Yes, we're home

Josie had JUST woken up (can you tell!)
The others had been eagerly waiting for her to wake up and piled on her bed as soon as she did.
Welcome to the family!

After three nights, buckets of tears, endless hours of head-splitting screaming (no, not me), the impossible has happened...we've all gotten a decent night's sleep!!!  Yay!  Praise God!!!   We (and I'm including you all in that "we") know how lack-of-sleep can turn even the most pleasant of people into, how shall we say..."less-than-pleasant"....  I'm hopeful that today will be better based on the sole fact that we're not painfully exhausted.

Lest I fail to find the gifts throughout the last few days, I will list some here to share with you God's continued faithfulness to us, and to be sure I have a written reminder for the times ahead when I will, once again, forget.

1.  The three flights and over 24 hours of travel went better than expected.  I know that was a direct result of tons of prayer by many of you.  Josie wasn't scared of the planes, she slept a bit on each flight, and she was mostly content to play with her toys and color the rest of the time.  I know she had to have been so confused about what was happening and why we kept getting on ANOTHER plane!

2.  We came home to a clean, happy house, fully stocked pantry, excited, well-kept children who were none the worse for the wear thanks to the indefatigable love and care they received from my parents the whole 17 days and 17 nights we were gone.  And gma and gpa didn't just view this time with them as "let's get through this thing...," they used it as a chance to invest in their grandchildren with fun activities, teachable moments, and affirmation.  What a gift!

3.  Hot chili and chewy chocolate cookies (not made by me) on our table within hours of coming home.   First dinner together!  The newest Chinese girl hasn't acquired the taste for chili yet, but cookies are an international favorite!

4.  World's sweetest big brothers.  These boys, I tell you...they are exceptional when it comes to including a newbie into the Melilli fold.  They have an innate sense of the situation and have been so kind, patient, fun...did I mention patient...with Josie.  They know when to get involved and when to back off.  They share with her willingly and are eager to teach her new words.   I wish I could capture their faces when she starts babbling in Chinese--they are astounded!

One of the reasons we wanted to adopt again was because of what we saw in our boys when we brought Megan home.  We saw a totally new side of them that never would have come out had we remained a two-boy family.  And I can't wait for the future when these two girls realize the amazing gift they have in their brothers.

5.  World's funniest little sister.  That girl...I don't even know where to begin to tell you....  She is so happy to have her sister to play with.  She has shared/totally given up her doll to Josie with nary a fuss or fight.  She has invited Josie into all of her activities:  coloring, eating, running-around-and-screaming (happy screams!), playing outside....  Her new question that she asks 50x a day:  "What you talkin 'bout Josie?"   She doesn't quite understand the concept of a different language.
Just as the boys have, Megan has unabashedly welcomed Josie into the fold.

6.  Did I mention the pan of chocolate, caramel, nutty goodness that "magically" showed up at my door in the dark of the evening?

7.  Invitation for the boys to play at their friend's house.

8.  Personal-shopper who has gone back and forth and back and forth to stores to find clothes that fit this itty-bitty 6 year old (3T with adjustable waist--that's teeny).

9.  Offers of help and kindness coming from every direction.

10.  6:08 a.m. and EVERYONE'S STILL ASLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really could keep going but I'll save it for another post.

Within moments of coming home, Josie had claimed "Dolly" and the pink stroller

First 6-person family dinner

My multi-cultural boy
 Tries to eat everything/anything with chopsticks

She LOVED going outside to play!

Big little sister

Girls' room (Josie's bed is in the bottom corner)

In a desperate attempt, I put on a Cantonese kids video
Notice who's the only one NOT watching

Lots and lots of coloring

                                                               Must remember the gifts.
                                           And remember that every gift comes from God.