Each week that we've dropped the kids off, Emma leaves in tears. She wants to be there. She longs to stay with her siblings and "go to school". This is the same scene played out from school drop off each morning, too. So sad. Her tears just drop down her face, often accompanied by the most plaintive wail.
We are still following the advice of the U of M adoption clinic and not enrolling her in anything where immediate family isn't in attendance for her first four to six months home. The chance for her to participate in "church school" with her siblings seemed like a good choice. A way to give her a chance to be social with other children, which she obviously craves, in a structured setting where people "know our story" and will support us in the boundaries we are establishing for this settling in period. It can seem a bit strange.
Emma loved it! She loved it all. We knew she would. Her loving it really was never the question. It is more her ability to bond and form strong attachments with us first, and discern the difference between a caregiver and a parent. Firm attachment, is what we are striving for. It takes time, and these initial months will hopefully lay a strong foundation for all the years to come.
Last night she sang and danced along to the songs, motioned the bible verses with the group, and completely participated in the entire evening. We came home with a verse from Isaiah written out and complete with her very own handwriting (on part of it, mine on the rest)!
Even better than that, she was so appropriate in her boundaries, and wasn't overly friendly or familiar with anyone! That is progress. Last time we tried this, she bounded right onto the teachers lap and was more than happy to ignore me and fix her adoration, in a fairly inappropriate way given she knew no one, on any adult in the room. Not this time. I breathed a huge sigh of relief at the end of the night! It was a really wonderful thing!
It was, also, so good for me to be back among "my people". Golly do I miss Anne-Marie and Julie (my old co-workers and friends in ministry and life). Sharing the night watching little hearts spark to God's Big Story did my own heart good. I, too, left feeling energized and uplifted.
The story of Exodus always gets me revved up. :) Just ask Michael, our Bible teacher for last night. I desperately had to contain myself from blurting our additional information, and not because the teaching was lacking. I just get so enthused when the Word of God is being unpacked.
The last song of the night was, "Happy Day" and Emma jumped up and down singing right along...all the way home, up the stairs, into bed, back down again this morning, and through the day. "Oh! Happy day, happy day! You took my sin away" reverberating from the very walls of my home. She lights up every time she sings.
So ended a lovely Wednesday. Dinner with our church family for the first time since we've been back from China was another highlight. I'm quite sure I almost hugged Lisa multiple times for the joy and goodness of sitting next to her. And Emma did splendidly.
I'm impressed with how much better her "stranger" boundaries have become. She is learning quickly the difference between family, friend and stranger. That is beautiful, and incredible work on Emma's part!
What a difference a few weeks make.
1 comment:
All Casey could talk about was getting to sing "Happy Birthday" to Emma and getting to pray for her upcoming surgeries. She even managed to remember the date of her Feb surgery. We're praying for her and all of the Silburns. So glad that we get to see ALL of your smiling faces on Wednesday nights. Stop by the nursery next week and say hi.
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