It's been a month

Actually, it's been almost 5 weeks since Maisie moved here!

To say things have been different would be a total understatement. We are all still getting adjusted to one another. She is learning how to talk to us, and trust us (i hope). We are learning how to divide our attention between each other and her. Robert & I have been just the two of us for while now. Almost 9 years! So, it's a time of adjustment for us too!

A week or so ago Maisie began talking more about her siblings. She is missing them, and I know she is realizing that by us adopting her, it is a finality to the sibling group not being together. I've been reading a book about parenting adopted children and it talks about how they will, at some point, mourn the loss of their birth families. We have definitely been dealing with that. For those who don't know, Maisie is from a group of four children. They were split up at least a few years ago. There are two children younger than Maisie and one older. The older one is not adopted, but the rest of them have been adopted. All are separated.

I realize that the best way for me to help her during this time of "grieving" is to just be there when she needs to talk and just listen to her. It's been hard watching her be down about her siblings. It's even harder when she is okay one minute and then sulky and sad the next. We're trying not to take it personally, but it's hard. We're learning. Everyday.

In an effort to help Maisie feel like she has something/somebody of her own, we got her a dog. Since we lost Romeo in January, we've talked about getting another dog. Maisie really wanted a Chihuahua, but they are SO expensive and honestly, I'm not into puppies. Thankfully, God provided for this need too! My parent's neighbor had 3 adult Chihuahuas his daughter was trying to re home. We got the only girl she had! Her name is Cinnamon and she is adorable. She's 2 and very shy, but she is so sweet. Maisie is already in love with her.

After a month, we're making it. We're learning how to talk to each other, how to listen to each other, and how to just give each other space when we need it. We're looking forward to growing more and more as a family!

Weekend Update

Our past met our present this weekend

We went home to Kosciusko this weekend for a visit to introduce our sweet girl to the rest of our friends and families. We started off at Dawn & Shane's for dinner and cards. I can't even begin to tell you how much we miss them. Dawn is my "person". She likes me even when my crazy spills out. Maisie, Madeline, and Jon Austin get along pretty well, so they played together while the grown ups played cards.

Saturday we had family pictures taken. Robert's Uncle Kevin took them for us. I honestly hate looking at myself in pictures. I would prefer to be the picture taker, but for the sake of preserving memories, we took family pictures. Maisie is so photogenic and gorgeous. She doesn't even have to TRY to be pretty, she just is!

Saturday night we went to Williamsville for the youth's "Womanless Beauty Pageant". My, oh, my it was too good! The boys.. I mean girls were beautiful, hairy arm pits and all! Maisie went to wrestling in McAdams with Madeline, Jon Austin, and Kevin. She seemed to have a good time!

Sunday was super busy for us. We went to church at FBC Kosciusko with Dawn at 8:30. Then we went to Williamsville at 10:45. It was so good to see our church family. Many of them prayed for us throughout our adoption process. Maisie was very overwhelmed. We sat with the youth which made my heart smile. I miss them so much and I'm so thankful for the time we had with them. I'm glad they got to meet Maisie and see God's sweet gift to us.

Our last stop was at Chad & Alysha Thompson's house. Robert & Chad have been friends for many years and are really more like family than anything. Bailey Katherine & Maisie hit it off quickly! It was good to see them and be able to spend time with them. We are planning on seeing BK's cheerleading squad perform at the end of the month.

All in all, it was a great weekend. We are, for the most part, done with traveling for a little while. At least I hope so!

Snow Days

It's a winter wonderland here in Cleveland.

School was let out at 1:30 yesterday, and Maisie & her new bff Madison played for a while outside while it was still falling hard! Maisie kept saying that she had NEVER seen snow like this before. The more I thought about it, I don't think I've seen snow like this in Mississippi before.

We were lucky enough to have school canceled today, so Maisie spent the night with Madison last night. Robert was out of town, so I had the entire house to myself. It was my first night to stay alone here in Cleveland. I'm not so good with being by myself, but it wasn't horrible.

We're going home to Kosciusko this weekend and taking Maisie to Williamsville to meet our sweet church family that prayed for us and for her as we began the adoption process. I'm a little nervous that she will be overwhelmed. I'm a little nervous that I'll be overwhelmed. We haven't been back for church there since we left in July. It's difficult to feel so distant from people who were in your DAILY life for nearly 4 years. God has brought us through it all, and I'm excited to just visit with them this weekend.

Better

Well, we got past the meltdown.

She was ready to talk Wednesday morning. She apologized for being sassy. She said she was just missing her siblings and her friends from the group home. I think that may be some of the problem, but I also think she was being a 10 year old girl, full of attitude.

The rest of the week was pretty uneventful. She does have a birthday party to go to tomorrow afternoon. I'm pretty excited for her. We are going to meet the parents of the little girl to just "check" everything out. I'm so thankful she's made friends and feels comfortable here. It really is an answer to a prayer!

My job is great. I spent the entire day with the Pre-K class on Thursday. Oh my, I was so tired when I got home! They are so much fun though. I didn't realize how much I missed being with kids until I started working with kids again.

I'll end my post with a quick prayer request. Please pray for our house to sell! We are in our second month of carrying two house notes. God has really provided for us. We are by no means in a crisis situation, but we would covet your prayers to get this place sold with a quickness!

Minor Meltdown

So, I'm guessing this is the first of many.

Maybe I'm just so new at this or maybe I'm just really sensitive. Tonight, we had to have a chat about attitudes. We went to some friends of ours for dinner tonight. Before we left, a certain little girl came into the living room wearing 2 jackets, long pants, a short sleeve shirt, and a pair of flip flops. Mind you, the wind was blowing 40 miles per hour and it was 30 degrees outside. So, I ask a certain little girl to put some socks and shoes on.

You would have thought I asked her to pay me a million dollars all in pennies!

We get to our friends house and a certain girl is sulking. She barely gets out of the car. She keeps her head down, hair all in her face. (THIS IS MY BIGGEST PET PEEVE!) Robert ask her if she is okay and she says "I'm just sleepy". LIE LIE LIE !

We get inside, and she is a new creature. Happy and smiling, until Robert or I speak to her and its like we are just idiots. I really could go on and on, but to sum it up, we got a t t i t u d e ALL night.

What do we do???!!?!?!?!

We get home, she B lines it to the bed like we are just going to let it go. Not happening princess! I tell her that first and foremost NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES we aren't going to do three things: 1- We are not going to spank her and 2-We are not going to give her back and 3-We will never, ever stop loving her.

In my mind, that should solve it all. Silly me... She just looks down and continues to sulk. So, I tuck her in, kiss her face, hug her neck and put her in bed.

Pray for us. I'm sure this is one of many.