Hidden Treasure!

Sorry I have no pics to go with this post, but I had to share what God revealed to me tonight. As I have been going through the mound of paperwork I came home with from Peru, I came across a document that I hadn't seen before. It is in Spanish and so looked like many others, but a date caught my eye. March 10, 2006. As I read and used Babel Fish to translate I realized this was the date Alexandra had been put at New Life. I had been trying to find that out and see how close it was to when God called us to this adoption (see the post from May "The Call to Adopt"). As I pulled out my past journal and looked up the date, we were sitting in church that Sunday, I realized it was the Sunday after Alex was placed at New Life. Just 2 days later! So chances are we didn't see her picture that morning, but God knew she was there and that she was our daughter and we were to go get her!

Wow, is God ever in the details. He never had to show me that date, but it was like a gift from Him, a hidden treasure, one that has so blessed us tonight! I praise Him that He had me write the date down 3 years ago. I am sure at the time I thought I would never forget that exact Sunday, but 3 years later, I knew it was a Sunday in March and that was all. How many times, have I heard something, or pondered something and haven't written it down? What treasures have I missed? You can bet I am going to have plenty of notebooks on hand to journal in!

God is an amazing God! I pray you find some hidden treasure of your own from Him! It will never disappoint!

Water Girl!

After laying pretty low during the week, we decided to venture out and try the swiming pool on Friday. We knew our friend's pool would be a safe place so that if we had any issues, it was our close friends that witnessed it and not the entire YMCA. She loved it. She wore her water wings and had a ring on. I figured she would hang on us (like 2 of my other 3 did at this age) and not want to leave the steps. She jumped right in and had a blast. She didn't mind going under and in no time was climbing to the top of the slide and going down (holding a hand on the side of course). After not too much longer she was jumping off the diving board and giggling like crazy! She was singing and giggling and enjoying herself so much. I have no doubt she will be swimming without the floaties by the end of the summer. It was so much fun to watch and just further drove home to us that God made her perfect for this family.

Becca was great with her in the pool and gave me a bit of adult time while she entertained her. It was a great morning. After her nap, we were invited to another friend's pool, so we figured we would push our luck. She did great again, though she did tire quicker.

We figured with 2 trips to the pool under our belt, we would try the lake. God blessed us last week with a boat deal we just couldn't pass up. Lake trips have always had a special place in this family. It is one of the activities everyone always enjoys and we get to enjoy God's creation while we play. Two summers ago we sold our boat in order to help prepare financially for the adoption. A month later the lake nearby us all but dried up (most of the ramps did dry up, and we wouldn't have been able to enjoy the lake anyhow.) We knew God had led us to sell it, but the urge to head back on the lake started to hit hard this spring when all the rains filled the lake up to capacity again and the temperatures started heating up. Layne had been looking, but had not had peace about anything he had seen. Last Thursday, he found one that needed some interior work that was priced very reasonably. He brought it home Friday and worked on it Saturday and we headed out on Sunday! I know it was no accident we found it the week after we got home. God is so good to take care of his children. Truly all blessings come from Him.

She got very excited about wearing a life jacket and heading out, though she thought she was going to get to ride there in the boat, not her carseat. After explaining we had to drive a bit to the lake, we were off. We got on the lake with no problems and she loved the boat ride yelling "rapido, rapido!" She is her Daddy's daughter as she loves the speed! She swam and played on the "beach" and even braved the tube with her sister, yelling "rapido, rapido" again as she wanted Layne to pull them faster. She loved it. I am afraid the next time we head out and water ski, she will want to try that too!

It was a great day and I anticipate many more. Watching her smile and laugh as she bounced on that tube made all the long nights and frustrating moments melt away! I can't wait for Friday when we head out again!

What a Week!

What a difference a week makes. In some ways it is hard to believe we have already been home over a week, in other ways, it seeems like we have been home forever. We have taken the days very slowly with meeting others and going out. We felt it best to let her continue to bond with us all and not introduce too many to her at once. It is paying off as every day she seems more and more at ease here. When she does meet our friends she is very friendly to them and warms up quickly. She is definitely a people person and wants to know their names and refers to them with their name and "Mama's amiga". It is heart warming!

She has begun venturing off to play on her own in her room and understands when Daddy has to go to work or Becca goes to volleyball or Drake or Luke go to a friend's house. She seems to understand they will come back and we will all be together again. That is a huge step, both in her accepting that and in being able to communicate these things to her! Last week, I couldn't sit for 5 minutes without her wanting me right there with her.

Her fear of Petey, our dog, also is diminishing. She now loves to pet him, and kiss him, and bug him nonstop. We aren't sure what Petey is thinking of all this, but he is taking it all in stride, except for hiding under beds any chance he gets. He is enjoying the fact that she wants to feed him anything she is eating. He has had more crackers and chips this weekend than at any other time in his life.

She doesn't enjoy tv or movies much, but she will watch her Old McDonald video and any episode of Dora she can catch and be entertained for a good 20 minutes. Good for her English and for my sanity. Speaking of English (pun intended) she has begun to repeat words that we say to her. She says them over and over and tries to pronunciate them correctly. We praise her for her attempts and she smiles widely at us. I think she is just as ready to communicate well with us as we are with her. If she wants to tell us something that we aren't understanding, she has begun using hand motions or taking our hand and showing us what she wants. The frustration that used to come and lead to a fit is waning daily!

I still pull out our Spanish dictionary daily and have wowed my friends here (ok, so they act wowed and humor me). They actually think I know Spanish. Little do they know I am butchering it and know it barely at a 4 year old level. It works though! The boys are even speaking more and more in Spanish and I hear them speaking to each other occasionally and we all laugh. We do get crazy looks in Target and Wal Mart (the only places we have ventured out yet) as we piece together conversations with her.

It is hard to remember what our lives were like before her, though it still hasn't all completely sunk in! She brings challenges and joys to our lives everyday! I praise God that the joys far outweigh the challenges! He is so faithful and trustworthy!

HOME!

We have been home 3 full days now and are getting into a good schedule. For those of you who know us well, you know that is not very natural for us! I found out a nap after lunch makes the rest of the day so much easier and bedtime easier as well. Alexandra seems to enjoy her bed and her room, though she still wants me with her whenever she falls asleep. I don't mind at all as I know that is a sign of us bonding. A welcome sign after a weekend of being swatted away and her wiping off any kiss I gave her. I think I was more disappointed in myself for letting it get to me like it did. I knew better than to take it personally.

Once the week started Monday and we both had had plenty more sleep, things improved dramatically. Layne was able to be home Monday with us and shop with us, so that was a blessing. She is now calling us Mami and Daddy instead of Mama and Papa and is using other English words as well. We just had a huge "win" this morning as she was trying to tell me something and getting very frustrated with me and I just couldn't figure it out. She wasn't trying to show me what it was, so I grabbed the Spanish dictionary to see if I could figure it out. I have been hesitant in doing that as most things she says (like most 4 year olds) don't come out like they would be written, so it hasn't been of much use. This time it was...SCORE! POPSICLE! She wanted a popsicle! I pulled one out and held it up and she yelled "Si, si!" I started jumping up and down and she did too. After all that, I wasn't about to tell her we normally don't have popsicles at 10 am. Today we are!

We haven't gone out much at all...just to Target to buy some summer clothes and another bathing suit...and to Wal Mart to buy a new car seat (one that Miss Independent can buckle herself :). She has already spent a lot of time in my bathtub playing and outside playing in the hose. She LOVES the water and thinks it funny when I call her "mi chiquita pescado" (my little fish). I can't wait to get her in the pool.

Becca has enjoyed being back with her friends, especially since she finally got texting. She even got to go to Six Flags yesterday with her friends. The boys are enjoying playing in the water outside with Alexandra and checking out the girly toys they never played with. All in all, things are pretty peaceful at the Trosper house. (Except when Alexandra wants to "play" legos with her brothers.)

Speaking of house..we have a new resident in ours. While we were away a mouse decided to take up residence here. Drake told us he saw one in the kitchen the other night, but we were doubtful. Last night, we found "evidence". It looks like he took over the kitchen while we were gone. He doesn't know it yet, but all out war has been declared on him as I don't do well with anything living in my house, other than my family! Hopefully by tonight, I will have my kitchen back!

This morning was the first time in quite a while, I was able to get up before everyone and have some great quiet time on the patio with my cup of coffee. It was so wonderful. Oh how I took all those mornings the kids were all at school for granted! God was gracious enough to give me a very cool verse. "By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches." Prov 24:3-4 As I have wondered how I am going to know what to do and not do as I parent Alexandra (as well as Becca, Drake and Luke!) this morning He reminded me it is by wisdom. That wisdom I know doesn't come from me, but from Him. I am asking Him to give me that wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, so that Alexandra can feel such a part of this family and know Christ's love for her!

Thank you for your continued prayers. Being home has already made such a difference.

We are home!

We got into the Atlanta airport last night about 5:15 our time. By the time we got all of our luggage, made it through a full blown temper tantrum and found Layne, we were off and on our way home to Millbrook. We stopped for dinner at Chick Fil A. (Not sure if she was as impressed as we always are...we love that place.) We got to the house about 9:30. Alexandra was in overload as she checked it all out. I was too tired to remember to get the camera or video camera out, but it was quite fun. She is petrified of Petey our dog. Even after all she talked about him, she is scared to get too close. He of course is oblivious.

She is having a blast today with her brothers and Becca. They are enjoying the Slip and Slide and having tons of water fun! It is so good to be home with her. The highlight of my weekend was sitting down for the great breakfast Layne fixed this morning and having all 6 chairs at the table filled up!
(Just FYI, this girl LOVES her bacon...I knew she was a Trosper!) We will continue to post as the sumer goes on. I know there are new challenges ahead, but being home all together has already made such a difference (at least in me). Thank you for all the continued prayers. We are still in awe of the great things He has done!

We are headed home!!!!!

God is so good and faithful! We got a call this afternoon that they had Alexandra's visa ready for us to pick up. The same day....unheard of! Layne started calling American to see what he could do to get our flights changed from next Friday to sometime this weekend. We are flying out in the morning! (At 7am, no less...we have to leave at 3am. I am not seeing much sleep in my near future.) Bec and I are so excited we are about to jump out of our skin! A week early! I never would have imagined. Thank you for all your prayers. They have truly carried us and held us up the last 4 weeks! I will post from home. I am sure there will be plenty of funny (or not so funny) moments on the plane and in the airports! Until I am in the US and Alexandra is an official US citizen(she becomes one the moment our plane lands in the US)....Bye!

One More Step!

Hello all! Well this morning we went to the Embassy and had Alexandra's Visa Interview. The Visa is the last thing we need before we can leave. I was told there was an "outside chance" that it could be done this afternoon. I am asking God if He would make the software move quickly and get it done. I am also asking Him for favor with American Airlines, so we can get our tickets changed and come home early. He has been so faithful to take care of us so far! In fact today already we were told they don't do the visas until 9 (we got in at 8) and then was told they don't do the interviews today (we had ours). God is so good! Becca and I are going to begin packing in anticipation (and to make sure we don't need another suitcase). It is cold and dreary today, like most days. I know it is hot and sunny at home, but that sounds so good right now. We'll keep everyone posted.