El Roi--He sees me/us--Your prayers are working!

Yesterday was an okay day. Today, however, MUCH, MUCH better!!!! DanNi is smiling more, laughing; we just finished lunch and she chose to stay in our room and watch Meredith do her Math homework. She had been running back into their room to sit and read. So, that's an extremely positive step toward bonding. She is not running away from us. She has never literally run away, but if given the chance, she would choose to be by herself.

Amy, our guide from 6 yrs. ago, flew in yesterday. She met DanNi this morning before we got on a bus to go to the park. She talked a lot to DanNi and it has seemed to help tremendously. Amy is a God-send, that is for sure. We found out DanNi has friends from her orphanage that were also adopted by US families, so we will try to find them so DanNi can keep in touch. I know that will help a lot.

We also found out thru Amy, that DanNi had never been swimming before. Last Thur. when she got in the pool, she prob. did so, just to do it...but now the reality has set in and she's more nervous....completely understandable. DanNi had also never been to a store like Wal-Mart, so the Carrefour (comparable to Wal-Mart) here is probably very overwhelming. Her little town did not have stores like that. So, we wanted to make sure Amy told her that when she sees snacks, toys, clothes she wants, we will buy them for her. I have tried to communicate that, but Amy says she really thinks she does not understand English. The times when she was shaking her head Y/N, were prob. just because she thought that's what we wanted, not because she understands. Anyway, it will come in time.

The Older Yahoo group's comments that being non-verbal is totally normal was very reassuring. For some reason, we never came across that advice before we left; but knowing it is common, which makes sense b/c of the state of fear/trauma that she is in, makes us feel better. Amy talked her into letting us take a picture of her and Amy, so we will try to post those later. DanNi is soooo cute when she smiles and laughs...we hope to share that with you all soon! She is still shy, which Amy confirmed...just like other kids, some are shy, some are not.

She and JingJing have been gobbling up dried seaweed like it's chocolate!! Totally cracks us up...for JingJing anyway. We assumed DanNi had it in the orphanage; but Amy said she told her she'd never eaten it before. I think it's a delicacy, and they have it here on the breakfast buffet. We found some large packages in the store here, and she and JJ are snacking on them every chance they get.

She had a peanut butter sandwich for lunch today..and has discovered BBQ chips...which I'm sure she'd not eaten either before...and Sunkist. We are soooo thankful that she is eating and sleeping well...b/c we know those could be issues, but they are not at this point. I think initially, it was all VERY overwhelming for us...but we are feeling much better now...soo thanks a million for your prayers (James 5:16).

Last night as I read Psalm 149 (or maybe Ps. 146), it talked about the fatherless, and my heart leapt with joy, because DanNi now does not fit that desciption. During this process before we got her, those verses really made me sad for her, but not anymore, Praise Jesus! Also, in the taxi last night, Meredith let JJ borrow her MP3 player....JJ started singing, "He's alive, He's alive and we are FREE!!" that is right....and the thought, she is singing that in a taxi in a Communist country...thank You, Jesus, for my precious children..they are truly a gift from You..and often He speaks thru them when we need it most...we just have to be listening! We love you and miss you dearly.