Last night Dallas and Amanda went to her Daddy Daughter date with the young women. While it will be two years in October since she joined our family, last night reminded us that we still have a long way to go in regards to her relationship with us. She still has major issues with Dallas and refuses to let him have any part in her life. There is not usually anything big and showy that you can point to and say, "Wow! She is pushing you out of her life!" but more of the subtle things that make up normal healthy relationships. For example, twice during the evening when Dallas tried to speak with her she either fully turned her back to him or ran away. Even before the evening began her behavior was eskew. She never even mentioned that she had this date with Dallas until 6:00- an hour before it began. You may think that is a normal reaction for teenagers but it is more than that; this is how she acts all the time, even at home. Keep in mind last night is only one example. We face different family and social issues with her on a daily basis. Even though last night wasn't a success, we can still look at the situation and realize how far she has come in two and a half years and are proud of the changes we have all made through this process.
The photo on the above right is Amanda sitting on her bed in Ukraine. The one on the left was taken at Young Women in Excellence a few months back. She has changed a lot both inside and out.
1 comment:
My heart goes out to your family and Amanda. I have been praying for Amanda recently, and I will continue to pray even more. I can't imagine how you even begin to reach out to a little girl who was first abused and then abandoned by her own parents and now lives in a completely different culture, education system and family. If there is anything I can help with, I am more than willing. Something that my parents always used to tell me when I would get frustrated with my non-Christian friends for making bad decisions was "All you can do is plant the seed and trust that God will provide the water to help it grow one day".
Post a Comment