Celebrating Ramya's 9th Birthday

Just over 5 years ago, the story of a sweet little girl in India was shared with us by another family that was looking to adopt.  We reviewed her files for them and then shared a glimpse of what her life may look like if they adopted her.  They decided they were not the family for her, but we knew we were.

Fast forward 2 years and that sweet little girl, living in a country we didn't even know you could adopt from, was coming home as our daughter.

Today, 3 years later, Ramya turned 9.    It's crazy how God orchestrates events in our lives; events we never foresaw coming, yet are so perfectly predestined. 

We celebrated with a simple family party (though we do plan to have a party that includes all of our extended family in Phoenix in a few weeks).  Ramya requested vanilla cake and Indian food, so that is exactly what she got!

The kiddos all helped me make a vanilla cake.  They even decorated it, which they loved.  Conner did the lettering and the girls made the "flowers" and put on the sprinkles.  I think the fact that they helped make it made it that much more special for them!  Conner told me that my cake was the best cake ever because it was made with a secret ingredient; love.  He also told me that I outdid myself, which I find humorous because I actually felt bad for not having something bigger and more grandiose planned.  We are trying to figure out what it means to live away from friends and family and are working on how we will have celebrations and the such in the future. 

 
We went for Indian food at a new family-owned restaurant I found on Google.  The girls love dosa, but not all Indian food restaurants carry it, so I made sure to find a place that did.  They loved the food and the owner was really sweet, though he did ask us if we were missionaries, ha!  David told him "no" but I don't think he believed him because he later asked me what I do too.  I told him that David works in finance and I stay at home and homeschool.  He followed us outside to say good-bye and chatted with the kids for a while.  Ramya has decided that she wants to go back to the same restaurant every year for her birthday.

 

 

After dinner we went home for cake.  Ramya was beaming the entire time.  It was very cute! 

 

 

 



 

 

We usually give the kiddos their birthday gifts in the summer where we have an "un-birthday" for all of them at once, because they get so many gifts at their friends and family parties and we like to spread it out.  Now that we are away, though, we may need to re-think that and give them gifts on their actual birthdays.  We gave Deena gifts on her birthday this year, but that was because she had just come home and we wanted her to have some things of her own.  Ramya was pretty happy, though, and never asked about gifts. 

 

Ramya declared this the best birthday ever and told me "thank you" multiple times.  I was feeling bad because I'm having a hard time figuring out the new birthday thing and trying to plan a family party back in Phoenix, but she loved it.  Go figure!  I think sometimes we get so caught up on things needing to be just perfect that we fail to see the beauty in simplicity. 

 

Happy birthday to our sweet, spunky, thoughtful girl!  We love you Ramya!

 



 

Our Two Year Adopton Celebration

Can you believe today marks two years since Ramya has been home?  It is just so crazy!  It really feels like she has always been part of our family, but it's crazy to think that just two years ago I was in India, holding her for the first time, and walking out those doors with her. 

(P.S. When I walked out the doors with her, it was the 6th in India, but the 7th in the US, so we use the 7th as her adoption day)

 



 

 

 

When I think back to those first moments I had with her, I am still completely overcome with emotion.  I would have never in my wildest dreams thought I would have a daughter from India.  Before Ramya fell in our laps, I did not even know you could adopt from India, nor had I ever even considered it.  I also thought we would adopt a baby and was pretty sure we were not meant to adopt an older child.  Yet here we are with our beautiful, almost 8 year old, daughter from the other side of the world.  It's crazy and perfect all at the same time.  I'm still in awe at how God orchestrated our journey. 

 

There's so much I could say about adoption and our process of becoming a family of five.  Adoption is crazy hard, but at the same time, adoption is beautiful.   

 

Before adopting you read so much about helping your child attach to you, but really attachment is a two-way street.  You think and pray and prepare.  You read every book, every blog, and every article you can get your hands on.  Then this little (or big, but still little on the inside) human comes in to your life.  You love that little human intensely.  They want to love you, but they are terrified of you.  Everyone else in their life has left them.  They are sure you will do the same.  The more they want to love you and want to accept your love, the more they push you away.  All the while, you are trying to attach to them too.  You know you love them, but you never got to start with those "warm fuzzies".  When they scream at you, try to head-butt you, , throw things at you, take off their clothes and chuck them at you, and scream that they don't like you, it's hard.  The struggles are real.  Sometimes they seem endless.  You know beyond a shadow of a doubt you love them.  You know and feel that they are yours with every bone in your body.  You know you would do anything for your child.  But in that moment, when it's all happening and you are still trying to create those warm fuzzies, it's hard.  Just plain hard.  Even if you had a whole stock-house of warm-fuzzies it would still be hard.

 

Then you get those moments that fill your heart with joy.  The quiet "I love you".  The little hand in your hand.  That little head against your shoulder, snuggling in deep.  It may not last long, but it's a glimmer.  A glimmer of hope.  A little more bonding.  A little more closeness.  A little more attaching.  It may not last long, but you soak it in and it sustains you.

 

It is such a blessing to get to adopt.  When you adopt, you have the privilege of seeing the world a little differently.  You get to see this little being come out of their shell, slowly.  You get to see their personality emerge.  You start to see confidence.  You see smiles turn authentic and hearts begin to soften.  You start to see genuine joy.  The "I love you" becomes real and heart-felt.  And that, my friends, makes it all worth it.  Yes, adoption is hard.  Yes, adoption is crazy emotional.  But, yes, adoption is worth it.

 

 

 

Today we celebrated Ramya's adoption day how we always do.  It's nothing fancy, but it's special to us.  We go out to Indian food and wear our finest India outfits.  We watch our adoption video and cuddle close while we read through Ramya's adoption story book together.  We spend time as a family enjoying each other's company and remember that love makes a family, and our family is full of love.

 

 

 

 

“I didn’t give you the gift of life,
But in my heart I know.
The love I feel is deep and real,
As if it had been so.
For us to have each other
Is like a dream come true!
No, I didn’t give you
The gift of life,
Life gave me the gift of you.”
-Unknown



 

 

Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl!!

Tomorrow my amazing girl turns two!  Can you believe it?!?!?!  We celebrated early on Sunday because we will be headed out of town Friday.  She loved her birthday party and has already asked multiple times for "more birthday".  Madi is such a enourmous gift to us, and we are so thankful we were blessed with her.  Here are some pictures from her big day.  She picked a 'kitty' theme.