We got Cierra and John in February when she was three years old and he was 10 months old. John, being a baby just snuggled right up and made himself at home. Cierra wasn't so quick to adjust. She was a beautiful brown haired little girl with dark brown eyes and she was also scared out of her wits! I tried my best to put myself in her shoes as she stood in our living room looking around.
She was very articulate and a quick learner, but she didn't feel like she belonged to us yet. Whenever I would go somewhere and my husband wasn't with us she would ask me, "Why are you driving? Why isn't he driving?" Then when we got in the van she would lay over in her seat as if she was very distressed.
I tried trips together to Wal Mart to buy Dora the Explorer as rewards for being a good girl, I tried taking her on a "date" to Cracker Barrel, I tried letting her shop with me and push the little girl's cart in Kroger but each time it was just her and me she would end up talking very mean to me and we would repeatedly have to make trips to the bathroom. (meaning she was very nervous)
The day came we were to go before the judge and I stood in the bathroom brushing her hair and explaining to her what was happening. I told her that "today we're going before a judge and we're going to tell him we want you forever." I looked down as she asked, "You DO?" and saw hives on her little neck.
"Yes," I said, "forever and ever and I'll tell the judge that." .
"And I won't have to be on the street or in the ditch any more?" she asked.
"No, honey, right here with your daddy and me forever and ever." She heaved a long sigh of relief.
When we got to court I held her in my arms and told the judge we wanted them forever. When we got home she bounced around the house like a little bunny rabbit full of joy.
She never asked why my husband wasn't driving again. I can only guess that when I took her somewhere without baby John she thought I didn't want her and was taking her to another home. She never laid down in the seat again. She learned to love shopping with mommy! (and still does!)
I call Cierra my rose in bloom. She's turned into the most wonderful daughter a mother could wish for. We have so much in common. My mother told me more than once that Cierra looked more like my biological daughter than my biological daughters do! We also have so many similar loves and interest--cooking, baking, sewing, designing, and yes, this year we even laughed and cried and enjoyed doing Algebra together!
When we had her first birthday party she didn't seem to know what to do. I had to coach her through the whole thing. Let me tell you, by the next one she had it all figured out and knew exactly who and what she wanted! "I want a tea party, I want little sandwiches, I want Rachel and Haley and....."
This year our daughter turned 15. Her birthday is the day before mine so I always tell her that she was my birthday gift the year we got her and continues to be every year of my life!
She is one of the most generous people I've ever met and so very easy to please. I truly believe that if
I told her we couldn't get her a thing she would say that was fine. I also believe if she thought someone needed something she was just given more than herself she would give it to them cheerfully!
This year she decided she'd like to have some friends over, that she wanted a Peanut Butter Pie and a Butter Brickle Pie in lieu of the usual birthday cake and she wanted a big Mexican dinner--enchiladas, corn, salad, Spanish rice, Mexican corn bread and the desserts. Then she wanted us to get guest passes for Tansi so they could go miniature golf, play volleyball. tennis, tetherball or ping pong. Sounded good to us, the day was supposed to be a sunny day.
Well, just as we got the dishes done the sky began to turn gray! Then the rain began to sprinkle down. Then we began to get heavy rain with hail. I was at the sink thinking, "Well, I guess they'll have to do board games or the Wii."
I stepped on the porch after finishing the kitchen to see what was going on! (I could hear laughing.)
Well, the rain was pouring off the gutters it was raining so hard and a water fight had started.
I stepped outside and we all were laughing and talking and watching the rain. I heard Sarah whisper something to Cierra and Cierra laughed and said, "I don't think so!"
I said, "What?" Cierra told me that Sarah wondered if I she could get me wet!
"Not and live!" was my reply.
Well, the water fight got so wild I decided the house was safer, so Sarah and I decided to go in the house and play some Wii. Just as I was learning how to do it I got a phone call. (I am Wii dysfunctional.) So I was trying to learn from Sarah and talk on the phone when there was a loud crack, the house went black and the phone went dead!
I ended up putting the cordless up and going to my room to talk on the phone in there. Next thing I can hear is Cierra screaming. She was going down the hall and Sarah had jumped out of her room and scared her. Well, that started hide and go seek in the dark house. Cierra, Naomi, Sarah and John!
I had to shut the door they were all laughing so hard. I decided that I would only open the door if I heard a crash or breaking glass. I only had to open the door twice! :)
Now these are kids who are dripping wet and there is no electricity! They all had their dry clothes for Sunday night but no way to dry there hair! They had such a good time that as we were heading out to church (with very we heads) I realized Cierra hadn't even opened her gifts yet!
"I don't care," she said, "I've been having too much fun to open gifts!"
So the gifts, more pie and other goodies all had to wait till we got home from church but that was fun because we had another party! And, this week the Snodderly girls are coming back so they can use those Tansi passes! Sounds fun to me!
I am reminded of a scene in Anne of Green Gables when Matthew and Marilla are seeing Anne off to teach at Queens. Matthew states that it was their luck when they were accidentally given a boy and Marilla answers, "It wasn't luck, Matthew--it was Providence. He knew we needed her!"
That's how I feel about our Cierra Nichole. She needed us, but we needed her more. With her cheerful spirit, her generous heart, her willingness to help, and her wonderful creative nature she is such a blessing to this home.
I love you Cierra! I'm so thankful you're ours!
Love,
Mom
Now how many kids do you know who would ask for a jar of olives and a bag of Skittle as part of their birthday gift? :) (picture at left)
She was very articulate and a quick learner, but she didn't feel like she belonged to us yet. Whenever I would go somewhere and my husband wasn't with us she would ask me, "Why are you driving? Why isn't he driving?" Then when we got in the van she would lay over in her seat as if she was very distressed.
I tried trips together to Wal Mart to buy Dora the Explorer as rewards for being a good girl, I tried taking her on a "date" to Cracker Barrel, I tried letting her shop with me and push the little girl's cart in Kroger but each time it was just her and me she would end up talking very mean to me and we would repeatedly have to make trips to the bathroom. (meaning she was very nervous)
The day came we were to go before the judge and I stood in the bathroom brushing her hair and explaining to her what was happening. I told her that "today we're going before a judge and we're going to tell him we want you forever." I looked down as she asked, "You DO?" and saw hives on her little neck.
"Yes," I said, "forever and ever and I'll tell the judge that." .
"And I won't have to be on the street or in the ditch any more?" she asked.
"No, honey, right here with your daddy and me forever and ever." She heaved a long sigh of relief.
When we got to court I held her in my arms and told the judge we wanted them forever. When we got home she bounced around the house like a little bunny rabbit full of joy.
She never asked why my husband wasn't driving again. I can only guess that when I took her somewhere without baby John she thought I didn't want her and was taking her to another home. She never laid down in the seat again. She learned to love shopping with mommy! (and still does!)
I call Cierra my rose in bloom. She's turned into the most wonderful daughter a mother could wish for. We have so much in common. My mother told me more than once that Cierra looked more like my biological daughter than my biological daughters do! We also have so many similar loves and interest--cooking, baking, sewing, designing, and yes, this year we even laughed and cried and enjoyed doing Algebra together!
When we had her first birthday party she didn't seem to know what to do. I had to coach her through the whole thing. Let me tell you, by the next one she had it all figured out and knew exactly who and what she wanted! "I want a tea party, I want little sandwiches, I want Rachel and Haley and....."
She is one of the most generous people I've ever met and so very easy to please. I truly believe that if
I told her we couldn't get her a thing she would say that was fine. I also believe if she thought someone needed something she was just given more than herself she would give it to them cheerfully!
Well, just as we got the dishes done the sky began to turn gray! Then the rain began to sprinkle down. Then we began to get heavy rain with hail. I was at the sink thinking, "Well, I guess they'll have to do board games or the Wii."
I stepped on the porch after finishing the kitchen to see what was going on! (I could hear laughing.)
Well, the rain was pouring off the gutters it was raining so hard and a water fight had started.
I said, "What?" Cierra told me that Sarah wondered if I she could get me wet!
I ended up putting the cordless up and going to my room to talk on the phone in there. Next thing I can hear is Cierra screaming. She was going down the hall and Sarah had jumped out of her room and scared her. Well, that started hide and go seek in the dark house. Cierra, Naomi, Sarah and John!
I had to shut the door they were all laughing so hard. I decided that I would only open the door if I heard a crash or breaking glass. I only had to open the door twice! :)
Now these are kids who are dripping wet and there is no electricity! They all had their dry clothes for Sunday night but no way to dry there hair! They had such a good time that as we were heading out to church (with very we heads) I realized Cierra hadn't even opened her gifts yet!
"I don't care," she said, "I've been having too much fun to open gifts!"
So the gifts, more pie and other goodies all had to wait till we got home from church but that was fun because we had another party! And, this week the Snodderly girls are coming back so they can use those Tansi passes! Sounds fun to me!
I am reminded of a scene in Anne of Green Gables when Matthew and Marilla are seeing Anne off to teach at Queens. Matthew states that it was their luck when they were accidentally given a boy and Marilla answers, "It wasn't luck, Matthew--it was Providence. He knew we needed her!"
That's how I feel about our Cierra Nichole. She needed us, but we needed her more. With her cheerful spirit, her generous heart, her willingness to help, and her wonderful creative nature she is such a blessing to this home.
I love you Cierra! I'm so thankful you're ours!Love,
Mom
Now how many kids do you know who would ask for a jar of olives and a bag of Skittle as part of their birthday gift? :) (picture at left)
1 comment:
I love this post...and love all the pictures!!! I'm so glad Cierra had a good birthday. She is such a sweetheart, and I'm so thankful to have her as my sister. Love you, Cierra :)
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