to ourselves and knowing our own limitations, shouldn't we listen to the Spirit and heed his direction? Sometimes that might look like stillness when we want activity, Sometimes that means avoiding activities that produce stress and self-importance. Still, sometimes that means working when you're tired, listening when you have other plans, or giving up when you'd rather not, It means understanding that on your own, you cannot help or listen or serve or share or work or accomplish anything of value if it's not done with God's strength, His is the strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy." Reckless Faith Beth Guckenburger

When will we as Christians stop telling God what is too much? He alone created out bodies to do all that He needs us to do to further His Kingdom! And yet many of us sit on the sidelines and cheer on others while they work. I am by no means patting myself on the back, THIS woman has a lot of changing still to do. I know there are things the Lord would have me do but HE is still working on me! Friends, somewhere in a crib, or on the floor , or in the home of a foster family you know from so and so through so and so, is waiting a child, hungry, hurting, longing and worse yet, waiting, for us to rise! We can all some how and in some way give life to a child! Do not be afraid to be that mom who has her kids friends over, some of those kids may never see what a functional loving family looks like yours! All you millions of people who always tell me, "I always wanted to adopt/foster but...", move to action some how! If we as Christians would rise up, so many children would and could have a chance at the same life these children here are being given...do not be afraid to move! All our buts are excuses...our God is so much bigger than that!...Do you believe that to be true?

Please pray for Abbi! Yesterday she had 7 seizures! Her seizures are pretty bad compared to Nina's everyday ones and because she is so wobbly they knock her over! So all eyes have to be on her pretty much all the time!