We're settling in and getting back to our regular routine. Things are starting to feel normal again. And I am feeling grateful.
Three Word Sunday !
Dahlia got her cast taken off and a brace made which she'll wear for about 2 weeks. Makes getting her dressed SOOOO much easier.
Had to zoom in on these pics of "sweet face" even though they're blurry.
I may have to paint one of them .
So, we finally headed off to church today. First time since we got back - just trying not to overwhelm Milana and she did great. Dan and I have been on the music worship team for many years now and we missed a few weeks and I wasn't sure how I was going to handle getting back into it.
With Dahlia we just hit the road running. I'm on the stage with keyboards and vocals (Dan's in the pit on guitar) and Dahlia just sat beside me with a few toys and bopped along like she was born there, at my feet. The monitors get pretty loud so I put cotton in her ears for awhile.
(oh......when I say music, I don't mean pipe organ of days gone by - though that is lovely still - I mean pop/gospel/rock, so we can make quite a noise.....a joyful noise ;). We're usually 8 or 9 in the band.)
We are on 2 weeks out of 4 and Dahlia just fit right in like the church mascot. When she got older she went off to Sunday School (Promiseland) but I have wonderful memories of her as part of the band.
But I knew we'd be pushing it to expect the same from Milana. Well, I may be wrong. Danny decided to sit it out this week and planned to take the girls down to SS and the nursery and stay with Milana during the music part (about 45 minutes). We always get there about an hour early to rehearse and warm up and Dahlia always sat in the front row when she was older and watched till it was time for Sunday School. And I must have stared at that image of her sitting there and must have spent some time wondering who her sister would be. Of course the eternal question (either verbally or in the eyes) from well-meaning friends would inevitably make that question so much more vivid.
So today, during rehearsal, when I looked down at that same spot where Dahlia would sit quietly, watching us play I saw two children, sitting quietly, watching us play.
And I was overcome with gratefulness.
So much speculation, wondering, praying, dreaming, worrying and thinking....but still an empty seat. Questions like 'are we crazy, waiting this long for a sister - at our age, doing this again - will they discovery this insanity and cancel our file - will we ever get there - and will I survive it?' were like a distant foggy image.
Because, there she was!
And I broke down with thankfulness.
I'm also having a lot of trouble seeing the computer keyboard right now. And one might ask, then why are you writing this? I want to remember. I want to learn this lesson.
Just be still and let God do His thing.
D'uh!
D'uh!
October is a good month to be thankful !
Hi, I'm Wanda. I am a happy woman, wife to Danny for...oh....lots a years and finally Mom to THE most adorable little girl from Hunan, China - Dahlia. And now we have been blessed again with another daughter, Milana, from Zhejiang, China. (The 2 best things I've ever done!)
We live in the Montreal area. After a loooonnngg wait for Dahlia's little sister Milana (pronounced - Mee-lana, like banana), we finally brought her home in August 2009. Dahlia came to us in Nov 2004 (at 20 months of age)and a year later we began the application for another baby - at the time the waiting period was around 8 months. Almost 4 years later (say what!?!)we, at last, brought Milana home.
This began as the story of our journey to bring Milana home and life with her big sister, Dahlia. It now continues as we live as a family of four!
God.
My (growing) family.
Hangin' out with my girlies.
My wonderful friends (you know who you are!).
To laugh (out loud and a lot!).
Music.
Painting. Hugs.
Long chats with my buds.
My garden.
To read (ha...when I can!).
Sunshine.
Spring, Spring and more Spring.
Building things.
Cooking.
Decorating.
Parties (ahem).
The internet.
Life.
Movies. A.I.
Dancing with the stars.
So you think you can dance.
Travel. Umm..did I say laughing my head off.
Oh Gee...everything actually!!
17 comments:
So glad to hear things are going well and getting back to normal. Cute pictures!
I am so glad your beautiful family is complete! You are all so blessed! Beautiful pictures!
I can feel your overflowing heart!
How great that you are on the worship team - and amazing your girls will just play at your feet, they must be enjoying the presence of God :)
(I know exactly what you mean about them figuring out you are insane - I always feared they would figure that out about me while we were waiting - aren't our minds silly?!)
Enjoy those blessings :)
hugs, xo ellie
The girls are simply gorgeous!!
Your post could not have come at a more perfect time for me......this has been an extra tough week and to read your words just brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart.
Glad to see the cast is gone:)
xoxo,
Lisa
***Sigh***
just beautiful.
i couldnt agree more....they are GORGEOUS!
They are such special girls and such great reasons to be grateful.
Keep smilin!
Oh Wanda,
I would never ever question a Mama's need to share a special moment, despite the tears or emotions; for so many of us our blogs, serve in part, as a journal to document the struggles, joys and discoveries along the way of this Mamahood journey.
Your reflections are always so beautiful and from the heart; you have such a thankful and pure heart....pure pleasure to witness!
Yay for the brace....yay for one journey ending and another beginning, with two beautiful girls at your side.....and yay for Autumn ~ and time of renewal and change!
P.S. Your recent comment to our blog was beyond sweet and I wanted you to know that earlier in my blog, following referral ( but before you and I had found one another's blogs!) I had a song that played on my blog......John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy" played for months....until we brought our precious boy home! Your comment amazed me and took me right back to those moments! Thank you!
Beautiful post, beautuful girls... and I say to myself...what a wonderful world.
God is so Good!!!
Luv u
me
Yet another thing we have in common! I am a vocalist on our church worship team!
Yes, I sometimes wonder if I took on too much trying to raise children at my age (46, husband 52). But when I get hugs around my neck and "I love you"s from them and they draw pictures just for me, it's all worth it.
That picture of you with your arms around both Dahlia and Milana? Your arms are full, your heart is full --life can't be more beautiful.
I still get overwhelmed and it has been over two years since our second addition :)
I also was having trouble seeing the screen by the end of your post. Thank you for sharing your heart and for once again touching mine!
You are such a special person... I couldn't be more happy for you. You have indeed been given the most immeasurable gifts.
Thank you for sharing and opening your heart to your readers.
Hugs.
Not only do you have two lovely daughters, you and your partner are rockin out again! Nice. :-) Yes, you should paint one or both of those lovely faces. Happy happiness to you.
M.
(p.s. thanks for your thoughts and comments!)
"Be still & know that I am God." Amen. It's a great lesson, but sometimes is hard to live & even harder to learn! I am so glad that life is going well. Finally updated my blog yesterday for the first time in a while. Been enjoying yours! The girls are so lovely! http://www.journeytomialynn.blogspot.com
Just beautiful. *sigh* And I love that they just settled right into the Praise Band without skipping a beat. (The husband played saxophone in our church praise band for a number of years.)
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