6 months goes quickly

Kim and I were in China six months ago, signing the papers and promising to take care of our newest daughter for the rest of our lives.  We got our first family photo taken.  Annabelle knew only a few words in English.  She was afraid of me (only a little bit, she assures me), but took to Kim right off the bat.  We were living in a fabulous hotel room, sharing firsts of everything–first McDonalds, first pizza, first family prayer, first mother-daughter hair washes and nail salon trips, first shopping experiences, first church services…

It seems both long ago and just yesterday all at the same time.

I can hardly believe that this little girl has only been with us for 6 months.  She’s learned so much in such a short time.  Her English is growing by leaps and bounds, and she lives like she’s always been part of our family.  Our kids adore her, and she fits right in.  She’s learned all the family jokes and secrets.  She doesn’t get special “I’m the new kid” favors anymore, and I don’t think she wants them.  She’s adopted us as much as we’ve adopted her.

With each passing month we learn more of her backstory.  It’s fascinating to hear her talk about life before she became a Sublett.  Today she told us a little more about her years living outside Maoming, in a smaller village with a family.  Tonight at bedtime she told me what she understood about the Creation story before she learned about God being the creator.  Just yesterday I heard her asking Kim if Jesus spoke Chinese and Spanish, or just English!

As I was sneaking into their room to take out the trash tonight, I had one of those moments that Dan Nold likes to call a Love Burst–you know, when you feel your heart grow a little bit with the onrush of love…Annabelle’s been sleeping in Sadie’s bed lately.  She saw the episode of Lost with the polar bear, and has been a little “scary” of bears storming into the house!  I have reassured her that we’re pretty safe from bear attacks, but Sadie’s defense is a little better than mine…