India journal writings - Sept. 3, 2012

As promised to some out of town family and friends - I'm going a bit back in time to cover our trip in a series I'll call India journal writings, in date order.  God is at work in all things and it's neat for us, even now to look back and see all the miracles. 

September 3, 2012
We left yesterday with great excitement to enter into this amazing adventure.  We were so excited to get the bags checked and get onto that first airplane :)  Here in the jetway getting ready to board the plane.

We arrived in Mumbai, India what we realized was a day earlier than we expected. Slight panic on the airplane because all we ever talked about was arriving on Tuesday and getting Anjali on Wednesday…so to discover it was actually Monday evening – and we were in India – we questioned each other on whether we thought we’d have a hotel booked for the night. A bit of panic set in.
We got through the airport seamlessly and all our bags arrived, we exchanged money and prayed we’d find a hotel driver holding our name on a sign. Problem is… the location where drivers were waiting is OUTSIDE the airport … and our last chance for a pre-paid tax (if we needed one) was just INSIDE the airport doors. And of course, guess what…once you are OUT you can’t go back IN! I looked out the door the best I could only to see tons of drivers holding signs… it was like the “red carpet” of Hollywood – everyone waiting to see someone…and I couldn't read all the signs from this view. I told Brad, it’s a step of faith – through this entire process JOH has been on top of it in ALL our arrangements, details, etc. They had our flight info. they must have booked us a room for Monday night, right?

I felt incredible peace as we stepped through that last door into the unknown as we began to search for our name… this would be our first step of faith in this journey. As we walked the line, name after name, we finally saw Mr. and Mrs. Blunt – and we were joyful. So happy to see that once again our God provides and JOH is on their toes :)

Brad told our driver we wanted to get a cell phone (we left all our phones at home…. this will be important later in our trip…make note :)  ) The driver said, “yes” and then proceeded to walk us to his car …. Passing by all the various kiosks. I’m reminded that like Kenya, the people say, “yes” when they don’t want to disappoint you and also when they don’t understand you….. we left the airport without a phone.

India traffic lives up to it’s claim. It is crazy no doubt. Cars are tiny, the little motorcars on 3 wheels are everywhere (these are the ones in last year’s season of Amazing Race). Brad and I feel like this journey is our great amazing race… a trip and adventure of a life time. Similar to Kenya there are people walking everywhere and there are cars inches away from hitting each other and street vendors with colorful signs selling all kinds of things…but we clearly notice the products for sale are mostly necessities. India is colorful.

It’s monsoon season so it has rained every day. The street people and homeless are dirty and some even sitting in rain mud puddles – babies in a make shift tent under the overpass run naked as hundreds of cars pass by locked in traffic. It’s amazing how these babies know to stay close to the tent and their momma.

We arrived at our hotel Monday night around 10 pm and soon got a call from Meenal – she’s our Mumbai contact. She said we could go to Bal Asha on Tuesday instead of Wednesday – that proved in the end to be a blessing to have an extra day before flying to New Delhi. Brad and I looked at each other with great excitement of knowing we’d be meeting our daughter the very next day.

Our hotel in Mumbai became a safe sanctuary from the busy streets of Mumbai - plus it was really nice - but most importantly, the people there -- know how to love - they were AMAZING and became our local family.  More on them later :)

A little out of sorts

Ok - so many are asking how I'm doing, etc. In the spirit of full transparency, I'm a little out of sorts. We are all adjusting to having a firecracker at home. We're a fairly quiet, low-key family... so to have the house a bit upside down with non-stop energy and endless eating and changing diapers is a bit .....interesting :) I'm really searching for that full-time servant heart - don't get me wrong, I do find enjoyment in serving people... but I guess it is usually on my terms. {selfish...hmmmmmm}. Dear Lord, please do a work in me.

But here's the good part -- just at the point when running on empty of patience and energy for the next nutty moment....this little girl does something that amazes me.... like just now, she's been playing with Joshua. I made them a snack after school pick up... she came to me clearly with a need... I went through all the common hand signals that we've been able to establish (ponie - = water), (stinky - with point to diaper = need a diaper change), the "more" sign - although she's done that a couple of times... I think she believes she's beyond "BABY sign language" and doesn't have much tolerance for playing along.... she grabbed my hand and walked me to the kitchen pointed to the bread and jabbered... which I clearly understood she needed another bread, butter, jam sandwich. Ok, getting somewhere....she smiled with excitement (and I think even a laugh) and I handed her a SECOND sandwich because she already finished the first one. She checked in with Joshua in the family room and then came to me to sit on my lap here at the computer :) ... for just a second...then back to Joshua (BUT as she hopped off my lap she looked down and noticed her tennis shoes here by the desk....) so she quickly picked those up and put them in their "proper place" -- that she's established. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, she's the ONLY one in the whole house that will pick up their shoes! Seriously.

And after a diaper change, she's quick to either put on herself (or attempt to) or indicate that I needed to put on her pants -- as if to say, "only babies run around in a diaper".

She works so hard to please and she exhibits real patterns of self-care that I'm sure were taught at Bal Asha. I am ever thankful for BAT - it seems they did an amazing job with this little girl. I can see the care they gave by the behaviors that he exhibits....and it is good.

Now this morning, when I unpeeled her banana broke in half and placed in a bowl - only to find out that I must have done it wrong -- she had an all-out melt down in the kitchen floor. So I picked it up and gave her a new one, only started the end and she was happy and finished peeling the banana back piece by piece and then pointed to the door (that has a baby lock on it) that has our trash can kept inside. She wanted me to open it, so SHE could throw away her trash. I just don't remember Joshua being so meticulous at this age. Here is what I'm learning from her --- give her options, ask her IF she wants help -- when she decides, she's often much more agreeable and will even accept help on things she clearly is unable to do...but boy this girl will try anything! Determined and independent. She even put on her tennis shoes this morning....seriously! velcro straps, of course, but still she had them on...and even the right foot.

So I'm caught a bit between having a 3 year old that behaves a bit like the "terrible twos"....I hate that saying, but it seems to be the only phrase to explain my point.... mixed with an infant that can't clearly tell you what they need and someone who has a boatload of diaper changes. and mixed in is a gal that's the life of the party and doesn't stop! Fiercely independent -- yet also so clearly needy...... so as you can see, I'm a bit out of sorts.

We've had some biting (not a bunch, but on occasion).... some spitting too..(this makes me a little crazy, I'll be honest)...along with throwing food and pinching. But I'm learning the more I seek HER direction, she responds well. And like I said, in between some of these little spurts of challenge / melt-downs... she is so loving, and affectionate, and funny.... you can't help but laugh and hold her tight. I'm so proud of her being able to do well in the car seat and the stroller ride. Whenever anyone leaves our house after a visit she cries... she hates to be left behind... I'm not sure what to do about that one...any advice?? The range of emotions is a bit more than I can take at times.... and I'm reminded that God is in control and called us to this little one -- so this roller coaster will smooth out to a flat train ride one day...just praying it's sooner rather than later... and praying we can get a few months behind us at the blink of an eye. Just keepin it real ya! The emotion on this side of the process is so very different than the emotion on the pre-adopt side. And so far all my gal pals that I’ve confided in says "this is all normal" -- and when she laughs during nearly every diaper change because her belly is so ticklish you can't help but laugh yourself. It's all going to be ok…. She’s only been home for 4 days :)

Her very first smile - that turned into a chuckle

We are making our way through the transition home - some days good, some a bit challenging, but we're making our way and each day and moment are better and better.  The story below from our time in India was a major high light of our trip - the day she smiled and then laughed.... it was awesome!

This picture taken in our hotel room in India.  Brad playing blocks with Mr. Lamb and Lauren Anjali - Mr. Lamb started knocking down blocks with his arms, and eventually used his big ears to knock down the blocks, some times he missed, other times he flipped backwards (my Brad Blunt is the greatest playful dad who is very creative, gentle, kind, and patient....have I told you how much I love this man??).  This was her VERY first smile and laugh ... since then there have been many on a daily basis :)   When the blocks fell - Brad kindof hit himself in the head (not hard of course)...like, "oh no, what happened"....so guess who minics him every time now when something falls, a dropped sippy cup, etc.... she's so cute when she does this, sometimes for the smallest thing.....  hits her head and babbles words like "oh, no"... and then laughs....she cracks herself up and us too.

And now she even mimics daddy with Mr. Lamb knocking down blocks :)  She's one fast learner -- language barrier -- not that big of a challenge during play time... :)  Laughter and silliness are universal...

We're home and here is a pic where she's smiling :)

So we got home from India Friday morning.  I'll update blog later with daily journal events from our trip - right now our neighbor girls are here playing chase with Anjali after giving her a bath :)  These girls LOVE this little girl, and she likes them alot too -- all laughs and grins here.   She picked up the remote control and put it to her ear and said, "hello" as if it was the telephone :)  too funny, check out Nana in the pic enjoying her new granddaughter :)

What brings you joy?

I have to say... right before leaving for a trip there is one thing that seems to always bring me great joy...... times when we've had to leave Joshua with a grandparent...right before we leave Joshua is amazing.  You'd think most kids would act out, but not Joshua -- it's as if he wants to soak up EVERY bit of his parents to save it up for the days ahead when he's missing them :)

First you have to know something about Joshua -- he's an extrovert in the body and mind of an introvert -- he LOVES his daddy, he just doesn't always want his DADDY to know it. .... see, there is a bit of "who is the alpha male" in this house going on at times.  Of course Brad is amazing, ever patient -- he's more of a gentle leader, but certainly does take a stand at times....for example recently he blocked Cartoon Network from our cable TV - he just felt like Joshua was watching shows that advanced violence -- so many Bey Blade battles, Ninjago, etc.... always fighting good against evil type shows... Brad didn't like what it seemed to be doing to Joshua - so .... he blocked it... no warning, no discussion...just took action.   Joshua is really a sensitive kid ... so parenting and discipline can be a bit tricky, but we're finding he's smart too...so he does understand we want the best for him.

Well, for the last two days..... he has been NUTs about Brad.  Last night, actually went to bed early, just so his daddy could read a few chapters out of Ralph and the Motorcycle. Right now they are working on some sort of "surprise" for me for the trip...not sure what that is about, all I know is... "it's a boys secret".... and later today, they are going to play disc golf together... Joshua decided to go with daddy instead of running errands and shopping a bit with me!  He LOVES to shop with me.  ..... he's soaking up daddy, every ounce... and Brad is loving it. 

They rough-house, have pillow fights, and all kinds of boy things.... sometimes Joshua gets carried away and doesn't want to go to bed, doesn't know when to stop, won't do his bed time routine, brush teeth, etc and ends up getting in trouble... these are times when Brad has worked soooo hard at getting to Joshua, to teach him how to respect authority, and to learn when enough is enough..... Joshua doesn't always respond well to this redirection -- but lately, he has been great!  He and Brad have a newer deeper bond .... and I think it will only grow deeper once little miss gets home (you know.... the whole "boys rule, girl drool thing" :)  Of course, we won't really allow that attitude in all seriousness.... # 1 priority, boys respect girls in the house, girls respect boys in the house :)    Bottom line is:  right now, my joy is bursting because Joshua and Brad are really bonding and have a great time before we leave....two quiet guys talking, talking, laughing, laughing ...working together on a project, disc golf or perhaps putt-putt golf (one or the other).... warms my heart!!