10/7/16

Sugarless Lemonade

If you've been following our updates on Facebook then you know that this week hasn't been a walk through the rose garden... unless the rose bushes lost their flowers and all that remained was the thorns. But God is faithful.

There have been things that we didn't foresee dealing with so soon (the addiction to TV and technology), there have been things that we knew we would face (attitudes, anger, push back), and there have been times when we have both felt the urge to flee, but are then reminded that God is still faithful. He still called us to this. He is still writing this story.

There are things we are thankful for, like the way child services in Costa Rica cares for the kids. Ours were in a home that housed just 38 children, which we thought was really great for being so small, until we were told that they are trying to get that down to an average of 12 children per hogar (or children's home, run by the state). They genuinely care about the well-being of the children in their care, making sure they are healthy (our kids are up to date on all of their vaccinations), well fed (they eat 5 times a day!), educated, with some religious exposure through the Catholic church. They offer counseling and psychological help for the kids throughout the adoption process. Bottom Line: we have been very impressed with the care of orphaned and abandoned children, and would definitely recommend Costa Rica as a country to consider adopting from if you are looking.

But with that care and attention comes some of our issues. We were in the mindset of them being in a stricter environment, but instead we find that they are used to watching 3-4 hours of TV every day. This isn't happening at our house... which has caused issues. We are the mean parents. We are the freaks. The good news is that we are also INTJs, and their death stares don't affect us at this point. Plus, we're used to being the TV-less freaks in the U.S. as well, so that's not new for us. We're finding ways to compromise by slowly breaking them out of the habit of using a screen to entertain themselves - offering one TV show a day if they display a good attitude all day. We're blindly feeling our way through this, and praying for wisdom.

Tica #1 and Tica #2 have their own tablets (sans internet access) that they will be bringing with them. This was also not something that we expected to deal with right away, and has caused issues when we have informed them that they will not have internet access with us either. More anger, more pouting, more questions like, "If I can't access the internet [at which point I wanted to say: you are 12 years old... there's nothing you need to do online.] and I can't watch TV, then what do I do in my free time?" My response of "play outside, read books, put a puzzle together or do crafts" didn't go over well, and a bathroom door was slammed and tears were shed.

We expected hard, and we're getting it... the hard stuff is just different than what we were anticipating. And because of the care of the social staff, and the difficulties of the transition, we find ourselves in limbo this morning, waiting to see if Tica #1 and Tica #2 are ready and willing to come live with us 24/7 starting tonight. The youngest 3 are more willing, and Tica #3 has actually been asking us multiple times a day when they are going to come stay with us overnight, and is counting down the days.

And while she might be counting the days to when she gets to come, we have been counting the days until we lose all freedom. People... gut obedience doesn't mean uber-spiritual. We have cried, we have clung to Jesus, we have begged God to end this request... we are fighting our self-serving tendencies, and trying to remember that He who called us is faithful. There have been tears in the middle of the night, and lip biting during the day. I've never appreciated having dishes to wash like I do now, because it gives me a moment to turn my back to them and collect myself.

We know we are being bathed in prayer... we hear it on Facebook, we get it in emails, and even our driver this week informed us that he has been lifting us up before the Father. God is encouraging us, He is holding us, and He is big enough to deal with our little fits of panic and anger over this calling He gave us. We're not giving up, we're hanging on, and we're following where Jesus leads us. We have been sent to raise these children for Him, to share with them the Best News in the world - that Jesus died for them, that He rose for them, that He loves them, far more than we ever will. Pray that we would be faithful in keeping that as our primary focus on the days when we'd really rather catch the 8:30 AM flight back to our pre-children lives.

The adventure is just beginning.

  

11 comments:

  1. I am praying for you, Carrie, Peter and all of the Ticas. I have so many thoughts but for now will simply send my love, compassion, and prayers.

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    1. Thank you so much for all of your faithful encouragement and prayers, Paula. I also appreciate the fact that you have thoughts, but for now you have just been faithful to support. If you read today's post, you'll see why I appreciate that so very much. :) Blessings!

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  2. my sweet Carrie...welcome to parent hood. I have had to turn my back "and do the dishes and collect my thoughts" so many times in my parenting life. I have been called the meanest mom in the world (I take that as a compliment). I have cried tears and bit my lip as well....and I haven't adopted 5 children at once!!!! Just keep praying and turning it over to HIM. Parenting is HARD but it is so worth it.

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    1. I can concur with Robin. Whether you're jumping in with both feet or gradually growing up these teens, parenting is hard. God is faithful. The girls will love you for it all in due time. Be thankful that screen time (at this point) is all you have to overcome.

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    2. Thank you, Robin... it's nice to know I'm not the only one who has done some dishes! :) Parenting is hard, and we expected hard, but this has so many other facets to it that have not been shared with the world at large... things that go far beyond technology or learning how to parent a teen. Your continued prayers and encouragement for us mean so much!

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  3. I'm sure you both have read all the literature on transitioning adopted children. Having taught 12 year olds I would pretty much recommend that you treat her more like an adult. Especially girls...they are so mature at her age. She is the one you need to win over at this point because she is the leader of her small tribe. She is the one who can make this transition smooth. Let her have an hour a day of internet. Let her prove herself to you. That will go so,so far in building trust. With her you are starting with almost a fully formed human. Encourage her to be a leader, let her help to create her environment, by helping to create the parameters she will be living with. She will soon be a woman, if shes not already, and those hormones are a lot to deal with, but the faster you make friends with her,the smoother the entire transition will be. Take her out on her own. Find out what she envisions for her future and how you can both work together to make that happen. What I've learned from a lifetime of working with kids is that they want to be heard, especially girls, and they want to have a measure of control over their lives. These kids are going to face a lot of challenges as Brown children in white America. They will need to be strong, outspoken, and fearless. As will you both. It might take quite awhile to find the right footing, you just have to stay flexible and be willing to try something different if its not working. Smile, take a deep breath...be creative. You might have to let go of everything you thought you knew...its an adventure.

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    1. Thanks for your thoughts. This is far from a typical situation, and there is much, much, MUCH more going on that I have not shared (nor will we), so we have more battles than just "she's a teenager" - she is a 12 year old with a whole lot of past, and so much more. This is expected, and while some of the actual issues that we have experienced were unexpected, they are all really just outward signs of much deeper issues that we are working on with counselors and lawyers and social workers in Costa Rica. What we need is wisdom as we work through it all.

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  4. All your emotions reminded me so vividly of the exhausted, unexpected part of the newborn phase that I teared up. What were we thinking? Can we put him back?! You're in the newborn phase with 5, and yours have ideas and voices and attitudes already!! It sounds like your littlest ones are excited, and I'm so happy to hear you have that encouragement. I can't imagine this transition, but I do know that children will take you to that very brittle edge of sanity, and, just as you start to fall, they will catch you and make your heart soar with something simple, like a sweet hug. God had quite a sense of humor when designing the relationship between parents and children. It won't be long and you'll still definitely reminisce the time when you were free to do as you pleased (particularly when you're standing in that brittle part of your sanity - a.k.a. hiding in the laundry room or the hallway closet), but you would never choose to go back. You're on an amazing adventure and some practically strangers in PA are praying and rooting and so excited for you. Be strong and courageous!

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    1. Kristi - thank you SO much for your empathy and encouragement. It means more than you know. Blessings!

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