Today I started back to work and I was amazed that I made it about 7 hours. I thought I won't even make it to 6 hours. Every one was so sweet to welcome me back. By lunch time it felt like I had never had any time off:) But I am grateful for my job and enjoy the people I work with as well as my job. I was tired at the end of the 7 hours, but glad I had made it through the day.
Natalie has also settled back into school, but I have no doubt that those 2 weeks home with me made a huge difference in our relationship.
The weather is much cooler and I have had to scrap my car windows the last 2 mornings. I know those of you who live in the north are probably laughing at me. But tonight I put the car in the garage. I had just a few requirements when I was buying my house. The main one was that it would have a garage. After years of living in the north and having to scrap my windows and dig out the car from the snow plow, I felt like I had truly had experienced enough of the winter to pamper myself with a garage. Plus it is so cold in the car for Natalie when I don't park in the garage.
It is funny as Halloween and Christmas approach, people will ask her if she is going trick or treating or about "Santa Claus." For her the traditions and expectations are not there because she has not experienced them. So for me, it presents challenges as I know what we begin as traditions will set the stage for her expectations in the years to come. So I am seeking the Lord for wisdom in how to explain the holidays and for what parts of the holidays will become parts that we will embrace, parts that will be explained and parts that I really don't want to be included in our celebrations.
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays and I am happy that we will be celebrating it at our house this year. It has been a hard and challenging year, but as Thanksgiving approaches, I have so much to be thankful and grateful for. I will save all of those closer to the holiday.
So tomorrow is already Friday and my work week is over! I did plan it that way on purpose!!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Tags
Natalie and I went to a Science Center on Friday. We had a delightful time seeing all the animals and interesting "facts." We stopped at the gift shop and bought some little stuffed cats. As soon as she got home, she ripped the tag off the animal and wanted to rip the tags of some other items we picked up. I have noticed that she does not like tags of any kind to stay on clothes, toys, books, etc. I, on the other hand will leave the tag on until I wear the item or get ready to use it.
I was thinking about how Jesus tells us to be like the children. As adults it is so easy to put a "tag" on someone and leave it there until we have completely checked out the person and even some times after we do, we still leave that tag on that person. I was reflecting on how Natalie is just so quick to accept everyone right where they are. In that way, she is truly reflecting how Jesus instructs us to love one another. May the Lord help me to be more like Natalie and remove the tags immediately!
On an entirely different topic, I wanted to share some changes in Natalie since she has spent the last several weeks home with me. She has an old computer that my sister had given to me and she is now actually sitting and using the computer for up to 20-30 minutes at a time. Before she would say she wanted to use it, but within 5 minutes would be bored and walk away from it. She has actually started watching some old Winnie Pooh and Barney videos. She will sit for about 20 minutes and enjoy watching it. Previously I could not get her to attend for more than a couple of minutes. Another area is her coordination. I see that when she is riding her bike, playing with a ball and going up and down the stairs. And of course her language skills continue to improve. Her current favorite expression is: "That is really cool mama!" Overall she has shown a huge growth in her maturity and response to requests. She has always been a helpful child, but every day I am amazed by how much she wants to help and what she wants to to. One night she was very upset because we ran out of time for her to help me change the sheets on my bed. Another day she was determined that she was going to clean her bathroom. I know there are many parents who tell me that this desire to help may not last, but I really think that is just a part of her personality. I may have shared this before, so forgive me if I have.
When I was praying about the child that the Lord had for me, I had 3 requests:
1. That there would be no attachment disorders. She has bonded well and is a very affectionate and sweet child.
2. That she would love animals (I was concerned how she would react to the cats). She loves the cats. Dogs she is still not so sure about:) and other animals she enjoys looking at.
3. That she would have a gentle spirit about her. There is no doubt that God blessed this child with a double dose of this. The other day on our way back from the Science Center, I got turned around and ended up going way out of my way. We left at noon and I know she was very hungry. But when I told I went the wrong way and it would be awhile before she ate, her response was, "That's okay mom." She is tender hearted and wants so much to please me and make sure everyone is happy and again to help any way she can.
God heard the cry of my heart and more than answered this prayer request. The Lord just continues to use Natalie to teach me, humble me and most of all, bless me!!
I was thinking about how Jesus tells us to be like the children. As adults it is so easy to put a "tag" on someone and leave it there until we have completely checked out the person and even some times after we do, we still leave that tag on that person. I was reflecting on how Natalie is just so quick to accept everyone right where they are. In that way, she is truly reflecting how Jesus instructs us to love one another. May the Lord help me to be more like Natalie and remove the tags immediately!
On an entirely different topic, I wanted to share some changes in Natalie since she has spent the last several weeks home with me. She has an old computer that my sister had given to me and she is now actually sitting and using the computer for up to 20-30 minutes at a time. Before she would say she wanted to use it, but within 5 minutes would be bored and walk away from it. She has actually started watching some old Winnie Pooh and Barney videos. She will sit for about 20 minutes and enjoy watching it. Previously I could not get her to attend for more than a couple of minutes. Another area is her coordination. I see that when she is riding her bike, playing with a ball and going up and down the stairs. And of course her language skills continue to improve. Her current favorite expression is: "That is really cool mama!" Overall she has shown a huge growth in her maturity and response to requests. She has always been a helpful child, but every day I am amazed by how much she wants to help and what she wants to to. One night she was very upset because we ran out of time for her to help me change the sheets on my bed. Another day she was determined that she was going to clean her bathroom. I know there are many parents who tell me that this desire to help may not last, but I really think that is just a part of her personality. I may have shared this before, so forgive me if I have.
When I was praying about the child that the Lord had for me, I had 3 requests:
1. That there would be no attachment disorders. She has bonded well and is a very affectionate and sweet child.
2. That she would love animals (I was concerned how she would react to the cats). She loves the cats. Dogs she is still not so sure about:) and other animals she enjoys looking at.
3. That she would have a gentle spirit about her. There is no doubt that God blessed this child with a double dose of this. The other day on our way back from the Science Center, I got turned around and ended up going way out of my way. We left at noon and I know she was very hungry. But when I told I went the wrong way and it would be awhile before she ate, her response was, "That's okay mom." She is tender hearted and wants so much to please me and make sure everyone is happy and again to help any way she can.
God heard the cry of my heart and more than answered this prayer request. The Lord just continues to use Natalie to teach me, humble me and most of all, bless me!!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
One Year Ago
One year ago today, I was sitting in the Moscow airport, waiting for my night flight to Krasnoyarsk where I would meet my sweet little Natalie for the first time. So much has happened in that year. The best thing of course is that she is home with me. October 2nd marked her 6 month anniversary at home, but in light of my life the last several weeks, we didn't do anything special. I have had several friends here helping me out and we have watched some early videos of her. It is just amazing the changes. I will write more on that later, but here are some pictures.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Making Progress
I've been wanting to write for several days now, but honestly, I have just felt really sick. Major surgery does take it toll and it has taken time for my appetite to come back and my stomach to settle down. Yesterday was a turning point and I feel like I am finally on the road to recovery.
Focusing on the task.
My dear friend Tess from Boston has been here the last several days and she has been a huge blessings. She has cooked, cleaned, washed dishes and most of all played with Natalie on those days when I felt just plain awful. We were sad to see her leave this morning and so grateful for our time with her.
On Tuesday I spoke with my doctor who confirmed that the pathology on the mass was benign and for that I truly give thanks to our great God!!
I've been out walking and it is amazing what a difference a week does make. Natalie has adjusted fine and we are enjoying our time together. She has been riding her bike while I walk and yesterday we did "shock" on the driveway. Today my mom showed me her white cat who also enjoyed the "shock" on the driveway. Natalie and I have been working on painting, writing and playing with just about every toy she owns. They have all managed to migrate to the living room from the upstairs.
I've posted some pictures of our most recent projects.
Natalie on our return trip home.
Focusing on the task.
Painting her bank.
My mom's cat who enjoyed the chalk on the driveway.
Monday, September 29, 2008
My ways are Not your ways
I am reminded again today that God's ways are not my ways. I like to think that I am a pretty logical person and a pretty good planner and organizer. So many times when I think I have my life figured out and the direction that I am heading the Lord seems to throw a curve ball to me to completely throw me off. To say my life has been stressful in the last year would be an understatement. To say my life is boring and predictable would be even a greater understatement. For those of you who have followed my blog this past year, you can understand what I am talking about.
Which now brings me to September of this year. With all the things going on, I have had to work a lot on the weekends and longer days since I have used all of my vacation time. At times I have struggled with not having the time I want to spend with Natalie. Thursday will mark the 6 month anniversary of our return to the US and Natalie becoming a US citizen (she became my daughter on March 22)
It never ceases to amaze me how God hears the cries of our hearts, things that seem so small or insignificant yet mean so much to us. On Friday I had major surgery for a mass that my GYN doctor had been following for months. Without going into a lot of detail (this is what I was alluding to when I mentioned in another post that I was dealing with some personal issues) let me summarize it by saying that I was able to have a less invasive surgery so my recovery time will be less and that the mass turned out to be nothing major. The end result is that I am now out of work for 2-4 weeks and for at least 2 of those weeks, I cannot drive. Natalie is home with me for that time. So I now have that time to spend one on one with her, yet this is even better than when we first returned home because her language skills have improved significantly. I feel so humbled and blessed that the Lord heard my cries and even though this is not the way I would have chosen to be home, I have this great opportunity ahead of me and really want to make the most of it.
His ways are definitely not my ways. But oh how grateful I am that His ways are the best ways!!
Which now brings me to September of this year. With all the things going on, I have had to work a lot on the weekends and longer days since I have used all of my vacation time. At times I have struggled with not having the time I want to spend with Natalie. Thursday will mark the 6 month anniversary of our return to the US and Natalie becoming a US citizen (she became my daughter on March 22)
It never ceases to amaze me how God hears the cries of our hearts, things that seem so small or insignificant yet mean so much to us. On Friday I had major surgery for a mass that my GYN doctor had been following for months. Without going into a lot of detail (this is what I was alluding to when I mentioned in another post that I was dealing with some personal issues) let me summarize it by saying that I was able to have a less invasive surgery so my recovery time will be less and that the mass turned out to be nothing major. The end result is that I am now out of work for 2-4 weeks and for at least 2 of those weeks, I cannot drive. Natalie is home with me for that time. So I now have that time to spend one on one with her, yet this is even better than when we first returned home because her language skills have improved significantly. I feel so humbled and blessed that the Lord heard my cries and even though this is not the way I would have chosen to be home, I have this great opportunity ahead of me and really want to make the most of it.
His ways are definitely not my ways. But oh how grateful I am that His ways are the best ways!!
Friday, September 19, 2008
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