Home? God?

Okay I admit it...I'm a blogging slacker! Sorry everyone. Time is flying by it seems like. Before I get down to business, let me explain the photos I posted. The pink coat and hat were hand-made for Eden by my step-grandmother, Mema, in Key West, FL. Doesn't she look precious in them on the way to church? A few weeks ago my friend Heather and I tag-teamed on a babysitter so Eden and Caleb Platt got some play time. The photo of them "chilling out" in the recliner is hilarious! They LOVE to spend time together and run to greet and hug one another when they see each other. In another photo you will see that Eden thought SHE needed to be decorated along with the Christmas tree with beaded garland. And finally, there is a picture of Eden going "night-night" (her favorite game) with her "sister" Maggie in the dog bed.

The title of this post may seem a little odd. It is based on my 2 current favorite things Eden says. The first is the question, "Mommy, home?" I'm not kidding when I say she asks this every 5-10 minutes that we are away from our house. She LOVES being at home. When we turn on our street or pull in the driveway she will squeal with delight and say, "HOME!!" She started doing this a few weeks ago. It warms my heart to think that she understands that she has a home of her own.

The second is, "Mommy, God?" A few weeks after we returned home from China we had a pre-fall cool day. Eden and I were out in the backyard, and a breeze blew her face and hair. She looked at me like, "What was that?" It seriously seemed like she had never felt a gentle breeze before. And based on the extreme heat we experienced in her city, and the harsh winters I've heard are in Wuhan, I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't feel breezes. Plus, with all of the tall buildings around the orphanage it would be hard to feel a breeze if there was one.

Anyway, when she looked at me with that questioning gaze I said, "Baby, that's the wind. God is blowing the wind. He is assuring us that He is real and is here and is in control." Well, that was a very theological answer, but I don't think I really took to heart what I told her. The reason I said that is because the next time the wind blew a week or so later she said, "Mommy...God?" My eyes welled up with tears and I said, "Yes baby, it's God." Now, every time (I do mean every) she feels the wind or sees it raining she says, "Mommy...God?"

How humbled I am each time she does this. And how reminded I am of the omnipresence of our God. I told her that off the cuff. And she remembers it every time she feels the gentle breeze. What if we were all like that? What if we were so "in the moments" of our lives that we sensed God in every small detail? What if we recognized His presence in our surroundings? How different our lives would be! How much more content, and more grateful we would be. This is what God is teaching me through my baby daughter.

Eden is doing really well. Her attachment is progressing...and so is her "toddler" behavior. We have really started having to discipline her a lot more over the past month. As she is growing more secure in our love and acceptance of her, she is "letting her hair down" and acting like a stinker! What a challenge to discipline in love! I get so frustrated. She is a sweet girl though and incredibly obedient for an almost-two-year-old.

There is so much more I could say but I'm going to save some so I can post more often and this won't be too long. Life with this child blows my mind. This time last year, we were about a week away from seeing her picture for the first time. And now she is home. God is so good! I remember thinking it was taking FOREVER to process all of the paperwork. Now that's such a blip on the radar and a distant memory I rarely think about. Who cares how long it took? I would do it again 100 times. There is no doubt this little girl was chosen by God for our family.

Thank you all for loving her and encouraging us. You are each a blessing! Enjoy the Christmas season. And next time the wind blows, remember...that's God reminding you He is there, and He is in control. God bless you!