Joshua - What Took Me By Surprise

Our agency prepared us well for an international adoption. Especially since we thought we already knew how to do the adoption thing. Five times kind of puts you in the front row. But there is always more to learn and the pre-adoptive training helped fill in the gaps for our international adventure.

What I didn't realize is how jealous the other kids would be. We have seen many kids coming and going for over 10 years. And we did that well with the help of a therapist, our faith, and a lot of love.

We have had the blessings of adoption and the privilege of putting families back together. I thought my kids were well versed in how "to do" the new kid thing. Overall, they were excited about having a new brother and for the most part they were all on board with going to China. Once Joshua arrived, they let us know that there were dues to pay in the parent department. Even now, the green monster still rears his ugly head and it continues to be a mystery to me as to why this time they were so vocal. (Beyond the normal transitions that we expected and had previously experienced).

These little uproars are wonderful opportunities to explore where our hearts are at and we take the time to talk with any kid who feels misplaced, misjudged, or unloved. I do think we could have prepared them better although I'm not sure what that would have looked like. 

Now the little boys have embraced Joshua as their own. 

I think they may have a secret club going on.

They play and learn together all day long.

Keep'n me on my toes is the name of their game.

 And generally they are a force to be reckoned with 

in the most fun way imaginable.

 They have done a great job learning to share me.

 And don't seem to mind pairing up.

When God called us to adopt from China, I did just a little begging because I wasn't ready for another emotionally needy child. We spent two years of messiness trying to find a new normal with our other "older child" adoptions and it wore me out. 

God answered big time because Joshua is a delight. He is smart and willing to learn. He is appropriate with his body and his emotions. Sure, we have cultural differences but we can work on those. He is happy and easy going almost all of the time.

"Almost all of the time." Because once in a blue moon, he takes a stand and WANTS something that he cannot have. We did spoil him in China for sure. Because we could. It was worth the little entitlement issues that crop up now.

In the picture above he was mad because the little boys had gotten new sneakers that day and he wanted some too. As you can see he has on perfectly good sneakers that we had bought in China only 3 weeks earlier. Welcome to real life, Joshua. And that's not a bad thing.

I am amazed how wonderful an older child adoption can be. God orchestrated this journey from the beginning and we are learning to enjoy the ride every step of the way.