Yesterday was Sophie’s day for show-and-tell.
I expected her to run down the stairs clutching a favorite bear.
Or a new toy.
But she wasn’t.
Instead she came down asking if she could bring something from her “China box”.
Her box of extra special things from her time in China.
She loves to go through her box and ask questions. Sometimes she wants to look at her photo album from China. And sometimes she just wants to hold onto one special thing that reminds her of China.
And on this day, this was that one special thing.
I had printed out and laminated pictures of her and her nanny, as well as pictures of everyone in our family, put them on a sink chain and included them in one of her care packages.
At the time I had hoped it would prepare her for when she would come home. That she would feel connected somehow to the people in the pictures that she didn’t know.
What I didn’t know was how it would soothe her. How it would help her feel connected to the person holding her in those pictures, almost four years later.
Although Sophie doesn’t have many memories from her first two years in China, she most definitely remembers her nanny.
And she remembers how much she did, and still very much does, love her.
And she wanted to share that with her Kindergarten class.
We talk about China a lot. About where she is from. About what life is like in China.
She is very proud to be Chinese.
She is also proud to look Chinese. When I asked her why we she thought she and I didn’t look alike she replied, “Because we’re from different countries!”
*left unsaid: “…you big dummy!”*
Smart, smart girl that one.
Happy four years together my precious girl. How I love you.
Yes! Happy four years together!!! 🙂
Happy four years!! What a sweet post, Stefanie!! Lizzie loves her China "box" too!
Happy four years! Beautifully said, as always 🙂
Stefanie…that is soooo sweet!! Happy 4 years…crazy how fast it goes by, hun?
Hey…stop by my blog and see what Tracy (Junk Posse) made for our family to fundraise with…it's sooo neat!!
We have a special China box for our son too. It is one of his favorite things to do. On occasion he will ask us to pull it down from the top of his closet so that he can go through and look at all of the special things it holds inside. He loves to try on the clothes he was wearing the first day that we met him, and then he breaks out in laughter that after almost three years they still fit, including the shoes. It is just a precious site to watch him as he filters through the box, asking questions and reliving in his little mind memories that he has. Which seem to be few, although the last time we went through his box he specifically wanted to look at pictures. So we sat and looked at the pictures together of him and his foster family. After a few minutes he started to tear up(which was a first). I asked him if he remembered his foster family in China, and if he was crying because he missed them. He sayed "no mommma, I dont remember them, but I miss China very much." He was feeling homesick for the place where he was born and even though it made me sad for his little heart, I felt blessed to have shared that very raw moment with him.
Happy 4 years! Wow! Time flies, isn't it?
awww. i just love her to pieces. <3
I have all of my daughters special pictures and items from China gathered in one place, but I've been searching for the perfect box to put them in. I know that just having a box (whatever it is) is what is important, but for all of your children, do you use the same type of "box", and what does it look like if you don't mind me asking?
Happy 4 years!! She's absolutely precious!
Im a little late on the asking nosey questions post but i do have a good one! I have always wondered how well your kids have done with moving around so much. Im thinking about it even more these days because we are about to move across the country after living in the same location for seven years. Our older kids are really excited but our daughter is four years old and has only been home since August of last year. Im hoping it will be a positive realization for her that family doesn't change when all else sometimes does. Im sure the last change is fresh in her memory but she is too busy learning about life with us to yet talk a whole lot about China and life before gotcha day. Any thoughts or suggests would be greatly appreciated!
Love the China box idea! I think I'll get that one going right away!
How sweet Sophie is! (smart and very pretty too!)
How very cool! My daughter does not remember anything from her time in China, but she loves to look at the pictures and hear stories about our first few days together.
That is so special that you made such a cool thing for her then … and have such a neat idea of a "china box" that she has access to and isn't "put away for later." She IS so smart! And I love those pony tails!
Blessings,
Valerie
Love how you teach us.
Love that smile. That's one well adjusted girl!
What a sweet story! My girls go in and out of being proud of their Chinese heritage, but I love it when they are 'in.'
We have a "China book" that lies on the nightstand and gets read most nights. Something kids love about seeing & hearing about themselves 🙂
((okay, so it's not just the kids!))
Happy Four Years together! We were beginning our adoption process and had found you this time 4 years ago. I got to watch you meet that precious baby girl! so many tears over that journey and I learned so much about love from watching you.
I humble thank you.
I'm glad she finds such comfort in what you made for her. How wonderful.
Jia talks a lot about China too. She often asks what time it is there and then wonders what people might be doing at that time. I hope she is able to find comfort in her photos and items too someday.
Happy 4 years! I cannot believe you have 4 more in that amount of time. must be a God thing.
She is just beautiful 🙂
Beautiful! Pics and post!
Happy 4 years sweetheart!! God Bless You!
Wonderful post!! Happy 4 years!! I just realized that you were in CHina on the day my Lindsey was born!!! Very cool!!!!
Sweet girl! I miss you Sophie!!
Love – To-leen
I tell you, Stef, I love this post.
My Grandfather is dying today and I am reflecting on his life. My fondest memories of him are the times when I was the recipient of his adoring stares. He thought the world of me and I knew it. I think Sophie was adored by her Nanny and thank God, she still knows it. What a beautiful foundation!
I pray Sophie will know throughout her life what it is to be adored by her Creator and Redeemer.
What a sweet and beautiful story.
I live in China and this post really struck me. How precious. She is a beautiful little girl.