Merica

This week was full of Patrotism, a week all about "Merica!"

An overwhelmingly busy week all about America...

We went to the Fair. Watched a monster truck rally. Watched the pig race. Walked around stinky animals. Had deep fried junk food. Went on rides. Had cotton candy. Looked at "mustongs"(Ford Mustangs). 

Then on the 4th of July, we had a parade in front of our house. And of course, went to see fireworks. 

Merica!

It was a very active week. And like any family, a week of exhausted, overwhelmed, hot, annoyed, kids, that just want to go "HOME." 

"No we are not going home we are having fun as a family...(why doesn't anyone else see this. )"

  

"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." Romans 12:18

Yes, there were different highlights of the week.  2 of my 4 children loved the fair, only 1 of my 4 children loved the pig race, 3 of my 4 children loved the fireworks, 1 of my 4 children loved the monster truck rally and 3 of my 4 children loved the parade. It's a balancing act, and I am the juggler. 

"Why do they take turns being unhappy? Why can't they all be happy at one time?"

I unlock the secret code....

Just stay home! 

Home. Duh! Where everyone has their walls down. Where no one has to be quiet or has the opportunity to wonder off. Home. Where we can be silly and perfectly imperfect. Where we all talk broken English and have no one staring at us. Where no one asks,  "Are they all yours?" Or tells you "You are too young to have all those kids." 

Home is where the most progress is happening and where God is working His amazing magic in me and my family.

A friend had told us, when she had met Alex and Yana in the orphanage, she had no idea they were siblings because they did not associate with each other. 

At home this week, we have had some amazing break throughs. Alex and Yana are playing together and talking together and laughing together. What???? The kids that 2 weeks ago would not even take a picture together, are wrestling and throwing each other in the pool. Yana longs for a relationship with Alex, and he is opening up and letting her in.  This has been something we have been praying for since we learned about the kiddos. God is good.
"

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in Prayer, believe that you are receiving it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24

The walls are coming down and misconceptions are being explained.  God is relieving some of the kids triggers and helping us to mend their layers of pain. Yesterday, Alex talked about his mother to me, not much and nothing I will share publicly, but a huge break through.
I never ask about his past, it is not my place, but God gave me some insight into his life and the scar he carries.

 "Mom bad, Kim" "I am so sorry Alex." 

"You good, Kim." "Thank you Alex."

Alex has started to branch out, he asked Adam to teach him to ride a bike. This too cool guy, who doesn't want to look silly is feeling safe and loved enough to learn a new skill. I have learned that this is why he did not want to participate in the neighborhood parade, he couldn't.

God is also showing me some things I need to improve on, for instance being wasteful and not taking care of my things. Theses kids that had nothing that was theirs, but now they actually have things of their very own, and they are so careful with them.

If you have ever spent a day with my family you know about kiki's.  Lily and Elliot both have special baby blankets called kiki's, and Yana  has been "borrowing" Lily's or Elliot's to cuddle with.  I asked Yana if she would like her own kiki and she said "yes" a "Sponge-Bob kiki".

So, on Saturday, we all went to Joann's fabric to buy material for Yana.  All four of us sat down and made her a giant kiki to sleep with and call her own.  After buying the fabric, Yana carried it out of the bag to the car, she laid down paper and carefully placed it on top of the paper instead of the floor of the trunk. She now keeps her kiki folded on the bunk bed and will periodically go up and visit it during the day, never taking it out of her safe place.

Alex has a kiki too, kind of.  He didn't want a blanket, but did get some new soccer shoes. I guess the ones they all share at the orphanage are taped together.  He has been practicing soccer in our neighborhood park which is a large patch of grass with a concrete sidewalk  around it and then trees and the street.  Since Adam prefers American football and the last time I played soccer was 15 years ago, the soccer ball goes into the trees and across the street frequently.  The first time it happened I was in shock because Alex jumped over the sidewalk making sure his shoes do not touch it, and then sat down, removed his soccer shoes, put on his flip flops and went to get the ball. Then he came back and put his soccer shoes back on. As a kid, I never did that!  If they got worn out, my parents would just buy new ones. And as an adult I never do that, I will just buy a new one. 

Thank you God for teaching me to be a better steward of the gifts I have been blessed with. I pray you continue to light our path and help us all to live for you.