New Creations

There's no way to adequately catch up on recent events in our family. A month ago we met and took custody of 2 beautiful children, Tihun and Solomon. We raised them for a week in Ethiopia, made a 24-hour trek to America, and introduced them to their brother and sister and home. They have experienced innumerable "firsts" and transitioned beautifully to our family. I can't begin to tap into the experiences we and they have had, especially in the limited time budget that I have these days raising 4 kids :) I can only reflect for a moment now and try to blog about life as it comes from here forward. Maybe one day I can go back and reflect on the trip to Ethiopia and the 1st month of life with our new children.

Tihun and Solomon have experienced so many new things since we have met them--first bath tub, first car seat (not a fan of the buckles), first stroller (thankfully big fans), first restaurant, first playground, first pool, first fireworks, many new foods...but perhaps the most poignant is the addition of a new brother and sister. Every other experience is just that, an experience. It comes and goes and they learn something new. But these new sibling relationships are constant and dynamic, both amazing and difficult. Tihun and Solomon are having the easier transition in this area, perhaps because they have had dozens of "siblings" to live with in various orphanages. Their worlds have certainly been turned upside down by moving and joining our family, but in this area, the twins' world is being transformed in a more dramatic way. Tihun and Solomon are not used to the attention of a mom and a dad. Arthur and Adaline are not used to sharing the attentions of their parents. Tihun is very independent and has had to navigate through relationships with all sorts of kids. Adaline and Arthur have had the house to themselves for almost 6 years.

It has been a huge stretch for A & A, and often quite difficult, but it has also been the cause of delightful new creations. Adaline is especially attaching to Solomon, even though she has rarely been interested in babies. We are now hearing a new voice and a new giggle that Adaline uses with her brother. She uses a tone when she speaks to him that we have never heard before. And she has a joy and laughter when she plays with him that is foreign and new. This relationship has created something all-together new and glorious. Arthur has never had a sister who needs and wants his help. He walks around with the Amharic translation book and works on phrases that allow him to communicate with her. In fact, our whole family is using dozens of new words all day long--not just when we speak to Tihun, but even with each other. We are creating a new Galt family "language," without even intending to do so. A & A interact differently on the playground now--instead of just playing, they are often pushing a brother or sister on the swings or introducing them to a new piece of equipment. New behaviors and patterns are being formed as a natural result of Tihun and Solomon joining our family.

New relationships and periods of transition produce growth that is full of friction and toil. We are certainly feeling the growing pains around here and are quite tired! But we are also witnessing new creations--new laughs, new roles, new voices--and we are thankful for these two wonderful creatures who are wildly blessing our family.