A Whole New World

Today Mia has been home exactly one week.  Just seven days and she's already tried so many new things.  For starters, she lives in a new country, a new house, a new neighborhood.  She  has met 2 new brothers and 2 new sisters along with 4 new grandparents, 4 new aunts, 5 new uncles and 14 new cousins.  She has met new neighbors, eaten new foods, slept in a new bed, gotten her first pair of new shoes and new clothes, and she's gone to a new church with lots of new people to meet. That is quite a lot of a 7 year old.  I didn't have intentions of introducing her to quite so many new things this early - but she is soaking everything up like a sponge.  So much so, that she even went to her NEW school on Thursday and Friday.  She met new teachers, new classmates, and is hearing a new way of learning.  She LOVED her first two days at school and I can tell they have already made a difference in her confidence level.  She was so worried about school and not speaking English, but I think these two days helped her see that somethings about school are the same - and the rest isn't going to be as hard as she thought.  We've been connected with a precious Chinese friend who lives not too far from us and Mia was able to SKYPE with her before she went to school.  I just wanted to be sure she understood what she was asking to do.  It was a great conversation for Mia.  We've been invited to dinner at this lady's house and we can't wait.  The more Chinese people Mia sees her in America, the more at ease she feels.
So, you are wondering, how are we doing with all these new things?  How is Mia coping?  How are we all coping?  The answer is different every day.  Somedays are very, very hard.  Some days are much easier.  Today is the first day I've woken up and felt "normal".  The long trip home that we took almost killed us both, but we wouldn't have done it any other way.  It has however, taken me almost the whole week to recover. I'm hoping I'll be able to function better this week.  Mia has come along way since January 31st when she met us for the first time.  There is still a long way to go - but we've seen so many glimpses of hope in her - we hold on to that on the difficult days.  One day I want to share the whole expereince of those first few days with Mia.  I just can't seem to decide how to do it and how much to share - so I'll wait.  Just know that God was there.  Even in the darkest moments we were never left alone.  He who promised is faithful.

These are pictures of Mia at the Guanzghou Zoo.  It was quite interesting.  I wasn't feeling very safe there - perhaps Chinese aren't as obssessed with safety as we are here.  There just wasn't enough adequate railing and protection for me.  I mean really, have you ever been those close to an elephant.  And do you see the miniscule railing that is keeping Mia from jumping in with the Panda?  It was a great day, but I was a nervous wreck by the time we left. 

 

 

This last pic is her getting ready to head out the door for her first day of school. 

And loving life with sisters......