What day is it, anyway?

For someone who likes, okay, loves to be organized, make my lists, check them off, etc., I know my brain is on overload when I don't even know what day it is! But it is a good thing. When your world has been turned upside down, as we knew it would be, simple things like keeping track of the date seem insignificant. And we think our world has been turned upside down! Not even hardy, compared to our precious DanNi's.

The things we're learning about her...I cannot even begin to comprehend what she's been through...but in the few short days God has allowed me to be her mother, I do know this....she is a fighter, a survivor, that is for sure. Just watching her determination to learn how to swim, my goodness. You'd think she'd be terrified of the water, having never been in a pool and she's twelve. But she gets in there, and tries over and over, for an hour and a half, solid, to see how far she can swim.
When she's stuck with a needle, 5 times, plus given a TB test, she watches, and does not even flinch. That, right there, told me a lot.

Children who have experienced severe trauma, loss, don't always recognize pain, like we would; or have a lack of fear. She also is not afraid of traffic...like buses, and cars, whizzing by, within feet of her. That is scary...but provides us an opportunity to show her we are here to protect her and keep her from harm. I learned tonight that she probably has never had anyone put lotion on her dry skin...so that is why she shakes her head 'no' when I offer it to her...it is foreign to her, that someone would care enough to notice she is scratching her dry skin, and need some lotion. Things like this take time...little things we take for granted.

So, He is reminding me over and over again of His soverignty. I am so overwhelmed that He would choose me, yes me, to be DanNi's mother, for her time here on earth. I look forward to the many more games of Memory we will play, where she likes to 'trick' me into finding a match, when I can't remember where the cards are. Simple things like her allowing me to unscrew the cap on her orange juice have become treasured moments...because a few days ago, she was keeping me at arms length. Slowly, she is feeling more safe and free, and I know He is watching over her.

And my sweet JJ was singing one of the songs she's learned in Kid's worship earlier today. That brought my heart much joy. JJ and DanNi have definitely bonded over eating dried seaweed together....which is funny to me for some reason. I just hope I can find it n a store back home!! His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness endures through all generations. Let us consider how we can spur each other on to love and good deeds. I have been reading "Radical" by David Platt. What a great book! You should check it out.

It is my sincere prayer that other families would consider adopting an older child. These children desperately need loving families before it is too late. Nite, nite all!