Becoming One of Us

Jubilee has been a delight the last couple of weeks.  She has found her niche in the household and is fitting in quite nicely.  Today she came to tell me that she didn't have a chore to do, so she wanted to know if she could clean the bathroom.  I told her she was welcome to, and that she had done a wonderful job when it was her turn.  I have also instituted an hour for hour, reading must happen before Wii and itouch games.  I know there are whole books written on this subject, but if it gets the kids to read for two hours, I will use it.  Jubilee is even reading on her own.  I told her she could read her Amharic books or English, it was up to her.  She is working with her teacher three days a week to help her catch up, and I think she is starting to like school.

She has been very willing to try new things.  She got through swimming lessons, and loves to be at the pool.  I had trouble getting her out of the pool for a few days, but we have gotten  past that, and now she heads out with everybody else.  She is getting more comfortable asking questions about why we do things the way we do.  She is quite chatty sometimes.  She doesn't want to call her friends as much as she did at first.  Sometimes I wish she would call them more, but I'm sure she has her reasons.  She is excited about Madison running for AHOPE.  She considered the AHOPE kids her family.  I think she is doing a lot of processing about her life at AHOPE vs. having a family.  She is starting to see the value in being a part of a family.  I think she is sad for some of her friends that she fears may not get homes.  It is a terrifying thought, and we keep those children in our prayers.  Jubilee is still climbing this mountain, but she is letting us make the climb with her.  She is letting us into her life, and finding her place in ours.  Sometimes when I watch her I start to cry thinking about how far she has come in this very brief time.  I also read my post to her about sharing too much.  I read the comments as well, since there were some really good ones.  I couldn't do it without crying.  She looked at me, and smiled.  She told me it was okay.  I could tell that she knew it was all for good, and that it might help someone else have the courage to bring home another child. 

It is so hard to explain what a joy these children are.  Watching them learn how to live is pretty incredible.  They have spent so much time just surviving.  When they finally start to shed their fear and enjoy all that is before them you can't help but see the mountains move.  Little things like buying a friend a birthday present with their very own money, becomes something very special.  They start to rely on friends, and on sisters.  When I couldn't figure out how to keep her face moisturized, she said "let's call Zoe, she will know."  When I found someone locally who could make real injera, she started making shiro to go with it.  She took command of the kitchen, chopping onions, pouring oil, telling me to wait with the water (I always make it too thick.)  I can tell that she is comfortable in her home.  She knows what to expect.  She knows how to communicate with us, and is trusting us to hear her.  She even had a chest x-ray with absolutely no sadness.  It is sort of weird when it happens.  All of a sudden you wake up one day and realize that you no longer feel like you have a guest in the house, she is one of us.