Ila’s Story Updated
Ila’s Story - Updated
Hallelujah! Ila loves her new family in America! She loves getting dressed up in her bright red dress! Ila’s new mom Christie says she’s very girlie. She wore that red dress the first time she got dressed up to go to church. Ila was so proud of her new dress that she didn’t want to change clothes after church. She wore them until bed time. And her black patent leather shoes? Christie says when Ila’s dad Dave pulled them out of the closet for her to wear to church last week, she squealed with delight and ran around her room!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
If you read my first blog, you know that 3-year-old Ila had been living in an orphanage just outside Port-au-Prince in Haiti. For the past 3 years, Dave and Christie Hubner have been dealing with Ila’s adoption paperwork and trying to bring her to the U.S. The massive earthquake that caused so much misery in Haiti in January actually helped the Hubner’s break through all the red tape. Near the end of January Dave and Christie were finally united with Ila in Orlando, Florida. They all flew home to Frederick, Maryland, where Ila is now living a very different life.
Ila’s extended family and friends from coast to coast have been praying and rooting for Ila throughout her ordeal. Her adoptive grandparents, who live in Southern California, have been keeping the West Coast contingent informed of the latest developments.
Christie says they’re amazed at how well Ila is adjusting to her new life. She eats just about anything. In Haiti her diet was mostly beans and rice. She’s not big on baked goods, like cookies and cake. But, guess what? She loves ice cream! And she’s already trading in her native Creole for English. Her favorite food words are “apple” and “pizza.” As Christie says, “How American!”
One of Ila’s biggest adjustments is the weather. In February, massive snowstorms hit the mid Atlantic states, including Maryland. The first storm dumped at least two feet. It was followed by another. Christie says, “We were not sure what Ila would think of all the snow.”
Before Dave took Ila and her 4-year-old brother Mathis out to play, there was a lot of bundling up to do. The coat. The hat. The mittens. The boots. And, the snow pants! Christie says, “Ila wasn’t very happy about getting all those clothes on and fought a little about going outside. However, once she saw all the snow she quieted down. She was funny. She just sat in the snow and looked around.” Christie added, “ She licked the snow off her gloves for about 20 minutes! She didn’t smile or frown, just sat and ate snow!”
The 8.8 earthquake that devastated parts of Chile last weekend has pushed the Haiti earthquake story off the front pages. But seeing Ila’s beaming face in her new red dress is a reminder that sometimes even disaster stories can have a happy ending. There are many blessings in life. Ila is one of them. She’s already sharing her joy with her two new brothers, her new parents and her extended family members. I’m proud to be one of them!
