Home A Week

Well, we have been home a week...and what a week it has been!  It has been...a good week...an intense week...a hard week...an exhausting week...BUT not a bad week.  God is good.  I am seeing answered prayers minute by minute.  All those prayers for the sweet heart of Miriam to be able to attach to her family laid a foundation before we even met her in the DRC and they continue to be answered as we spend time with her at home.  God is knitting our family together.  All of us are trying to be intentional in helping Miriam adapt and attach and become a member of our family.  Caleb and Helen are doing a great job in playing and teasing with Miriam, but then stepping back and allowing Mama and Papa to meet her needs.  Both of them have been so helpful in running errands, helping with household tasks, and being flexible.  Miriam (and Joey and Kerry) are going to enjoy having them home this week.  Miriam loves her Papa.  She thinks he is really funny and loves for him to play horse (cheval) with her.  He gets her bath water just right.  Miriam  likes to ride in the motorcar with Papa to take Helen to class.  Miriam is also attaching well to me...actually we seem to be physically attached.  She wants me to carry her everywhere...which I am happy to do.  So far my back has held up to carrying a 40 pound sweetie around the house.  At mealtimes, she wants to sit very close to me (our chairs touch).  When I am not in her sight, she needs to know where I am...when Joey has given me a break to go take a nap, I can hear them sneak in the room to look at me.  Miriam has also become comfortable enough to assert herself with us.  She can throw a good fit complete with rolling around and crying when she doesn't want to do something.  This precious little one wants to be in control of things...she has been a mama to the smaller ones at her orphanage...we are working on lovingly teaching her that now mama and papa are in control and she can just be a little girl. 

Here are some photos from this week:

We are trying to have a schedule around our house.  It seems to help Miriam know what to expect.  After we get Helen and Caleb off to school.  Joey and I take her on a walk.  It is cold to her so we wrap her up in her blanket.  She doesn't especially love the walk, but Mazie does and it does Mama and Papa some good.

Sometimes, it is hard for adopted children to get used to the pets in the house, but Mazie and Miriam have become good friends.  Mazie likes having Miriam here because she gets to go on a walk everyday and Miriam drops lots of food when she eats.  Miriam loves playing with Mazie and tells her Mazie Ma(here) most of the day.

Mama is working hard on learning all about Miriam's beautiful hair.  Miriam loves to have beautiful things in her hair.  When you haven't had anything to put in your hair, why not put in three different things?

Yesterday was such a beautiful day, we decided to take Miriam to a playground.  We knew of one that wouldn't have anybody there, so we loaded up the family and headed out for some play time.  Miriam loved it...especially the slide.  She ran and played and laughed and when she was done and ready to go home, she let us know.

Miriam likes to help around the house.  Here she is setting the table.  We had the vacuum out yesterday and she was very curious about how it worked and what it did.  I showed her and we vacuumed her room.

As we adjust, I hope to be able to update more.  Maybe Helen will get on and add a video or two.  Thanks for your prayers and support.  We are grateful!