It is Better!

What a difference a few weeks can make!  While the transition was extremely difficult, I'm happy to say that our little Sophia seems to be well adjusted in her new home and country.  Or should I say, we are all adjusted to her way of doing things?  Maybe it's best to say that we have done a lot of give and take!

Four weeks ago today Sophia was placed in our arms forever.  She said goodbye to a family she has known for the last two years, a city she lived in her entire life, and all the sights, smells, and tastes that went along with all of that.  To see her now, crawling around our house like a pro, eating foods she never had before, sleeping through most nights--all I can say is that God is amazing!

So many of my friends with adopted children kept telling me that "it will get better" and while I believed that in my head, it was so hard to get through to my heart during those first weeks.  I'm not unaware that we have seen a huge change in our daughter in a short amount of time compared to some people who adopt.  The sleep issue alone can take months or even years to resolve for some children, and Sophia was sleeping through the night in two weeks.  (God knew I couldn't handle much more than that!!!)  I'm so grateful for the encouragement and prayers that have sustained all of us, and I know that the prayers, in particular, have also helped Sophia adjust as well and as quickly as she has.  God is good!!

We took Sophia to church for the first time on Sunday, and she did so well.  We sat in the back to minimize any distraction she might cause, and she thoroughly enjoyed the music and singing.  When our pastor began to preach, I took her to the nursery where she was so happy to play and scoot around...no anxiety at all!  I thought maybe it reminded her of her little preschool she was attending...I was just amazed at how she just jumped right in and played.  Developmentally she is at the level of a 1 1/2 to 2 year old when it comes to playing, so she probably felt right at home among the toddlers in there.  It made me so happy to see her play!

Her favorite place to be is definitely home.  She feels comfortable scooting all over the house now, by herself, and keeps herself pretty well entertained.  Her brothers help in that department as well, running around like crazy people, making her laugh hysterically!  She will come and find me and "check in" for some holding time, but then is off and playing again.  So cute!  She also loves to go places in the van and ride in her stroller, so we try to get out of the house at least once a day when we can.  I hope that when we move later this month, she adjust to her new environment quickly, too.  Hopefully it won't set her back too much...it's not ideal, but it is what it is!

When I gaze into Sophia's beautiful, deep brown eyes, I can't help but thank the Lord for bringing this little girl into our lives.  As my husband loves to say, God doesn't call us to do the easy thing...He calls us to do the hard thing.  But following God's call is always worth the effort it takes.  I know there will be more difficult days ahead for our family...that's just the way life is.  But together we will weather the next storm, and be all the stronger because of it.  And, IT WILL GET BETTER!!

One happy little girl!