tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592683601958336378.post3327965058650269007..comments2023-05-11T01:08:39.164-07:00Comments on planting trees: on being homeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832443842212269576noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592683601958336378.post-63556007673278521672012-06-30T13:53:15.391-07:002012-06-30T13:53:15.391-07:00You did a beautiful job sharing but not over-shari...You did a beautiful job sharing but not over-sharing! Bringing home 2 at once is more than doubly hard in the early days but it will get easier!!! You are doing a great job mothering, Lauren.April Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479635647556001144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592683601958336378.post-54629203264326634152012-06-05T13:33:16.512-07:002012-06-05T13:33:16.512-07:00So much of what you've experienced is stuff th...So much of what you've experienced is stuff that has happened in our own home. We didn't have the same language barrier as you do, but we had one all the same (since Large Fry has a rather significant expressive speech delay). It was a challenge to balance the needs of three different kids when there was only one of me. (I had friends from church who frequently drove by our house--located on a very busy corner--in that first summer, and asked me why on earth, with our huge yard, was I never outside with the kids? It was simple--there were three of them, one of me, and they'd already figured out the principle of divide and conquer. And it was a busy corner. We had ambulances/fire trucks/rescue vehicles come tearing around there at least once a week.<br /><br />What I can tell you is that, while it took months, our consistent love overwhelmed our mistakes (my kids also have the same kind of split in their beings, just from the way their biological parents didn't parent). We've had them four years now. We still have issues, and I still have great failings as a mom. But my children are happy, secure, and well-loved, and that is so obvious, even to total strangers. There are days I still feel like I'm making this up as I go along, but then, nearly every parent has those (and those who say they don't are lying).<br /><br />It's survivable, I promise. The Bible says "perfect love casts out all fear," and while we are not perfect, the love we show our children will overcome those fears. Eventually.<br /><br />Medium Fry still asks me on occasion if I'll always love her. Sometimes it's a game; she knows the responses and the exchange is filled with giggles. Sometimes it's not, and it's a little girl who is desperately afraid that the subconscious fears she has will work out into reality. At those times, I try to let my love shine as fiercely as I can, and I hold her tight.<br /><br />And I promise that, no matter what, she will <i>always</i> be my child.<br /><br />And she hugs me back, and bounces off to play or to get a hug from Daddy, content that all is right with her world. That's when I know that we've at least gotten that much right.Auntie Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05291024186455331856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592683601958336378.post-82415050091487754042012-06-05T11:23:57.347-07:002012-06-05T11:23:57.347-07:00YAY- so happy you're home! You're thoughts...YAY- so happy you're home! You're thoughts are my thoughts! The thoughts of many adoptive parents I'm sure. We're still walking the "healing" road only 9 months ahead of you. It is always a struggle to know whether they need more grace or more discipline, because love and trust are built with a good dose of both but I'm always crying out to the Lord for the discernment in each moment. Praying for you!- Amanda McAlpine from MNAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592683601958336378.post-26706579497319463012012-06-05T08:47:12.999-07:002012-06-05T08:47:12.999-07:00"the vulnerable child who let me lay beside h..."the vulnerable child who let me lay beside her is my real child -- wounds and all -- while the protesting child is an imposter who shows up when the hurts and the stresses are too overwhelming to bear. my hope for both of my kids is that one day they will be able to come to terms with their losses and will trust us enough to tell us when they are hurting."<br /><br />Wow. This is not just about your adoption. This is about all of us and our heavenly Father. Thanks, Lauren, for the glimpse into your time so far. Praying for you & Jamie and your kiddos. This parenthood thing is not easy.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16236470724280417779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4592683601958336378.post-68849482659716068722012-06-04T13:53:08.129-07:002012-06-04T13:53:08.129-07:00This is perfect Lauren. It's such a realistic...This is perfect Lauren. It's such a realistic glimpse into the transition, beautiful moments and hard moments all combined into mere minutes. It's hard to express that well but I think you did an amazing job. Praying for you and those sweet babies daily. Healing takes time but you are watching that miracle unfold tiny step by tiny step.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04217402368609403761noreply@blogger.com