We had a great day with the kiddos today! We spent the morning and the afternoon with them at the babies home. Hope is really sweet, but just stone faces us all day long. That’s what Jeff calls it, at least. 🙂 We do the silliest things trying to get her to smile, but we haven’t been successful yet. She is really strongly attached to the mama that cares for her at the home. It makes me sad that we are taking Hope away from her, but in another few months she would move to a different part of the babies home and get another caregiver anyway. It’s really good that she is so strongly attached because that means her brain has developed the ability to attach. This should help her be able to attach again well. Henry is not so attached to his caregiver. She is more of a ‘tough love’ kind of woman and not very nurturing. When he cries she looks at him really sternly and says “shh Henry!”. The crazy thing is he looks at her with big eyes and then stops. Henry seemed to be taking to us well, but today a volunteer came in the room before we were there, and he climbed right up in her lap. You can tell he just really craves attention and will take it from anywhere he can get it. He is a sweet little man. He is really rough. The way he plays with most things is by hitting them or hitting something with them. I realize with all the hitting he has been doing to my face, he’s just trying to play. He always does it with a big smile on his face. Obviously, I don’t allow him to do it to me, but it makes a little more sense now. 🙂
Tomorrow we will get to bring the babies to the guesthouse for a few hours to begin the process of breaking away from the babies home. I think that will help things along well. Today was a really encouraging day. It was sad leaving them at the babies home at the end of the day. Henry cried really hard when were leaving. The Lord has been so faithful to sustain us and help us through the process. I honestly don’t think I could have gotten this far without Him. It hasn’t been without tears, but He sweetly reassures me that He planned this for us from the beginning of time, and He is equipping us to complete it. What an amazing Lord we serve!
So, for the real reason you checked in today, here are a few pics of the kiddos for your viewing pleasure. 🙂
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| Hope’s Stone Face – This is how she looks at us all the time. 🙂 |
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| Hope laughing at her “mama” |
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| Henry’s Stone Face |
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| Henry Smiling at Me |
At this point Jess, I can't fathom popping in to your lives for just one month and heading back to Thailand. I am so excited about being around your family for more than just a visit soon. I'm beyond excited to meet Hope & Henry!
I'm glad you had a good day with the kids. I've heard that children from orphanages do not know how to play with toys so maybe that's what Henry's up to or maybe he just has an extra dose of testosterone! This time is just so hard but the Lord did bring you here and as hard as it will be to take those children away from their "home" you are forever changing their lives
I love the pictures… They look so happy and I am sure each time with them is so unique. Henry is a big boy. I am sure it will be neat to have them alone at the guesthouse. Love your updates!!
Yeah for time at the guest house! You will be holding very different kids in 6 months. God has plans to proper you and them!!! Praying daily!!!
I love the look Hope is giving Jeff in the background – that is hilarious. We're seeing the stonewall face in action! I'm so thankful to hear in more recent posts that they're warming up to you – I know that does your hearts good. I was looking at the pic of the kiddos in the stroller, thinking that they have NO IDEA how much their lives are about to change. Am so, so happy for you