It’s been five months since we last saw Mimi. When Sambhaji’s chair was added to the dinner table she just stopped showing up. For a couple years she’d been arriving just after supper, with her props and rubber-faced expressions and slow southern drawl.
“Shaaaawwwwwn,” she once said,” how’ve you been, sweety? Tell Mimi about it?”
As I told Mimi about my day she dozed off and then, a moment later, suddenly came to…
“You’ve been a jerk all day? What’s that? I can’t hardly hear ya Shaaaawwwwwn.”
“No, Mimi,” I said, trying to keep a straight face. “I’ve been at work all day, Mimi.”
“Oh, you’re hurt? Let Mimi see it, Shaaaaewwwwn. Where does it hurt?”
Five months without Mimi is a long time. Time spent by the formerly last born finding her new role in the family, her new place at the table. A long time for showmanship to hibernate, debating whether it was safe to come out – Will they still pay attention?
Five months of one-on-one time, countless reassurances of love – the daddy kind that cannot be divided by addition.
And last night – finally – Mimi came to dinner.
Mimi was born in a conversation lull when Penelope was almost five. Mimi is an impression of Penelope’s great grandmother – also named Mimi and also speaking in slow southern drawl and also elderly. But not half as funny as Penelope’s caricature. No offense to Becky’s grandmother, but she’s no prop comic.
Last night, Mimi, having lost her arms in some sort of accident, arrived for dessert with wooden limbs made of paint-stirring sticks, and complaining about having her picture taken in such a poor condition.
We haven’t laughed so hard in five months.
For the last five months I haven’t stopped wondering (worrying) if Mimi – and Penelope – would ever come back to the table.
They’ve both returned.
Just one of hundreds of answered prayers. Thank you for speaking them on our behalf, friends.
βA happy family is but an earlier heaven.β
– John Bowring
Jason says:
Love the paint stirrer arms.
MainlineMom aka Sarah says:
I just wish you would stop making me all teary every time you write.
Katie says:
Yay!
Tsh @ Simple Mom says:
What’s wrong with my eyesβwhat’s all this watery stuff?
Awesome, Shaun.
Kelli says:
So glad Mimi could make her way. I can see why life without her would hardly be complete. π
Jessica says:
Ah, I love a good rubber face.
Robin ~ PENSIEVE says:
All is well… π
Lindsay says:
Welcome back, Mimi! Thank you, God.
Amanda says:
Love this.
Gwen says:
This made me absolutely bawl like a baby. We’re 10 months into an older child sibling int’l adoption and our older kids are suffering so much. I’m still waiting for our Mimis to come back… and so encouraged to know that yours have. Thanks for sharing this.
Angie says:
So precious! Thanks for sharing your heart!
JR says:
I’m the oldest of 5 (well…kind of 7, but two of them aren’t “legal”–or even “here”). One of them was born to our mom and dad, the other three came home later in their lives from another country. I remember after the first two came home, thinking that I should write a book, because there’s tons of books out there for adopting parents and tons of books for kids who were adopted, but none that I know of for kids whose siblings were adopted. It’s a tough thing for a sibling to lose their “place” in the family…but on the other side–SO worth it. My family made me who I am today–including–ESPECIALLY my family from across the sea. In spite of all the sibling rivalry (still–I’m 28 for pete’s sake! You don’t really outgrow it completely), they are some of the greatest gifts that God ever gave me.
Hang in there Mimi…the day is coming when you will remember your family when it was smaller, when it was “normal”, and you’ll think, “My goodness, we were BORING back then! Thank goodness we’ve got Sam–wouldn’t be the same without him.”
rebecca says:
JOY!
Adam says:
Just…precious!
Sarah says:
Dear Shaun,
I’ve decided you should write a book.
That’s all.
Thanks,
Sarah
Cooking Up Faith says:
Just beautiful! Her face lights up the room and a computer screen! π I have played your song, Just As I Am over and over today. About to pop in my i-pod and listed to it again. Love it!!
Cooking Up Faith says:
“listen” to it again, not listed! π
Jenn says:
Thanks for taking the time to share this story, Shaun! What a funny girl. So glad your Mimi came back!
Mary says:
This is hilarious!!! With your and Phil’s sense of humor she is bound to be a star!!
Jason Cormier says:
Amen. Glad things are working themselves out.