Fuling Girls

Here are two GREAT links to our Fuling friends.

First, a link to the photo album of girlies adopted from the Fuling SWI, Lydia's "Fu Sisters," who share the common bond of the Fuling orphanage as their first home. Lydia is on page 42.
http://www.fulingkids.org/1Fulingers.htm

Next, a heartwarming story of two Fulingers who discovered that they are biological sisters...what a great story! They really look alike in the eyes. I often look through the Fuling photo album and see girls that "look like" Lydia. To me, many of them do; but, a few really catch my eye and I wonder..... :))
http://www.fulingkids.org/families.htm

Lydia has recently begun to notice other children who "look like" her...meaning they are Asian. She just stares. Ben yells loudly about anyone Asian (including adults), "Look Mom, he's/she's from China!" It's embarrassing, but what can you do? They are proud to have a "connection."

Lydia is also starting to understand a bit about her beginnings. Not nearly a comprehension, I guess, but a 2 year-old start. I look at her adoption blog and reunion trip pics with her, chatting about her nannies and "the baby house." Lately, I can ask her "Where were you born?" and she cheerfully replies "In China!"

She now routinely requests 'her song' at night-time. The one I made up about how we got her---it is simple and childlike, but with the undertones of an amazing story....her in China, needing a family; us here, needing a daughter; and our journey to bring her home. When I sing it, she gets serious and quiet, as if she understands the enormity of the words.

Often I wonder if it is right to paint these pictures in her mind....of her living without us for 14 months, being taken care of by other ladies, and eventually about her birth parents. But, I have learned that it IS the right thing to do---all adoptive adults report that it is essential to talk about it...from the time they are little...matter-of-fact, with no mysterious/fantasy images. It just seems so deep...too difficult for a little person to handle.

I guess the process of understanding is gradual, and absolutely necessary for her to realize who she is and who she has become. Heavy, heavy stuff. I just hope to make it easier for her, and my constant prayer is that she loves who she is, accepts her path, and wouldn't change a thing....despite the sadness, the questions, and "the story". I want to make it so "real" and "true" for her that she never misunderstands the steps that God has planned for her life.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that ALL things work together for good to those that love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."