Home!

Junu and her Buwa.  So happy to be together again!

Getting ready to go visit her new school.

Eating eggs at school!

Junu and I have been home now for nearly 2 weeks.  Re-entry has been challenging.  There are so many mixed up emotions, but I will save them for a later post...perhaps.  Junu is doing great overall.  When I sit down and really take in all she has been through, all the changes, I am amazed at her resilience and ability to adapt.  She is curious and interested in everything and everyone.  She trusts me and all that we have been through together has only made our bond stronger.  I realize now, despite this most difficult challenge, that the way it unfolded was absolutely perfect.  This is where trusting in God's plan comes into play.  If Junu's adoption had gone as I had planned and hoped for, I would have spent 2 weeks in Nepal and then she would have come back to the U.S. with me.  I would have had perhaps only 2 weeks at home with her before I would need to go back to work.  There would have been so much we missed, which now seems invaluable.  Invaluable to our relationship and to our future.

The blessings have been plentiful.  I am constantly humble by this experience and I believe it will continue to shape the direction of my life.  With this challenge I received the blessing of having nearly 3 months to bond and attach with Junu and she to me.  I experienced her culture, her language and the many beautiful people who we now consider family.  I slowly have learned some Nepali and she has quickly learned much English.  We were able to spend 2 major chunks of time with 3 dear friends in Nepal who will now also know and understand Junu's first home.  We developed relationships with other American families who will be life long friends.  We learned to really trust and love each other in Nepal.  How could this be wrong?  I have learned, once again, no matter what lies before you, if you trust and keep your mind in this place of trusting, there often will be more blessings than you can imagine.  Blessings that only God could configure.  Truly.

We now are adjusting to another set of challenges since returning to the U.S., but I am not fretting, I am not worrying, I am trusting.  All the energy I put into worry is wasted energy.  I choose to focus on goodness, endurance, patience, trust, fun and joy.  I'm not being airy fairy, really I'm not, I just know deeper that negative talk and negative thoughts have a great impact on my furture.  Why not hope and believe the best can happen despite the appearances?  Why not visualize your perfect life and know that all the difficulties that arise may just be the path to that perfect life?  There are always treasures and I now further understand that the greater the treasure is often the greater the challenge.  Patience, perseverance, and faith!!!

Much gratitude to all,

Sharlyn

CL

Claudia and Junu

All Hail the Toothache God.  Really, a shrine for the Toothache God, behind my girls. 

Monkey Temple

Claudia and Junu were very happy to be the same!  Yellow girls. 

Namaste at the Botanical Gardens

An Irish Pub in Nepal????  Why yes!  Happy St. Patrick's Day

I realize that during my second stay here in Nepal I have barely written on the blog.  Writing has been a way for me to stay connected and to continue to express the various experiences and emotions that have come my way.  I suppose adjusting my time with a very busy active minded 3 year old is part of the reason.  While Junu and I are now home in the U.S.  I still want to share these pictures and stories.  Thank you for reading all.


Claudia and I have been friends for 9 years.  Our friendship was  instantaneous.  In these past 9 years we both have been through many changes/challenges and have been supportive to one another along the way.   True friends.   She has always known how much I have wanted to become a mother and has watched me from the beginning make the commitment towards motherhood.  She was there to  give encouragement and a listening ear when  I chose to give up aspects of my life which I really didn't want to give up ...but I did.  All the delays, the frustration, the confusion and the tears...all the excitement, the  hope and the challenges.  Finally the dream became real and Claudia was there to jump up and down, which we did, when she saw the picture of Junu for the first time.  Thank you cl for always being there to make me laugh, let me cry and help me hold the vision when I was unsure if I could.   

Claudia was planning on joining me when I left for Nepal on January 26th, but due to unforeseen circumstances, she was unable to come.  So I went alone.  She kept telling me, "This is just a delay....I am still coming."  She is a woman of her word.  I am so thankful and moved by the fact that she was willing to take the time to be with Junu and I all the way on the other side of the world.  She and Junu were bff's in less than 1 minute.  I felt my whole body relax knowing she was here with us.  She helped us stay busy and stay positive.  She was here when I recieved my approval phone call and accompanied us to the embassy for our interview.  She made us the most delicious of dinners, which helped Junu expand her repertoire.  Most of all she showed total acceptance, love and endearment towards Junu.  She helped me through all the rough spots with Junu this week (i.e. hitting, biting, pinching, etc.) and continued to help Junu process and understand.  We laughed often and enjoyed the simple blessing a child brings.  Perfect in every way. 

My heart is so full and I am so thankful for Claudia's love and friendship.  I look forward to many summers of fun in LI, trips to NYC with Junu (especially during the  holiday season) and most of all just sharing in each others' live and seeing our beautiful children interact and grow up together.  Thank you CL,  little Junu loves her Claudi.