A Great Letter To Friends Concerning A Recent Adoption

This letter is from some dear friends of ours from Albuquerque who just adopted two girls from Ethiopia.  They already have three biological children and another adopted son from China.  They sent this letter as an update to some of us.  I thought it was an inspiring and honest testimony to the greatness (and challenge) of adoption.  

We are finally home with our girls. It has been an amazing week. Honestly, it has been a very hard week. There is nothing like adoption. It is an intense mixture of stress, fear, sorrow, and extreme joy all rolled into one. Over all, the beginning of this adoption has been much easier than our first. I believe that is because we approached it totally differently.
With Nate, I got on the plane for China ready to meet my child, sure I would fall instantly in love with my perfect angel from heaven. NOT! (My note: Nate was treated very poorly in the orphanage in China and had many challenged transitioning to the Mancini home.) 

This time around we both knew what we were signing up for. We prepared for the worst and didn't even dare to hope for the best. Most of all, we we made the commitment to love our girls even if there was nothing lovely about them. We tried to rest in the fact that it would be God who would have to do the work in us. 

Mahdie had a very hard week. Although she clearly wants to love us and is grateful for a family, she grieved the loss of her Mother and everything she currently knows. Her tears would cause me to loose it and cry along with her. (Which only upset her more) We were both a bit of a wreak the whole week. 

Mekie is beautiful! She can also throw a mean temper tantrum. Over all, she seems to be adjusting wonderfully to our family. 

And so we are home. All of my kiddos under one roof. I prepared for such hardship and struggle that it never occurred to me that it might be wonderful. I sat at our very full table this morning and looked at all of my gifts. They look TOTALLY different from each other yet each one was created by the same Master's hand. For some crazy reason, I get the honor of making them breakfast and putting on their band aids. It is serial and blissful. Oh don't get me wrong, Mekie has already had several fits. Nate (My note: their son from China) had a melt down that the neighbors could hear. Somebody stepped in Bosco's poop and drug it through the house. And I'm sensing a bit of tension between Jason and I. Not to mention, I'm pretty sure we are dealing with lice and head ring worm. Still my heart is singing within me (sorry to be mushy). I feel like I might bubble over laughter. 

I'm totally aware that we are in a honeymoon stage. Mahdie's grief is not over. Mekie is going to give us a major run for our money. But honestly, our God is GREAT and GREATLY to be praised!!! His grace is sufficient!!! And that is enough!!!

I want to give more details but I hear a fight brewing in the living room.

To those of you who filled our freezer with meals, mowed our lawn, helped with my kids, gave money, prayed and prayed some more... Thank you!!! I love my brothers and sisters!

Mekie is crying! Gotta go!

Loving it and loving our Savior!!!!

Amy