Sleep chains

This is Spring Break week for the girls. It has been pretty low key.  Usually we go see family or take some time off for "fun days".  However, this year we have just hung around, and let the girls "store up" sleep, similar to how camels store up water.  I'm not sure if that works, but it certainly keeps them in a better mood.  :)  All our vacation time is also being "stored up" for the big trip to China.  If you see humps on all our backs, you know the reason why!  Ha!

But we have tried to keep the girls occupied.  I borrowed an idea off another adoptive parent's website and assigned Jaci as the official Camp Hubbard counselor.  She ran the crafts session for the day, creating "sleep chains".  There is one link for every "sleep" between now and our trip.  Kailee even offered to make one for Mama and Daddy.  The bedroom doors in our house now adorn "sleep chains" on the handles.  As we wake up each morning, we are to take one link out of the chain.  When all the links are off, then we take off for China!  :)  You probably think this type of idea works best for young kids.  But who am I kidding?  Seeing that shrinking chain will be a treat for all of us!  Hey, I'm easily amused.  :)

I'm a an adoptive parent blog stalker, and actively following several other families through China.  It's not unusual to hear about meltdowns and kids acting out shortly after they get them.  I talked to the girls about it, so they would not be surprised if they see some of this behavior from Meilynn.  Kailee said she understood, "I would be scared Mom.  No one would understand me, and I wouldn't know anyone, and it is all a different place".  The other two girls echoed the same.  Sometimes our children have such clarity.  Out of the mouth of babes.

Please help us pray Meilynn home.  We ask for prayers that she would feel safe, and that we will understand and anticipate her needs.  For orphans that are a little bit older, their journey will be a leap of faith in accepting a new family.  May God place angels in their paths to help ease their transition.  Amen.