Navigating the Stillness ....: HONEST Update

It's been another week now since we've been home from China with the newest members of our family. Honestly, we've been doing pretty well acclimating ... honestly, we've had our ups and downs ... honestly, it's been fun AND frustrating ... honestly, it's been charming AND challenging ... uhm, I forgot to ask if it was okay to be honest.

You see, all of our photos will likely give the impression that we are blissfully boisterous and blessed. Of course, we have BEEN ... but not always ... if we're honest.

We have our moments.

Adoption is an adventure!

And do you know the definition of 'adventure' isn't all positive?

ad·ven·ture

adˈven(t)SHər,ədˈven(t)SHər/

noun

1.

an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity.

This might come as a surprise to some readers but it needs to be typed and it needs to be read ... when God's people obey His commands, that doesn't automatically mean that the task at hand will be EASY or 'hazard-free'. Adoption is about loss and grief and courage and change and adjustment.

It has affected the boys, of course ...

... and it has also affected the rest of us.

No matter how prepared we thought we were, we still have had to make adjustments. We've still encountered things we had not been prepared for. Our little Brynn has really struggled ...probably the most ... since being home from China, both emotionally and physically. And while nothing terribly alarming has occurred, we've also had situations arise that have made us say, "what in the world were they doing with these boys in that orphanage?" Things we didn't expect ...

It certainly hasn't been EASY ... (It's only been two short/long weeks and while we've felt that our world has been at a stand-still, we have also seen progress, change and growth in two little boys ... and US) ... but we certainly know that God has been right here with US.

Just because it's not EASY doesn't mean we don't try; it doesn't mean we give up. It doesn't mean we don't take that step into the Jordan River. Surely, if we never take that shaky, fearful step, we WON'T see the POWER and GLORY of the One True God REVEALED in our lives!

Believing in the task at hand may make us nervous, tired or frustrated ... but we're still doing the task and we're still believing and we'll keep believing, trusting, clinging to the leading of our LORD.

No matter what we go through, He will be right there with us.

It's the One thing we can count on!

They like to eat cookie dough, by the way ... and now they know the word YUMMY!

We took them to their first dentist appointment already. Mostly, we went so quickly because Jonah had a few teeth that required immediate attention. They were all spruced up for their appointment as they practiced their toothy smiles!

Rees' mouth is in pretty good shape but his x-rays did reveal that he does have a submucous cleft that was incomplete as it did not affect his soft palate and only minimally on his lip ... but his bones are indeed affected and it will be very interesting to view his CT scan when he has that done on in another week. Jonah was so brave and did very well but his time with the dentist took quite a while. Two of his teeth were really in bad shape but the dentist feels that it would be best to correct them during his jaw distraction which will be done under general anesthesia. So, he performed a temporary fix to prevent an abscess. The dentist and his technician asked us many questions and the dentist actually got choked up and apologized a couple times as he was working on him. He said Jonah is the bravest kid he has ever seen and that he can't imagine what he's been through and what he will yet go through.

The boys are getting even more comfortable with our dogs. Jonah is even getting confident enough that he will put his face really close to theirs to allow them to shower him with 'kisses'.

Jax has been a real trooper with the boys!

Rees is enjoying Sesame Street in the last couple days. When someone suggested that we try having the boys watch that to aid with learning ... it was like *lightbulb* ... not sure why I didn't think of that!!

YouTube IS good for something (s)!!

These boys ... sweet as they are (most of the time) ... are still definitely boys and they want to TUSSLE with whoever is willing!

Two against one ... though, not sure who the winner is!

Just today, we decided to try to get some of our Christmas decorations up and out. The boys were all too eager to help with anything and everything.

Jonah helped with some raking of the last bit of leaves that had been blown up our front walk.

They were both pretty jealous that they weren't allowed to join Mama on the roof to string the lights ... BUT ... they sure did enjoy going up and down the ladder(s).

Because of the lateness of our tasks, we had not gotten our dinner ready early enough so ... we decided it would have to be a PIZZA NIGHT ... and guess what??

Jonah and Rees LOVE Pizza!!

We have truly been quite fortunate so far with their eating habits and willingness to eat and enjoy practically everything we've given them.

Later this evening the first snowfall of the season began. We were so excited to show the boys that it was snowing and they were just as excited to see it coming down!

Of course, we had to taste-test the first fresh flakes!!