I can't imagine what life would be like without her. I can barely remember a time when she wasn't mine. There is something wonderful about that and something even more wonderful about feeling my heart go soft when I see her dancing an awkward jig to some tune in her head. It reminds me of the softness I felt when my other children were babies. First crawling, then walking, then running.
My daughter.
What did I ever do without her?
I had no idea that adopting an older child could fill me with the same wonder I experienced when my other children were little, but every day, I watch Cheeky grow, and I realize that it can. It does. She has known another life, and this one is wonderful and exotic and new to her. She is like a caterpillar, fighting her way from her chrysalis. Transformed, but the same.
And, I am transformed, too.
I am softer and kinder and more patient.
Perhaps, I had my own chrysalis before I met Cheeky.
Together, we unfurl our wings, tip touching tip as we bask in the warm glow of family.
You maybe never thought I would say this but I know EXACTLY what you mean. My heart and our love for each other are growing in "family age."
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. I've not been reading blogs for the last couple weeks, trying to be better about my time management. And look at all I missed :)
ReplyDeleteHope Sassy's finger is healing well. I skipped the gory descriptions, thankyouverymuch. But I love the way you describe their melding into each other. Sisters are one of life's greatest joys - and I love watching my two girls fall into each other's hearts a little more with every similar experience.
And this post? I'm a tradition junkie. My kids joke that I'd turn everything into a tradition if I could get the rest of them to do it the same way every time :) I love watching each of my kids take hold of particular traditions or parts of traditions and explore it for themselves. They've had such fun introducing Li'l E to the way the traditions go - and I've enjoyed their take on it and how they share it.