Five beautiful years later...

June 2, 2016 marks the 5 year anniversary of Finley's adoption in Nepal...Thomas party of 2!! The past five years have been the absolute best! I am not the same person, and thank goodness for that! Finley has taught me love, grace, patience (a lot), and sacrifice. God knows exactly what you need! Amen? Finley had a few minor adjustments in the beginning, but has blossomed in all areas. She has advanced to the 2nd grade with excellent grades. She loves to read!! She has taken horse riding lessons, and hopes to resume. The girl is a cowgirl at heart and has requested we move to some land for her horse stable and chicken coop. Chicken coop?!? No way! Chicken coop leads to chicken. Chicken leads to chicken snake! Just let me pay 3x the cost for the organic, cage free eggs. Okay...well...maybe we will end up with the chicken coop :)  She also has a natural inclination for gymnastics, currently on team level 2.   She tumbles EVERYWHERE!  She said to me,"but Mom... Tumbling is what my life is about!" Oh the drama of a 7 year old...Maybe she will be another Gabby Douglas.   She is her toughest critic in this little life.  I have loved watching her grow in her love for others and growing in Christ. I hear her singing Jesus songs as she plays around the house. Poor thing has her mother's singing voice :) She has also learned to booty dance-totally different story. We are trying to curb that one!!!

Finley and I continue to live in NE MS. Several of my brothers and sisters live within an hour. Finley loves her family and asks to visit with them often. She has some extraordinary talent for operating a cash register at the flea market with Sissy and Jen Jen. We have made a concerted effort in visiting my sisters and other family out of state. We have a well established "village" in our community that is invaluable. The Credilles, our best friends, remain at the top of the list. This "village" has enabled us to get to and from gymnastics, stay the night for me to travel for work, get to and from MD visits, fed us, encouraged us. I may be a single parent, but I have the best support team! There is no way this is a 1 man (person) job! Note...add a "chicken cooper" to the "village". Finley has developed a very thick southern accent. I attribute that to Jeff Credille and her Uncle Mike. She says words like, "tomaters", "reckon", "niiight" with 2 or more syllables. You seriously have to hear it to believe it. I honestly believe God created this child for me to be her mommy. She is a little version of me, clumsiness and all. I have said this before and it is still true...I am grateful beyond words to the country of Nepal and to the selfless act of a birth mother.

Keep the country of Nepal in your hearts as they continue to struggle with the effects of the earthquake last year. There are still many with temporary or no shelter. The U.S. has not yet reopened Nepal to adoption since the time of Finley's adoption. There is a tremendous group of people that are working tirelessly to make that happen and a program to offer resources within Nepal to ensure children are fed. There is a lot of need beyond the comfort of our everyday.

I cannot imagine my life without Merritt Finley Thomas!!! She knows she is adopted from Nepal, but is convinced that she is waiting on a brother or sister (& a daddy).  Who knows??  I know a lot of you keep up with us on FB, but it is important for me to document on the blog as well. We celebrate 5 years, but God's plan for Finley was made long before I even knew what was it store! Thank you to each of you for your love and friendship over these years. We love and appreciate you more than you could possibly know.  Now to get busy with the next 5 years... :)) God isn't done yet!! Believe it.

Love,
Lydia & Finley 😘