Working on attachment

It’s Andy here tonight with the update. It’s Wednesday evening, and we are settling down.    It continues to be a roller coaster process, yet there have been more highs than lows, especially today.   First off, we really haven’t enjoyed Hefei and really look forward to moving one to our final stage in Guangzhou.   Sleep is coming easy to Maryelle and I, yet Ellen struggling to settle her mind with the many challenges ahead.  There surely are many hurdles for Maryelle with both mind and body.   Not only is balance an issue with her CP, but we recognize other physical and emotional, issues to be addressed.  As for cognitive, we guess she is likely at 1 ½-2 years old.    Maryelle has displayed minimal vocabulary but each day we are hearing a little more of her voice.  She loves to play, be tickled, and loves to ride in the stroller.  

Maryelle continues to attach well to both Ellen and I.   She loves to hold our hands during walks, always checks that we are both around, and loves to give us smiles while others get a serious stare.   As for food, there is nothing she has pushed aside.  Not only the local fare, she has gained acceptance to cold milk, McDonalds hamburger / chicken nuggets / French fries, Subway’s Spicy Italian sub (Flottmeyer favorite) including chipotle dressing, and of course ice cream.   Ellen will concur; she’s already agreed that all ice cream needs to be taste tested by dad.   It’s a good standard to start early 😊.  

My mentor Roger and I reviewed a chapter titled “Of four things which bring great peace” from Thomas A Kempis’s, The Imitation of Christ.   A line that caught my reflection went:  “Wish always and pray that the will of God be fulfilled in thee”.    My journey over the past 20 years as a Christ follower was to look through scripture to see God’s will and walk in obedience.  The “wish always” seemed to be out of context.  Through this adoption journey, I’ve wished for many “good” things: a quick adoption process, clarity on choosing our adoptive child, a smooth transition to our family, a deeper understanding of the redemption story, Maryelle’s profession of faith in Jesus, and on and on.   Many things I’ve wished…..and some have occurred, some are still to come, and others have failed.   Or have they failed?   What we expect to be the results don’t always mean fulfillment.   A child has been pulled from a dark and broken place, and life will never be the same for me.   As I told Ellen today, I’m thankful for this journey and God’s will that’s being fulfilled in my life and my family.