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As I sit here writing this I can hear two my girls practicing their clarinet's. The third one started playing two years ago. Her younger sister started this year. They practice together most afternoons. The oldest girl is preparing dinner. It is soup made from scratch, a stew made with potatoes, sausage and vegetables. Corn cut off the cob and fryed with seasonings and raspberry and cream cheese mix in home made batter for dessert. The next oldest girl is dragging around because of hard practice she went through today. As she improves each week at running cross country she is pushing herself more and more.
Four years ago the couldn't speak ten words of English, had no idea what it was like in America and were very cautious about us not knowing what they were getting into by being adopted by this family from America. Now.... They have become Americans in the truest sense. The youngest has an American southern accent, the next one has lost almost all her Ukraine accent. The older two still have a strong Ukraine accent but have learned the true art of shopping in America. Shop until Mom drops is the call !! Wife is not a shopper but has done well to show the art to the girls.
It is incredible to see how far they have come. The language, the change in customs, being in a family, all was new to them. I remember the oldest girl making a statement after having trouble adapting to some of our rule. She looked at wife and said " It's a lot harder to be in a family than I thought it would be."
Now all the girls cling to wife and always get excited when she returns home from work. Daughter #3 still runs out the door and to the car when she arrives to be the first to give her a hug. I love them dearly but I would feel smothered if they clinged to me like they do wife. She is a trooper and shows much love and patience with them. Unlike most teens that our friends have who want out of the house and to run around and have fun, our girls want to be around us and at home. They 18, 16, 14 & 12 now. They enjoy doing things and going places but home and family is something they craved when in the orphanages and are just happy to be here.
Two years ago we moved from the house they knew upon arriving here to a bigger house with a lot more property, in part to buy a horse. They took it hard and one of them said that the other house was there first house they lived in with a family. Even though they shared two bedrooms and now have their own they still talk of the other house with fond memory's.
This is a good life we share together and we are Blessed to have them as our children.
Over the next few blogs I will share stories about our trip to get the girls.
Ah !! The dogs are barking and the kids are running out the door....Mama's home !!!!!!!!1