Settling In

We are working now on really settling into our back to school routine!  It is really only the third day for the younger kids. Yep, no more keeping my head in the dirt!!  Bella is still having a hard time getting used to having to get up early and not fooling around.  She has been happy and cheerful after school, though!  

Last week I took Eden to the orthodontist for a consultation appointment.  I was feeling a bit concerned about what they were going to want to do because of what the dentist had told us (that her teeth were coming in all different directions and she was missing some.) I had learned that missing the eye teeth is actually pretty common.  I was VERY relieved to hear that her teeth are coming in mostly all the right direction and the suggestion from the orthodontist was to let them come in and wait.  As for the eye teeth the two options are to do implants at some point or just use braces to pull the teeth together and she would have extra space in the back after her teeth are all in.  The second option is my preferred option at this point.  It just makes the most sense for Eden and not wanting to add any complications or expense necessary!

Lately, we have really been encouraging Eden to be REAL!  We have found that especially when she is out and about that she tends to put on a "different face."  With our bio kids I suppose we do encourage them to put on happy faces at times but right now Cade and I just want to see REAL with Eden!  This is a hard thing, but when we were talking about her fears with school, one thing that she was worried about was coming home and "falling apart" (she didn't use those words but I knew what she meant because that is what happened almost VERY.SINGLE.DAY!  It sure didn't help our relationship or me looking forward to seeing her either!!  Can you imagine if you were constantly trying to be someone different or trying to please everyone but yourself?!!  It would be exhausting and is the way it is with her! She would finally get home in her comfort zone where she knew she could let down and then she did, in a big way!  

I have enjoyed thinking about this for myself and people in general.  There are people that I'm sure we all have met that just seem very superficial!  That is something that grates against me!  It is easy to let wordly expectations and standards sway us and lead us away from who we really are!!  This is something I want to be true to for myself as well!  

This brings back a conversation I had with Eden not long ago.  I asked her who she is.  We talked about the girl she was in Ethiopia: scared, hurt, angry, bad were her words!  We talked about who she is on the inside today.  He words were: I am good person, I am beautiful, caring, loving, kind..  I think this has to be one of the most rewarding conversations and moments with her as I watched the light bulb go on inside her mind!  I told her all good people make mistakes and even good mommies get tired and angry some times!  As I reflected on this later, I wondered who Eden would be today if she was still in Ethiopia in the same situation.  No wonder there are so many troubled kids.  They never get help and are never heard so they act out and get angrier by the day!!  This is not a moment where I am asking for praise because you all know we are not perfect parents and have had hard moments but it is a bright ray of sunshine to see there has  been progress in this girl and she said it in her own words!!

Our day together when going to see the dentist.