Snyder Times

It's hard to believe we've been home from China for over a week now. My mental list of things I should write about is maxed out, so prepare for a novel! First, I'd like to remember things I haven't gotten a picture of this week but will always enjoy the memory of.... The kids laughing and playing together that first morning home, with Sadie joining in like she's know them a lifetime. Sadie's facial expression when they sang the "Hello"song to her in primary and substituted the word "Ni Hao" for hello. The feeling I had sitting by Sadie as the primary sang a song about eternal families and realizing how much she has to learn. Sadie's priceless smile as she got off the bus after her first day at school and then walking home holding hands with Sara. Sadie putting her hand on her heart during the flag ceremony at Pack Meeting, and hoping someday she will love this country like I do. I tend to write about events that happened and what food we ate, but the emotions we feel each day are wide and deep in all of us as we figure out the family dynamics of seven.

The first couple of nights home were long and difficult. Adjusting to time zones, new homes, new smells, new sounds, new family members, new beds, new potty schedules...it was more than anyone should take in at six years old. By the third night I really wanted to sleep more in my own bed, so I sat and talked with Sadie the best I could to explain the kids were heading back to school, she was safe, and I was sleeping with dad. She did her best pouty face and reluctantly agreed. I went to turn the light off and she objected (the night lights weren't cutting it), but by leaving on a light outside her bedroom we all got a good nights sleep! Was it the light? Was it time? Was it bravery? We'll never know.

Days with siblings at school aren't nearly as exciting as when they are home, so we braved a few stores to find some clothes that don't fall off this tiny girl. She knows what she likes...pink, soft, sparkly, bright.....she's a girl!

We've had family members trickle in over the week, and she's warmed up to most very quickly. She gives high fives, winks, pulls on your mustache, hugs you and says "hi, hello". I can't imagine it being very fun having so many strangers come over and stare at you each day, but she takes it in stride.

We met the school teachers (kindergarten and ESL). She didn't like the idea of going to school (I still wonder if we are even saying the correct word for school). Fortunately the first person she saw was an Aunt she'd met the night before and really liked! This made it all good. She loved her teachers and enjoyed looking around the classroom after school on Thursday.

Friday was Sadie's first school day. She has afternoon kindergarten, which couldn't start soon enough for her liking. She kept looking at her backpack, and you could just feel the anticipation. She happily went right in, started playing with blocks and waved goodbye to mom and Carson. The best part of school is a girl in her class that has been waiting to be her friend for months...their family has followed our story and shared in our journey as great supporters. What more could you ask for than a built in friend your first day of school!

Other firsts include watching the boys mow the lawn, jumping on the trampoline (loves it), riding a bike (loves it, even without the abilitiy to brake), pizza (not so much love), going with Sara to friends houses, playing night games in the backyard with a dozen neighborhood kids, having cousins and friends come to our house and play, riding the bus to school....oh the fun never ends at the Snyders! Each day I just shake my head and can't believe she is still smiling, still happy and still willing to keep going.

Everyone keeps asking how the English is coming. It's not coming, it's going....into her brain. She understands more of the common demands and questions we use on a daily basis. She will use a new word or two almost each day and hasn't given up her love for mimicking all of us. I think months will go by, and she will continue to absorb until she is so full of English words they will come flying back at us. But don't worry about her ability to communicate. If there is a point to be made, she will make it! If there is a boy named Carson who needs to be told on, she will tell! If there is a blessing on the food that has been forgotten, she will remind us!


So, here we sit in the middle of September, with one of the most fascinating people in all of Nibley. The never ending supply of kids around here keeps life busy enough that boredom doesn't last long. We try new foods, we improve our chopstick skills, we celebrate with neighbors at a mom/daughter party, we pray things continue on this positive road moving forward. We realize bumps will come and hope we are ready for them when they do.

We celebrated being home one week with chinese food from Mandarin Garden. It was a hit! When I see big smiles (or big tears) I always wish I could take away this language barrier we have and just talk with her. Does she miss her friends and nannies at the orphanage? Does she like our food or tolerate it? What was the best part of the first day of kindergarten? What does she think of her room? Maybe we'll find out next year. For now I believe/hope she is truly happy. As I tucked her in bed about our fifth night home, I did the usual...brushed back her hair and gave her a kiss on the forehead...."night, night...love you," I said. Her reply was the same, just partly in a different language, "night, night...wo ai ni". Maybe that language barrier isn't as tall as I think.