Our First Week Home

For me, it was a week of being very tired, letting the suitcases sit, letting my house be a total disaster...getting "reaquainted" with the kitchen, the wash machine, the school and church schedules...John and I figuring out how to do this thing called "family." It was a week of visitors, fellowship...and amidst all of that...a week nothing short of sheer JOY!! We had no idea how all our kids were going to respond, 2 of them to a new culture and way of life...life in Michigan is a much faster pace for our girls than what it was in Colombia...and things could not be going better!! Not to say that we don't have challenges, but, in reflecting on the last 11+ weeks much progress has been made...Here's a glimpse into our first week as 6 in Michigan...

Isabel and Silas were very excited for Caroline to play in the snow with them...she braved her first venture out in the freezing cold for about 10 minutes, and then decided it was nice, but, would rather watch the kids play out back from the kitchen window where it was cozy and warm...bless her little soul, the next day, she wanted to venture out with Silas while Isabel was at school. 2 minutes later, she came stomping in with blood all over her face...Silas had accidently hit her in the mouth with a shovel...she is a brave one...handled the episode with a few tears and forgiveness...and now very happy to venture out in the snow when big bro and sis come home after school (the shovels are put away)!!

Caroline could not wait to meet her new extended family...as you can see below she is very fond of Sawyer and Ally. She has already had an outing to their house, where John and I had to leave for 2 hours, and had a blast!! No fears, no worries...happy as can be!! This is the Caroline we are seeing more and more, as she is showing so much security with us, now that we are home. She does not test us like she used to, no more tantrums, less whining...I am so proud of her. Healing is taking place, trust is being built stronger...

Uncle Kevin and Aunt Marcy stopped by first...and after a minute, it was like the kids had known them all their lives...a big help to this was all the photos I could pull up on the computer of family while in Colombia...it was one of Caroline's favorite things to do...

...Cousins are the best...

...and then at night Uncle Curt and Aunt Kim's family came over with Grandpa and Grandma VS...they were all excited and happy to meet more new boy cousins...

Uncle Curt has a special gift with little ones...and within 2 minutes he already stole Caroline's heart...she did not want to let him go when it was time to go home...she keeps asking me when she gets to go visit their house...

Ahhh...our family and friends continue to amaze and bless us! From a freezer full of meals and goodies, to my cousin just making a meal for us tonight...to John coming home with a special gift from my friends at school...I could go on and on...one night we had so much fun opening the mail, where we each had a little note, a special request for each of us...and then a gift card for each of us to share with the rest of the family, from Captain Sunday, to Sweet Treats...Melinda and Brent, we had a blast with that...so creative!!!

Isabel has had a bit of a hard time wanting to let her little sisters in her room. Caroline is very curious, and wants everything that she has...Isabel has been pushing especially Caroline away...but, when bath time hits...it is a very special bonding time for them, and I can tell that in their hearts, they are really becoming "sisters."

Silas and Isabel have always enjoyed putting on "shows" for John and I. They both LOVE music, Isabel loves to dance, Silas loves making us laugh...and we are very happy to see that whenever they go off and "practice" they always include Caroline in this...another fun thing that is allowing them to slowly bond...we have found that Caroline is our "pleaser" and she wants to do everything well...encouragment goes a very long ways with her...

And yes, I did not forget about Marta. How could we?! She has done some very amazing things this week...our little strong-willed wonderful one has given us a few surprises...

She is WALKING...solo...no help...

She is always making all of us laugh...it's her mischevious personality, her buck teeth, her temper tantrums...It is not in John's personality to tease and pester, but, with Marta he just can't help it...

And...she is not spitting every solid food out anymore. We have witnessed her eating lasagna, soup, chicken, cereal, fruit...she still can get upset with her choice of foods, BUT, in 1 week, with not giving her any choices (hotel Paris was great...but, they loved serving her big helpings of oatmeal when she sqwaaked loudly...she learned quickly that wasn't going to happen at home)

...and if she is thirsty enough, she will drink out of a sippie cup...we have won this battle (most days)...and we all are happier!!!

When Silas is home, he and Caroline can play well together. I still have to put out a few arguments a day, listen to Caroline tattle repetatively, watch Silas come unglued on her or me when he thinks we just aren't being fair, and always keep a very close eye on 2 very curious 4 year olds...

When Silas is at school, I will find Caroline "mothering" Marta...although Marta does not respond well to her "mothering" as Marta likes to be in full control of their play...as you can see below, Caroline just wants to help Marta with the stroller...she approaches her very gently and kind...

...Marta does not like any help or any instruction...although she can not talk, she uses her grunts, screams, and facial expressions to get what she wants with her siblings...letting out a naughty giggle every time. I'm just waiting for Silas to not find it very cute, just once, and come unglued on her like he does his other 2 sisters...

After being home 1 week, I turned a corner...it was a really hard transition for me that first week. I expected it to be. Thanks to my parents for babysitting, getting all 4 kiddos down, so John and I could just sit and talk for a few hours...that really helped both of us get our "bearings" and together are now ready to face life as a family of six...

God has been so good and kind to our family...giving us our hearts desires...a home full of laughter and chaos!! His ways are not our ways, sometimes the road to follow is long and difficult...but, man, it is so worth moving towards Him in obedience when He lays something, big or small, on our hearts!! Worth it all!! So worth it!!!