Adopting an older child!!

I was reading my sister's amazing friend Angel's blog (I will call her my friend since we survived Guatemala together..... that experience will make anyone close). She wrote about raising an older adopted child. This prompted me to write about our journey so far. It has now been 4 and a half months since we brought Mario home. It has been one the most rewarding and frustrating things I've ever experienced. I wouldn't change one single moment of it. First I have to say God blessed us with the most amazing little boy. He truly has been easy as far as older children adoptions go. Also....this has been the greatest gift to give my children. They have learned so much about giving and sharing and loving unconditionally. I truly believe that all my girls will become an adoptive parent when they are grown.

One of our biggest hurdles to get over is Mario's sleep issues. He did well in the beginning and slept in his room by himself. After we moved to our new house he didn't do so hot! He became very afraid to sleep alone. We had many talks and tried many different strategies...NOTHING seemed to work. If we let him sleep in his sister's rooms he would talk and keep them awake. If we let him sleep in our room there was too many distractions with lights and TV's. So...I tried sitting in his doorway until he fell asleep....OUCH! Frustating!!!!! I tried to understand about real fears he had....really I did....sometimes I was more sympathetic than others. He was having rough days...slept and cried through Ty's graduation...on and on!!!!! Finally....I don't even know what happened but we tried one last thing....I put a timer on a strand of lights that ran around his room. I told him when the lights go out, after about an hour of lying down, he could then get up IF he was afraid and go into his sister's room and sleep in a sleeping bag!!! He did good for a few nights then....UGH...one night I went upstairs and he was already in their room asleep and his lights hadn't even gone off yet. So BIG talk time. Talks about trying to work as a family, making plans to better ourselves and sticking to them, talks about trusting our loved ones fully to protect us. I know...I know...he's not gonna trust us fully yet....but planting the seeds helps. We talked about what he would do if he woke up and was afraid. I told him to pray for God to help him be brave enough to try to fall back to sleep! Guess what....God answered his prayers....Two nights in a row now he has slept in his own bed. He and I and our whole family are sooooo proud of how he's doing!!!! He's just awesome in that I can give him the idea's and goals and he makes them happen. I told him..."Guess what...you slept so good that you'll probably hit the ball during your baseball game tonight!" He had been a little afraid of getting hit by the pitcher. That night....he had 2 hits, 1 walk and 3 runs!!!! Unbelievable!!!!He's on a roll now! Look out there's nothing that Mario can't do!!!! I will be right by his side being his #1 fan in all his life challenges!

I'm just in awe of how God justs gives you the right kid for your family whether that child was from your belly or from the gift of adoption!!!! I would never even hesitate to tell anyone who was contemplating adoption to open your heart and let God fill it with His love!

This is what I see when I look up in Mario's loft bed at night....please all pray with me that this is what I'll see in the morning too!!!!!