Home Sweet Home

We made it home safe and sound Saturday night after a 16 hour flight, a 5 hour layover, and a final flight home from Detroit. Collins was great on the 16 hour flight, thanks to prayers from many and nice stewardesses who could speak her language and explain things to her. By the time we got home we had been traveling 28 hours with a little bit of sleep for her and none for Carl and I. Riley our dog came running out of the house to greet her as we came in. She was petrified and started crying hysterically. Not the warm fuzzy entrance into her new life we were hoping for! But in the 2 days we've been home, Riley is all she studies. She wants to be in the same room with him all the time, trying to gain the courage to pet him. Right now we all feel like we did when we came home with a newborn. We're exhausted from jet lag, and every waking moment she has to be in the same room with Carl or I. Very dependent as she tries to figure this new life out. I'm sure our house, though it is small, seems overwhelming to her. It has been so fun to see her reaction to things. She opens drawers and doors, ooh's and aah's over what she finds. She's taken well to Granny and everyone she has met so far. Her 5th birthday was on Sunday and some friends had a birthday cake for her. We had never seen her interact with other kids, but she warmed up to them and played with them and even shared her toys. Sunday night we took her to church. She grabbed a basketball and dribbled and passed the ball with other kids in the lobby most of the time. She was able to play with 2 little girls who are both about her age, and they were both adopted from China. She gave lots of hugs and grinned alot, and seemed so amazed at her new life. Good things and nice people everywhere she goes! We went out to eat, and the music was playing and she danced and danced and danced! We've laughed alot in the last 3 weeks. And yet we know she is in a time of huge transition, we all are, and there are challenges and hurdles each and every day. I had read a facebook post recently from my pastor's wife that said something like, "What God does is good in the end. If its not good, its not the end." Even though we are blissful about this beautiful child, its still a little bit like survival mode time. The exhaustion and language barrier don't help things, but as we keep moving forward she will learn quickly and will understand how to live out here in the real world. This morning Carl and I both woke up early feeling almost dehydrated spiritually. So much pouring out without enough pouring in. How refreshing it was to just have some quiet time and get truth in: Psalm 68:6 - God sets the lonely in families (I love that! He chose Collins just for us and His hand plucked her out of such a dark environment and set her right in our family). Psalm 100 - Serve the Lord with gladness. (All day everyday feels like "serving". This day by serving her, we were reminded that we are really serving Him. In Matthew 18 Jesus said, "He who welcomes a little child in my name welcomes Me." And then elsewhere, "When you've done it to the least of these, you've done it unto Me." His promises and truth strengthen us and completely change our mindset for the day, as the reality of what is really happening here is brought to light in those scriptures. Once again for this day: "Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." Love to all and thanks again for the incredible support we've been given.