A new year and a new beginning

I am so happy that we traveled to bring Hadley home late in the year, actually at the best time of the year. We finished out the year as a family of 7, and we got to celebrate our homecoming with friends and family the same time we we're celebrating the birth of our savior. How perfect! God does have perfect timing! Hadley has made great progress in the short 6 weeks she's been with us, especially in the month we've been home as a complete family. We've had some doctor's appointments, and have met with first steps, and some of her therapists and I will post about them shortly. But today our girl made a big step.... a step I thought wouldn't come for quite sometime..... See she is not as mobile as most children her age, her preferred route of transportation is scooting..... She can bare weight however walking isn't happening right now, she will walk one day (hopefully sooner than later). She amazes me everyday, just the way she gets up with a smile on her face, she is such a great inspiration to me!!! I'm not sure how she is as strong as she is, and where that strength comes from. But, she is a fighter, after all all orphans are fighters or they wouldn't survive. Hadley faces challenges sometimes fearless, others day not so much. I have learned when to push her, and when not too. I have learned that sometimes when I think she can't do something she shows me she can, and I have learned that I can't put limits on her, and I won't let anyone else either.... The other children have been so good for her. We were told by many people that bringing her into our home with other little kids would be so good for her. How very true that was..... They teach her new things everyday, and they enjoy doing it. She teaches them too.

They have learned that you can love anyone that may be different from them, they don't even acknowledge that she is adopted anymore. They introduce her as their sister, and they say "she was born in China though". They don't judge with colored glasses, unlike the crazy old lady at the YMCA pool the other day (I will leave that alone for now). They have learned to be more patient, by waiting on her, and us to get her ready. They have gone to her doctors appointments, and have waited hours to get tests, and evaluations done. They have watched her come out of her shell, and she is teaching them day by day to take on their own fears and never back down...

A few weeks ago this girl couldn't and wouldn't even acknowledge the staircase, then after watching day after day her siblings running up and down the stairs so effortlessly, she walked over and up she went. Haven and Hagan waited patiently for her at the top, while I followed within an arms reach behind her biting my nails.... She took her time, and they cheered her on each step of the way....

She saw her challenge, grabbed it by the horns and rode it all the way to her victory!!!!!! She is my daughter, so brave and strong and I have a feeling this is just one of many victories coming in the next year for this little one. To God be all the Glory, for without him we would be and do nothing.