NO!

Tonight I'm tired. Physically, emotionally.... the whole shebang.

Reason #1: I went to bed WAY too late, staying up reading adoption blogs and the Rumor Queen.
Reason #2: I'm a single Mom this week, and just dwelling on that fact makes me feel so sorry for myself, it's pathetic.
Reason #3: My new daughter is entering the terrible two's, I think. Yikes! While this is a good thing if you look at it from an emotional development standpoint, it's not as rosy from a mother's point of view. Pretty much everything these days is "NO". Not a temper tantrum kind of NO (those come separately :-) ), but just a very nonchalant NO. Nope, no way, not gonna do it.

"Nina, let's go brush your teeth"
NO.

"Nina, finish your dinner"
NO.

"Nina, time to take a nap"
NO.

You get the picture. It's not just one NO, but we seriously have our little "yes,no,yes,no,yes, no" arguments. Wow, I forgot how those feel! I have to do a serious "get down to her level and give her THE look" kind of reminder of who is in charge. I'm sure she wants to regain some control over her life and her surroundings, plus she is bossy and opinionated as is (which I love about her!), so we have some battles to fight.

Who was it again who wrote in her China reports that she was "shy and introverted"?????

Again, this leaves me with so many questions, because I can't just parent her like I did my biological children, and she does not understand all my reasoning and explaining yet.

Nurturing.... being a pushover?
Guiding her... or being too stern?

Ahhh, wisdom.

I certainly don't feel like I have it tonight.
Please pray for us, that we receive what we need. And that Nina receives what she needs.


Tomorrow will be a new day.
A day that brings changes again. God in his grace has provided a "helper" for us for the next three months. My cousin's daughter is coming to stay with us, to learn english and experience the USA.
And to help us.
It's amazing how the Lord is always providing.


I think I just answered my own question while I'm typing this.

HE ALWAYS PROVIDES.

Allright, now I'm getting all teary. I think it's time to clean up the kitchen, one more time today, and then go to bed.

Oh, and while I'm talking about cleaning the kitchen, I have to share a cute story. Elia has been such a great helper lately, doing things without being asked. This morning he had the broom, dustpan, mop and a bucket full of water out, and he said he was going to clean the kitchen. What a sweet little boy. We ended up not getting to that (surprise!), but it's definitely on the schedule for tomorrow!


Thank you for all your support and your comments.
You guys, my blogging friends, are the best!

Signing off with a cute picture that I took about 5 weeks ago. Brother and sister at last..