Following in my footsteps. . .

When I first started this blog it was with the intention of documenting our adoption journey to Gracyn. About 2 years ago, we were still waiting for First Decree, and I was a stress ball. I had yet to learn how to lay it before His feet, and carried so much burden on my shoulders. We had received very few updates, very few photos, watched other families receive referrals, travel and return home while we still waited.

I googl*d Ping Tung, the city where Gracyn was living. I would find as many photos of Ping Tung and match the style of home and furniture with the few photos of her foster family's home. I would study the photos over and over again try to imagine what Gracyn looked like (we had old pictures), what her voice would sound like, and wondered how big she had grown since our referral which was back in the Fall of 2008. I actually figured out where she lived and had believed at that time that I knew what tribe her foster family originated from, and it turned out that I was correct. I knew in my heart I was, which is why before I met her I picked up jewelry for her specific to the family's Paiwan tribe.

On Gotcha Day, When I began to start asking questions through the translator I quickly learned that God had answered my prayers. Gracyn had been with a Christian family her whole life. She knew Him, she knew church, and once home she so comfortably would raise her hand up to Him during worship. For those of you who have followed along since we first started this blog, do you remember all of those photos of her looking up at the sky? Some looked like she was praising God. I didn't know what she was doing exactly, but now I believe she was in fact praising God, and praying for her heart to heal from the grief of losing the only family that she knew.

We never believed those who said the transition period could take the same amount of time as the time she was apart from us, which meant two years. Well, we're nearing the two year mark, and things are really settling in. Sure, we're still dealing with some tantrum issues, and some minor sensory issues, but my "girlfriend" has come a long way. When she first came home, I would find myself staring at her trying to figure out who she took after. Who she got her beautiful eyes from, her clumsiness quirky gait, her love of music, and her love of dancing. One of the few happy moments we shared in Taiwan was after I listened to music that warmed my heart just in time for that first kiss. Remember this post?

Today, I can't say that I really ever think about where her likes and dislikes come from. She's His child, and He chose me to be her Mommy, and well, she's following in MY footsteps and making my heart melt. She's still learning how to use full sentences, but after she saw her big brother take Kinderdance, she said to me, "Mommy, tap shoes?" - Heck YES girlfriend!

Me: "Mommy buy you tap shoes!"
Gracyn: "Mommy you buy me tap shoes?"
Me: "You learn how to go pee pee on the potty, and Mommy buy you tap shoes."
Gracyn: Sitting on the toilet, "You buy me tap shoes?"

QUESTION: Do you know how many times a child pees while potty training?! Especially when they're really tiny with small bladders and love to drink juice? And do you know how persistent she is? And how well her little memory works?

 

ANSWER:
Way too many times. I confess that she still isn't fully potty trained, but since she not only got my love for dancing, but she also got my persistence and memory - well, there's no point in that battle. . .I know. Trust me. She's still talking about her tap shoes almost daily and has only had 2 lessons. . .

 

As a girl who spent most of her young life in a dance studio, this makes me want to dance. . .

 

But seriously, do you see how interested she is in these ballet shoes?!

 

Sweet, sweet girl. . .

 

I love this one. . .

 

So curious. . .

 

And seriously, who could say no to these eyes?!

 

Gracyn, you may have been grown in my heart, and a gift from God, but girlfriend, you are following in my footsteps being my girly girl. Now if you'd just stop hiding from the camera, we'd be set! I can't believe how much you've grown. You've grown into yourself, into our home, into our family. I pray that you will be content with the life He has given you. You are so silly, you love chocolate more than me, and yes, I will buy you M&M pj's to match mine if I can ever find any. You love to play with dolls now (which your report from Taiwan said you were afraid of) and you love to play "Mommy" and wash your baby Josie (formerly Gracie May). Love you baby girl. . .And yes, I am your "friend" but I'm also MOMMY, okay? You'll have lots of friends before you know it. Who could resist your smile?

Shhh. . .I didn't really buy the tap shoes. They were hand-me-downs from her cousin who only wore them a few times about 8 years ago. I found them in the give away pile and held on to them until now. . .Cost savings warranted buying her a ballet skirt that she also sucked me convinced into buying. You can't possibly believe that last line, right? I need no convincing to buy ballet skirts, tap shoes, hair bows, or any accessory for that matter.

Did I mention she also likes to shop? And has grasped the concept of putting clothes into the cart at Targ*t???

Oh geez - this got really long didn't it??? Lisa - you're rubbing off on me!