Many have asked how Mr. Nehemiah is doing. I thought today would be as good a day as any to give you all a brief update on our adorably handsome most recent addition.
When he arrived three months ago, he was:
Pretty scared.
Kind of angry.
Definitely confused.
Basically dazed.
We didn’t know what to expect…
but truly, there were really very, very, very few rough moments.
Almost none.
During those few difficult moments I just held him in my arms and whispered
how thankful I was that he was home.
Forever.
One day, not long after his arrival, he kind of hit an extremely rough patch and I held his rigid little body and limbs while his tears slowly dripped, literally, for hours and he eventually collapsed, limp in my arms and fell sound asleep.
Since Nee’s English was almost non-existent, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking or feeling.
But that day, not long into his arrival, was the turning point.
Truthfully, Nehemiah’s adjustment has been a breeze.
Although each circumstance and situation is completely different, for those who would be given the beautiful opportunity to bring home a treasure through a disruption, we would definitely cheer you on.
The sweet treasure we were gifted on August 24, 2012 has brought us great joy already – and look at the joy he has now!
On a humorous note:
The other day when we went hunting for our Christmas tree we had just arrived at the tree farm. All of us piled out and walked to the entrance where a young man was standing. Our friend, Charlie, who was with us, jokingly asked the young guy if he would point us to where the very best trees were.
We were all laughing about this young guy letting us in on the secret of ‘where to find the best trees.’
I interjected, “I will give you some of our cookies, if you will tell us or how about this? I will have all these little treasures of mine hug you if you will just tell us.”
The young man was laughing along with us….
When all of a sudden from our little crowd, you heard a sweet little voice in broken English say, “Or Mommy give you kiss!”
We whipped our heads around and burst out laughing.
Clearly, Nehemiah understood how we were trying to bribe the young guy and he was coming up with something to bribe him with.
I have laughed and laughed since.
I’m guessing that Nehemiah loves having this mommy hug and kiss him…
And for real, the feelings are mutual…I love this little guy so much and we are so humbled that we get to be his family.
Forever.
Praise the Lord!
LOVE this it just blesses me to know that he got so lucky to be one of your kiddos 🙂 Plus he is so stinking handsome!!
LOVE this update and LOVE that smile!!
And I love how God's fingerprints are all over this love story… so happy Nehemiah is finally HOME 🙂
oxoxoxo!
Wonderful! Kids are so resilient. So thankful Nehemiah is feeling loved and adjusting.
Keep up the God work.
I love hearing how he is doing and praise the LORD with you for his adjustment. We have also had some breakthrough with one of our newest ones, and I am so grateful. The journey has been rough, but we praise the LORD for the sweet little girl that is finally feeling safe enough to come out!
We love you guys and pray for you all.
I think that this might be one of my most favorite blog posts that you have written. So sweet. Your family is so precious 🙂
So much joy in that sweet treasure's face! As I looked at his picture the words–"God's Delight"–comes to mind. That little boy is radiant and you can see that God is delighted to call him His.
So sweet…he is precious and seems to be such a delight! I am so happy to read this update about your newest family member. Lots of love to you all, Charissa
Nehemiah's turning point sounds almost exactly like the situation that brought about the transition for our little guy. He was also adopted from disruption at 8 and has done incredibly well!
So happy to here that Nehemiah is doing well!
Beautiful! Love it! I'm so glad to hear how well he's doing. Praise The Lord…
We leave for China next Friday the 8th and come home with our 2 Chinese Treasures on the 22nd:) would you please keep us in your prayers?
Blessings,
Rebecca
Wonderful to read. Isn't it amazing that God has known for eternity that Nehemiah was YOUR son and would join your family exactly when he did? Awesome. So glad to read that he's adjusting so well.
He really is absolutely precious. What a little treasure!
Such a beautiful boy! So thankful he is forever, home sweet home!
Beautiful!
So beautiful! I'm glad to hear that he is transitioning so well. May he continue to grow and flourish in the love of his family which is an extension of God's love.
That is hilarious! (about the kiss that is) What a sweet heart! Linny… thank you. I still get all seriously jittery about the thought of adopting again… like we might get the "wrong" child. Yet I have daily proof in my own lap and arms that our God doesn't make mistakes.
so neat of a story!
That is simply outstanding – and really great to know that he thinks a kiss from Mom is a great reward – nice work there guys – really nice work!
Great joy for y'all – hugs – aus and co.
What a blessing! Love his comment about mommy giving a kiss. Your children are so fortunate to have you as parents.
Cookies are great, but if you were trying to bribe me, I am pretty sure that a group hug from your treasures would be what would win me over. 😉
Oh, TOO CUTE!!! He's a handsome little boy who knows just the right bribe! (:
Hahahahaha! Oh my WORD! That is hilarious! Had me cracking up! So glad he is doing well 🙂
Aw, Linny, that he would offer your kisses as a bribe just melts my heart!
Thank you for the update, Linny. Nehemiah looks so happy in the photo with Emma. Beautiful – thank the Lord :-). Love, Chenning
Haha! What a little love that Nehemiah guy is. 🙂 I am thrilled to hear that he is doing well.
We have had to disrupt an adoption this year, and it was heartbreaking, but our former daughter who had been so angry and frightened with us (her first family), blossomed with her second family, as we suspected that she would. Older adoptees often do better with the second family — they've had a chance to learn what family means, they have a little more English than when they first arrived, they can separate themselves from all the loss of face they experienced with the first family while they were figuring things out, they can start fresh in school and home and church, they understand American culture better as they come into these groups with a second family. As a result of our experience with disruption, our family is now willing to adopt a child from a disruption situation, but we are just the same far, far more cautious, now, as we think about what is right for the adopted children already in our home. We learned a lot through some deeply painful experiences in this last year as we brought home a daughter, then had to find her a new home. But she is doing so well, we can only thank and praise God for His great mercy in how all of this came about. He is GOOD!
I am so glad he is doing well.
heather
Beautiful Post! Faithful God! Janet
Beautiful!
I just love this story! And congratulations on your newest addition! I am an every-other-month-catcher-upper kind of reader, and I am thrilled that your family and Nehemiah found each other by God's grace. (And that day was also the day we found out who our newest daughter from India will be!) God bless you all,
Nancy
That is just sweet! (and I can't stop laughing inside about the thought of N offering for his mommy to kiss some stranger! haha!)
Love it linny:) praying for you all as you prepare for Emma to Go!
Awwwwwwww! Such a sweet 'lil guy! 🙂
Had to stop by and chuckle over how well he has adjusted to being truly part of your family… what a delight!