Transitions.
We have finally gotten settled in our new home. After a couple of months of inconsistency, it feels great to be in one place for a long period of time.
It can be especially hard on children from hard places. It causes a lack of control in their lives, and they know what that feels like at a basic level.
So, we planned on keeping a few items with us after the movers packed most of it away. One of the items that stayed was a souvenir purse my mom got me from Equador... which Gambo took to right away!
He loved getting to put all of his little toys in one bag that he could carry around with him. And he loved that he could say he had a "purse" just like his mom has a purse!
Well... he became VERY attached to that purse. It makes sense. When all your toys start disappearing, and you are feeling like you've lost control, you cling to what is familiar. He would go almost Nowhere without that purse! It was a comfort to him.
And we were ok with that. We knew that he needed something to help him get through such a stressful time.
After saying "bye-bye" to our things in California, we told him all about the day that he would get to say "hello" to his things in Japan. And that day arrived...
He COULD NOT wait to see some of his favorite toys again... his toy vacuum, his stuffed animals, his Winnie the Pooh Bear...
Another cute discovery he made was a kitchen cabinet that seemed to fit him just right.
He decided to move in, and make it his favorite play place!
Having a small closed space like this can actually be comforting for him, and help him feel safe when there are so many other things to distract him.
He loves to play here, pretending that he is "getting in the car," "boarding an airplane," "going shopping," or "going to church!"
Now that he has his toys back, the importance of that "purse," has diminished (though it is not gone), and he has taken to new items.
We've also bought a car,
weathered a Typhoon,
transitioned him to a toddler bed (which he loves),
and only just begun to explore this beautiful island.
It's important to keep reassuring him that we will never leave him, he is safe with us, and we will help him through the transitions. THAT has gone a long way to making the move successful.
We are excited to see the next phase in his life as he has already begun asking more and more questions (see previous post), trying out his new skills and exploring his surroundings.
Every word spoken to him, every compassion expressed, every time we work to meet his needs... is an outpouring of God's grace in our lives. Without His help, there is no way we could help heal a fragile heart, and help build up a confident young man. We are constantly looking to the Lord to guidance as we parent our little boy. And we are so thankful that God has chosen us for this job!
We have finally gotten settled in our new home. After a couple of months of inconsistency, it feels great to be in one place for a long period of time.
It can be especially hard on children from hard places. It causes a lack of control in their lives, and they know what that feels like at a basic level.
So, we planned on keeping a few items with us after the movers packed most of it away. One of the items that stayed was a souvenir purse my mom got me from Equador... which Gambo took to right away!
(He looks so hipster in this photo, wearing my scarf)
He loved getting to put all of his little toys in one bag that he could carry around with him. And he loved that he could say he had a "purse" just like his mom has a purse!
Well... he became VERY attached to that purse. It makes sense. When all your toys start disappearing, and you are feeling like you've lost control, you cling to what is familiar. He would go almost Nowhere without that purse! It was a comfort to him.
And we were ok with that. We knew that he needed something to help him get through such a stressful time.
After saying "bye-bye" to our things in California, we told him all about the day that he would get to say "hello" to his things in Japan. And that day arrived...
He was so happy!
He decided to move in, and make it his favorite play place!
Having a small closed space like this can actually be comforting for him, and help him feel safe when there are so many other things to distract him.
He loves to play here, pretending that he is "getting in the car," "boarding an airplane," "going shopping," or "going to church!"
Now that he has his toys back, the importance of that "purse," has diminished (though it is not gone), and he has taken to new items.
We've also bought a car,
weathered a Typhoon,
transitioned him to a toddler bed (which he loves),
and only just begun to explore this beautiful island.
It's important to keep reassuring him that we will never leave him, he is safe with us, and we will help him through the transitions. THAT has gone a long way to making the move successful.
We are excited to see the next phase in his life as he has already begun asking more and more questions (see previous post), trying out his new skills and exploring his surroundings.
Every word spoken to him, every compassion expressed, every time we work to meet his needs... is an outpouring of God's grace in our lives. Without His help, there is no way we could help heal a fragile heart, and help build up a confident young man. We are constantly looking to the Lord to guidance as we parent our little boy. And we are so thankful that God has chosen us for this job!
