Adoption: Headed Home

On Monday morning we left Clay and Joshua at the hotel and arrived at the children school.  We had an appointment with the counselor.  She would fill us in on the kids grades and how they did academically.  I was looking forward to this since I homeschool all my kids.  This would be very helpful.  

They listed their concerns about Nemo.  They said that Nemo's age group has their own clicks and hangs out together while Nemo has very little friends, gets into trouble frequently and walks the halls with a stuffed animal under his arm.  He might have an 11 year old body but he is very immature for his age.  We didn't know how immature until he had been with us for awhile.  He was in the 7th grade but was doing adding and subtracting in math.  His reading was grade level which was surprising.  I could tell by the way he speaks he is a very bright boy.  They told me that regardless of his problems he meant well and was very tender hearted.

Then they talked about Alicia.  They really didn't have any real great concerns for her.  Her reading level was grade level.  She was behind in math but that was because of the holes in her learning.  They said she was a sweetheart.  Based on what I saw in her at the time (we just met a few days ago) she didn't trust anyone.  She knew the people at the school and she liked being at school.  Since the kids just met us she was very closed off.  I was praying that she would open up and "be happy".

After clearing out lockers, returning over due books, and saying goodbye to people who had been so important in these kids life, we were headed to the foster home to get their things.  There were no tears! They were happy to get going!  I believe they both were happy for permenacy.  Once we were at the foster home we went in and did our best to gather up what was theirs.  Once things were all packed up we headed back to the hotel to load up our things and to collect our two others that were left at the hotel.  Once the van and the truck were all packed we headed out to their new permanent home in Central Point, Oregon.

Milford took Clay with him and I took Alicia, Nemo and Josh with me.  All the way there I was thankful Milford was in another car because Alicia had he MP3 going and she was singing really loud, headphones in, like she was the only one in the car.  I kept trying to figure out how in the world was I going to tell her to sing quietly without hurting her feelings.  For 5 hours straight I had to endure this!

 

All the way home I was thinking about little situations that we had happened and how I would handle them differently at home.  I was thinking of things I didn't get to before bringing the kids home.  I kept praying that the Lord help me be a good mom and help me learn to love these children as my own. I prayed that the other kids would learn to love them as their own siblings.  I had tons of prayers and concerns going up. 

This transition part of our journey was very easy however the "honeymoon period" was soon to be over.  There maybe parts of our journey coming up that if they had it their way they wouldn't want me to share.  I am going to share somethings and somethings I will keep private.  For those who are thinking about adopting I want to be honest and share our story because you very well could encounter the same things or I could mention things you didn't consider.  

Once I get to where we are now and you compare to where we started-- you would not recognize them by their behaviors.  They have made tons of progress and this is why I feel the need to share with you.  I hope that you hang in there and be persistent in what the Lord is calling you to do.  This journey has been so rewarding!!  Yes -- No doubt it has been hard but it has not only changed these kids for the better, it has changed our family for the better too.  PRESS ON!