Speaking of time, Kristina completed an autobiography assignment for ESOL class this week. The project required her to write down significant dates and events from her life, plot them on a timeline, and put them in a paragraph. All of it was completed at school, so I didn't see it until she brought it home. This is her final product.
One thing in particular stood out to me: the fact that she had written that our family had adopted her in the summer of 2006. As most of you know we hosted Kristina through Frontier Horizon during the summer, but we adopted Kristina at the end of 2007. I figured it was a "typo". When I asked her about this she said, "Yes, you adopted me the summer I come to America." I questioned her further and she went on to explain. "I am family that summer. You just came for me a little while later." She stood with one hand on her hip, curling a strand of hair wrapped around her finger, waiting for me to make sense of it. Strange how she considers the legalities of the adoption process as a simple transaction that had taken place after the fact. In her mind and heart, she became one of us during that warm and lazy summer that seems so long ago.
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7 comments:
It's wonderful that she knew she had a family a year before it became 'legal'. What a comfort that must have been to her while she was in Ukraine.
I remember reading those posts from that "warm lazy summer" and reading between the lines...she was indeed "adopted" into your family during that time. Government red tape and excruciating delays cannot erase the fact that she was as much your daughter that day you put her back on that plane back to Ukraine, as she is today. I believe your heart knew it, but your head needed to protect against the fear of something going wrong. Kristina is a wise, wise soul. I sometimes think we learn so much more from them than they learn from us. Give that sweet girl a hug from me.
Lisa
That's puddlesome, that is. She's such a sweetie. ;^)
SO AMAZING! Yes, she was already a part of your family when she was there in 2006. There was no difference to her when it became "legal". This is just making me cry. Very Awesome! :)
The wisdom these children share is amazing!
I also loved your post about the shoes, for both our bio and adopted daughters. It is so easy for kids to want everything and not value what they've got. I loved how you and your husband handled that.
Thank you for sharing so much of your wisdom and experience. For those of us just beginning this new path at home (albeit with a younger child) it is so helpful to read what others are experiencing and doing to help the transition go smoothly and to help our children feel at home.
Wow, I also noticed how Kristina mentioned 2006 in her timeline before I read the actual post. And she's probably right - she was really a part of your family since 2006!
I'm VERY impressed with Kristina's English. What a smart girl! Rachel is learning English very-very slowly, much slower than my bio son, when we came to the States. But I'm not really worried - we are taking it one step at a time!
This girl continues to amaze me as does the entire family.
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