A Thanksgiving Like No Other

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.  It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening...You thrill me Lord, with all you have done for [us]!  I sing for joy because of what you have done."  Psalm 92:1-2,4

It is Thanksgiving Day, November 28th, 2013, and we are about to celebrate the most amazing Thanksgiving that our family has ever experienced.  God has done amazing things in and for our family in the last 2 1/2 years and to have this adoption journey culminate in a homecoming just 2 days before Thanksgiving is beyond anything we could've imagined.  Our hearts are full to overflowing with gratitude and joy for the blessings that God has showered upon us as we've brought Chelley and Naika home to finally make our family complete.  His unfailing love and His faithfulness are truly the song that we are proclaiming continuously as we ponder this amazing feeling of having our family all together for good.

If you haven't had the chance to watch the recording of our homecoming, I believe that you can still watch it at this link... http://bambuser.com/channel/davepearson366.  The consensus seems to be that it's important to have tissues handy as you watch it.


I'm sure many of you have been praying for us and wondering how these first couple of days have been going for us. Overall, our time together has been amazing and we couldn't have asked for a better couple of days.  Chelley and Naika fit right in and have already showed their sisters many glimpses of their true playful, silly, and sweet personalities.  We've gotten to hear them talk to each other and to us in their sing-song Creole and there have been many giggles and sweet smiles all around.  There have been some moments of sadness, as expected, but over all, it's gone so well.

By Tuesday afternoon, just a few hours after we got home, it was clear that Chelley and Annika are going to be perfect playmates for each other.  Since Chelley was described as one of the most easy-going and compliant children at the orphanage, I didn't anticipate her having an energy and playfulness level that can match Annika but sure enough, she does. On Tuesday afternoon, I was upstairs napping with Naika and when I woke up I wondered if we indeed had 10 children instead of 5 because of all the happy noises being made by Chelley and Annika as they played.  Yesterday, Chelley was a bit quieter and calmer, much to Annika's dismay, but I really do think they will be wonderful playmates, roommates, and sisters. :)

Maria spent most of Tuesday being at Naika's beck and call and earning herself a special place in Naika's heart in the process.  Naika would point to a toy and Maria would go get it.  All Naika needed were some of her best facial expressions and body language to tell Maria if she had the correct toy or not.  Amazing how much communication can take place that way!  Maria wasn't minding the servant role one bit as it allowed her to be close to the unbearable cuteness that she'd only seen in pictures for all this time.  By yesterday afternoon, Maria was able to hold Naika for short periods of time and has been able to plant many kisses and hugs on her youngest sister.

Livie has just enjoyed being in the mix of all the activity.  The first thing she said when we all got buckled into the car at the airport was "Naika, do you love me?"  Such sweetness!!  She is soooo excited to be a BIG sister.  She has done a good job of sharing and interacting with all of her sisters, without getting jealous (yet) of the attention being given to her newest sisters.  On Tuesday, she entertained all of us, including Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Nowell, with her statement that Naika was a princess but she, Livie, was the queen, and we could come pay her a visit while she sat on her throne in the living room.  We were each allowed to kiss her one time, but Uncle Nowell found out that asking for more than one kiss went above and beyond the limits of propriety.  She has yet to really have a lot of concentrated activity with Chelley and Naika but interacts in smaller ways and seems to be doing well.

Yesterday, we tried to make sure that Annika and Naika had some time to play together and bond, as well as Chelley and Maria having some bonding time.  Matt and I are busy trying to make sure everyone is clothed and fed, and that each of our 5 sweet daughters feel our love and attention individually.  This is, after all, one of the main purposes of cocooning.  It requires intention and the ability to be attuned to the dynamics of multiple relationships and each girls' feelings.  Even just yesterday, I noted that this is part of what can become difficult and tiring as this process goes on.  Believe me, I'm not complaining AT ALL!!! Just recognizing the fact that the number of individual relationships in our family has grown exponentially in the last 2 days, and that we, as the Mama and Papa, are key figures in making sure that each relationship is healthy and growing in love.  Thankfully, we have the promise from God that He has called us to this new journey of parenting 5 daughters and that He will equip us with all that we need to continue to follow Him in obedience.  We know that apart from Him, we can do nothing, but that His love will flow through us and His wisdom is accessible to us when we ask Him for it.  We are counting on that in the days and weeks ahead.

As we continue with this transition, your prayers are still much appreciated for each of us individually and for our family as a whole.  I'll try to post updates as much as possible, but also need to focus my time and attention on these daughters that we've been blessed with.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.  I'll leave you with a few pictures of our time together over the last couple of days. :)