By Scott Hershberger
See video at http://your4state.com/content/video/?cid=98961
FRANKLIN COUNTY, PA - Last month NBC25 introduced you to Matt and Julia Maurer, the Franklin County couple who was waiting on their adopted Haitian daughter to arrive in America.
Now five-year-old Nathalie has made it home, and the snow won't be the only thing she has to adjust to.
The Maurers know what it's like to bring home a newborn baby, but adopted daughter, Nathalie, was a different story.
Matt says, "It's just been a blast. It's instant exploration, instant learning, instant interaction. It's so much fun."
The Franklin County couple decided to adopt the Haitian girl a few years ago, but last month's earthquake put those plans in jeopardy.
They soon found out she survived the disaster and was on her way to the United States. Last weekend Matt made the trip to Miami to meet up with his daughter.
"She knew who I was," Julia recalls. "We had sent her picture books of the family we had made, several of them. We had written her notes in French and Creole and in English. We sent those to her. She had all of those things from us."
The Maurers say Nathalie has already developed a strong bond with their biological children - her new brothers and sister.
After Nathalie witnessed her first snowfall earlier this week, Matt wonders how she'll react to the big storm this weekend.
"I was a little concerned that when she saw it snowing, she might associate it with dust and ash, but she didn't. It wasn't scary at all for her. It was just different. It was just 'Wow!'" Matt adds.
The Maurers say they're thankful for all of the people in the United States and in Haiti who helped make Nathalie's adoption happen.
Nathalie trying to braid her brother, Michael's hair!
Nathalie building a tower with brother, Will!
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