Family Picture

It's been over a week now and we still have not taken a family picture with our camera. Fortunately, JLA's mom sent us one. Here it is...

Awe-struck

God has done some pretty incredible things for us since we've been home; all praise to Him.

On Tuesday, J headed back to work and thus my first full day with the four girls alone. That evening L had a restless night and was awake from 11-2 a.m. Then we awoke to E throwing up several times through the morning. Just when I was literally thinking; 'I am needing some help right now.' the phone rings! Truly! A wonderful neighbor that I have probably talked on the phone with three times in the past two years called and said how she had been thinking of us all morning and was prompted to call. I couldn't hold the tears back, tears of relief and thankfulness to God's tenderness to me at that very moment! I told her I just tried to call a neighbor for some apple juice for E or anything good for an upset stomach. Within twenty minutes she was back with two grocery bags of all the needed essentials for the flu! K was His instrument and she was obedient to call on the Spirit's leading. What a beautiful moment we shared rejoicing in God's provision.

Prayers Answered

Thank you again! God was gracious to us and on EVERY flight possible we had an open seat to put L in the middle of us. The day was SO very long and what an extra blessing that was to have space to spread out. After 36 hours we were finally home and able to get into bed! We all slept like logs and some 11 hours later we finally awoke.

Our hearts are soaring today as the girls will come home after attending a cousin's birthday. This will be brief as we have much we want to complete so that we can enjoy the girls; unpacking, groceries, Bible study time with the Lord, rest, etc.

Our next post we will give you pictures of our family together at last! Thanks for journeying with us!

Use Me

You hear of these eye glass clinics where people go into a country and provide a tangible need of sight and then discuss why their heart led them there; out of love to share the truth; the gospel of Christ.

At our ceremony of citizenship today we learned that there are nearly 4,000 children adopted to American families each year; 72,000 to date. Imagine how many broken hearts are daily wondering about their precious ones. In my dreams I envision L and I going back to China and either through gathering information or possibly DNA clinics, offering an opportunity to reunite children and parents together after years of separation all in the name of Christ Jesus.

We are open to your call Lord, use us!

Thank You!

On Wednesday L only ate a little breakfast and nothing else all day. She was lethargic and stayed in my arms. At 5:00 p.m. she went to bed and slept until 8:00 a.m. on Thursday. She awoke starving and with a shaky body ate and drank anything we could get to her fast enough. She then slept another hour or so and about noon was completely herself again. Thank you for lifting her up to our Heavenly Father!

Heading "Home"

Here we are at 11:36 p.m. trying to finish packing for our journey home. Our wake-up call is for 5:15 a.m. and then our big travel day begins. We humbly but boldly come before our Lord to ask for an extra seat on the flights so that L will not have to be on our lap the entire time.

As far as emotions are concerned, we are elated to be going home but I (the emotional one) cry when thinking about L leaving her homeland. I grieve for her; tearing away another part of who she is to build a new life in the states. I grieve for her mother who will not enjoy the many smiles, laughs and hugs that are just beginning for me. I love her mother for what she has given to L, for within L is this woman who had to give up part of herself. Before I came to China I used the word abandoned; that will never again be part of my vocabulary for it seems to indicate a heartless action. I think of Moses' mother and the care and love and heartache that she must of felt. How she poured herself into making the safe basket for him and how his sister stood watch to make sure he was safe. I see L's mom doing the same thing; forced into this path by a variety of circumstances. Can you imagine the grief when she gave birth to this long-awaited child and sees immediately her special need of cleft lip and palate? That day, which should have been full of sweet joy, was instead wrecked with sorrow knowing there was no way they can afford to meet L's needs. Knowing, upon holding her for the first time, that she will never see her take her first steps or run to her with open arms. I can't imagine the pain she must of felt to wrap her newborn baby up and begin her walk in the dark. Singing to her ever so softly, her hand tenderly caressing her face. Kissing L for the last time as tears stream down her face. Placing her by that bridge where she knows she'll be found and hiding in the darkness diligently watching to make sure she is safely scooped up by a passerby. I see her chest heaving as she walks home alone without her precious one for this is not the vision she had for this baby she carried for nine months. I wonder how many nights she cries herself to sleep wondering; just wondering about where she is now. Somewhere in China L you are loved very much...

Important Day

While there wasn't any work for us our CCAI representatives had the important task of delivering all our visa application documents to the US Consulate Adoption Unit. We had to stay in our room for the phone call saying that all was clear and there were no unexpected questions or problems. Everything went fine and we are scheduled to take the oath of citizenship for L tomorrow!

After waiting in our room all morning we walked to the park where J joined in on a game similar to hackey-sack. We then had a quick lunch of Mexican no less and hurried to the room to give L a chance to rest. After a short quiet time we were off to tour the Pearl Market and see the largest shopping area in Guangzhou. We are now again resting in the room (for L's sake) and waiting for the Papa John's delivery man on bike!

Simple Yet Important

Today (Tuesday) L is running a small fever and hasn't eaten anything since breakfast (barely ate breakfast either). We are trying to push the liquids but she doesn't want any part of that. Please pray for a covering of health and that her body stays hydrated.

THANK YOU!

Sweet Family Firsts

In the last 24 hours L has said "Mei Mei" (sister) while watching our girls on Skype, reached her arms up to Dad to hold her and kissed mom on the lips...

The Lord's timing is sweet, His plans are perfect.

Monday

Today started our official business in Guangzhou. We went to have L's medical exam where she had to pass through three different rooms; the ENT, height and weight and the doctor visit to view paperwork and do a body scan.

Later that day, J had the task of meeting with our brilliant reps from CCAI to handle Visa paperwork. They worked for two hours on getting everything just right for the group's documents.

Our final task was the anticipated "Red Couch" photos. This is where the "formal" family pictures are taken along with the adoptees (11 in our case) and then the entire group that has become a special family to us!

We ended our day with dinner at a German restaurant! (Check out L's sweet pose!)

One Week!

It's been one week since we first met L and it swells my heart thinking of all the changes we've seen already. Really, it's not fair what these little ones to have had to endure; what they must have felt. In just one week L is allowing herself to trust, to love, to open up to complete strangers who say they love her but what guarantee does she have of that? Her life has no proof that anyone or anything stays the same. I've read blogs about people saying how brave their little ones are but until you watch one of God's precious children chisel away at the wall of uncertainty to trust you, it is quite hard to comprehend the depth of bravery that must take.

The first morning L woke up everything about her seemed to say; "Oh my, they are still here, I am still here!" Now, just one week later she looks for me when she wakes, reaches up to be held and sits solemnly on my lap. I cannot deny that she has made great strides this past week but I also can't help to ponder what it must feel like to wonder each morning who you will see looking back at you...

Sunday

With today being a weekend and all offices closed we had the chance to put business affairs aside and tour the city. We started at a Buddhist temple and happened to arrive on the female (although I guess there are not really genders in regards to a Buddha but they created one for the women and children and thus she is known as a "she" Buddha) Buddha's birthday. She is the goddess of compassion and the temple was packed with mostly women worshiping and bringing offerings. My heart ached for the emptiness in such practices and found my mind jumping to scripture such as: Deut. 8:12b "They have turned away quickly from what I commanded them and have made a cast idol for themselves."

We then toured the Old Chen House. Chen ("Chan" in English) is the most common last name in Guangzhou. The families came together to pay for and build this ornate home as a place to pray for their deceased ancestors. The China government came in and took the home from the families and now it is used to display the areas most valuable treasures in jade, embroidery, ivory and porcelain. Finally, we did a little shopping to finish our tour.

Our day ended with Visa pictures for our child and a group dinner at the Cow and Bridge Thai restaurant. (Plus a little more shopping on the way home!)

Squeaky Shoes

You have probably seen those kids shoes that light up when they walk. Well, China has a slightly annoying variation of those called squeaky shoes. As you can probably guess, they let out a high-pitched little squeak with EVERY single step. I must admit, they have been a blessing because L wanted her mother to carry her everywhere we went for the first couple days. She seemed to like the squeaky shoes in the store so we thought they might give her a little motivation to walk, and did they ever. Now she likes walking herself and will even go for a little walk when it’s just her and dad. So I coming around to the squeaky shoes a little bit, but don’t be surprised if they mysteriously disappear somewhere between China and home.

Clean Hands

L is a bit preoccupied with clean hands (her mother is rubbing off on her already). My (dad) job is to have a wet washcloth ready and wipe her hands when they get a speck of dirt on them. So the other day L was eating a piece of watermelon. Unfortunately, that got her right hand dirty so she moved the watermelon to her left hand and motioned for me to clean her right hand. However, by the time I got the right hand cleaned, she realized that her left hand was now dirty. So of course, to clean her left hand, she had to move the watermelon to her right hand and then motioned for me to clean her left hand. Now I’m a pretty bright guy, so I could see where this was going, but I thought I would humor her for a while. Fortunately, she is pretty bright too and after a couple more transitions and some cute giggles, she decided to just eat the watermelon.