I even have a superstition that has grown on me
as the result of invisible hands
coming all the time..
Namely, that if you follow your bliss
you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while,
waiting for you.
And the life that you ought to be living,
is the one you ARE living.
-joseph campbell


Monday, January 4, 2010

Year of the Butterfly


If there was a Chinese Year of the Butterfly,
Delilah would be the symbol.

She squealed with delight when we passed shops on
Shaimen Island decorated with butterfly flags.
But it took longer for us to see
she not only loved butterflies,
she was becoming one.

I will confess
when we first shared photos of Delilah
many friends warned me
there was something very impish about her.
They told me I was in deep trouble.
And I was afraid.
Was I too old for a spirited child?

Ha!
Can you imagine me in China
watching my new daughter hurling her bowl of noodles
against the wall!
I wondered if I would always feel so exhausted.

What I didn't know yet
was the magic behind those laughing eyes.
And the gentle soul that puts stuffed animals in the freezer
and then wraps them in blankets and coos to them as they thaw out.

She came into our family, promptly claiming the spot as "baby",
she surprised me by being such a good and gentle child.
She likes to sleep on top of us
and she has a lovely singing voice.

Delilah spends most of her time in dress up clothing.
She believes she IS Mulan
and she shows a sympathy for other people's hurts
far beyond her age.




Delilah is like a butterfly,
carefree and beautiful to watch,
and a joy to follow as she lights gently
on the stepping stones of her life.










2 comments:

  1. No way! I am so glad that you shared this glimpse of Party Nan, as I was really only able to see the 'party' and the fearless daredevil.

    Beautifully written, my dear. Love that kiddo!!

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  2. Awwww you make me fall in love with her from just your words :) I've always loved your girls anyway, Cami and Kaylee are so much alike from our descriptions :)

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