tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58967159908271127042024-03-04T23:56:31.240-08:00New Day For Luke"Everything rides on hope now...."
Addison RoadLinkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-28756992261818053012009-04-14T18:04:00.001-07:002009-04-14T18:07:16.422-07:00Easter Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-uxFugBWMA3tIrpXdR1WQE5bQe-8Dil0Vz5WgiX0g8avfjNuYg2xAlIIgsA2lzXO8tYPFiz0VoYN0SW9tP_AXLbItwRuyk1ZwCmtt2NquOIgsJ89sKS8Ajzx6iaM_DMCp5Sn392H_pn-/s1600-h/easter09family.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-uxFugBWMA3tIrpXdR1WQE5bQe-8Dil0Vz5WgiX0g8avfjNuYg2xAlIIgsA2lzXO8tYPFiz0VoYN0SW9tP_AXLbItwRuyk1ZwCmtt2NquOIgsJ89sKS8Ajzx6iaM_DMCp5Sn392H_pn-/s320/easter09family.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324718019080382994" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;">We have now been home with Luke for a little over 7 weeks. We are starting to achieve a new family equilibrium and Luke is settling in, carving out his own niche. We celebrated Easter today as a family of eight, with Chris home from Duke for the weekend. Luke loved the trail of chocolate eggs that the bunny left, and marveled over the stash of goodies that awaited him in the basement! Our very clever Easter bunny even color-coded the eggs for each child, and once Luke realized that he was supposed to collect all the chocolates that were wrapped in green, he was off and running, chirping "GaWeen! GaWeen for Luke! Oh my goodness! GaWeen!". His unbridled enthusiasm is such a joy to see. His excitement over finding an old pair of plastic purple sunglasses in the car was so great that he almost couldn't even put them on for the sheer joy of holding them in his hands. His backpack is still his almost-constant companion. Only the contents change a bit from time to time. He loves to bake with me, explore outside almost anywhere and everywhere, to read, color, "twiggle" and play. He loves his clothes and has already declared a few favorites: his brown belt, his robot T-shirt, and his bathrobe. He is such a little man.<br /><br />Luke had his cardiac catheterization 2 days ago, on Good Friday. Andy and I spent the day with him at UVA Hospital. Results showed that there is a significant narrowing of his Pulmonary Artery on one side, and that will need to be corrected surgically on May 15 when he has his open heart surgery. Thankfully, it seems that his Pulmonary Valve is OK, and so the surgery will focus on closing the shunt that was placed in China almost 2 years ago, correcting the VSD (hole between the 2 ventricles), and removing some overgrown heart tissue in the area of the VSD. We will be meeting with Luke's surgeon on Thursday and should know more about the specifics after that.<br /><br />As Luke sat on my lap at one point during our Easter church service this morning I marveled at how this little guy has handled so many big changes with such a resilient and cheerful spirit. He seems so much a part of our family now; it is hard to imagine life without him. As I pondered the holiness and mystery and glory of the Resurrection, I couldn't help thinking about how adding Luke to our family has also been a holy and mysterious and glorious thing. As I held him in my arms after his cath, snuggling him hour after hour as he recovered from the anesthesia and the trauma of the procedure, I had time to think and to just be. To be a mom, holding and rocking her little one. And I realized how much I love this little guy. This tiny little guy, who was born in a foreign land and entered our family with a fully formed personality and a past that didn't include us. This little guy, connected to wires and IV's and monitors, who lay plastered against my chest, curled up in my lap, who has attached himself to us, trustingly, lovingly, courageously. This little person who calls me "mommy" and who blows me kisses and announces "Wo Ai Nee Mommy. I love you!" Holy. Mysterious. Glorious. Truly, I am blessed.<br /><br />To God be the glory.<br /><br />xo<br />bonnie</span>Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-74370906744297817372009-03-15T14:04:00.000-07:002009-03-15T14:07:46.625-07:00Home<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; "><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">We’re home!<span> </span><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">We arrived home with Luke late at night on February 19 after traveling for over 30 hours.<span> </span>It sure did feel good to sleep in our own beds again!<span> </span>Luke was immediately pampered and loved by his 4 older sisters.<span> </span>He mostly took all of the big changes in stride, but did NOT like our 2 dogs (cockapoos Ginger and Mowgli).<span> </span>This was one of the hardest things during our first few weeks home, as our doggies are very much part of our family, and they were confused and sad about being shut away from us whenever Luke was around.<span> </span>Over time, thankfully, Luke started to accept the doggies; first Ginger, who is older and more gentle, and more recently, Mowgli.<span> </span>So we’re (mostly) one big happy family again.<span> </span>Whew.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I call Luke “my little man” as he sometimes reminds me of a miniature version of a little man, shuffling around purposefully, heading somewhere that is terribly important to him, at least at that moment, backpack typically on his back and filled with his treasures of the day….he loves books (which is good because we are all readers and have books everywhere!), chocolate (another Straka passion) and being outdoors (except when it is too cold and he starts shivering).<span> </span>He loves to count and still measures big and small objects by labeling them “mama and baby”, much to his great delight.<span> </span>And if there are 3 different sized objects, then “daddy” joins the group.<span> </span>This family cluster is very meaningful to him.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">At other times I am so struck by how physically tiny Luke is.<span> </span>He will be 4 on May 1<sup>st</sup>, but fits best in size 18-24 months clothes.<span> </span>When he is sad or scared his little pitiful cry sounds like a tiny baby, and when I scoop him up into my arms to hold and rock him I feel as if I am holding a newborn rather than a little boy.<span> </span>He is funny and spunky and adventurous much of the time, but little things can trigger times of anxiety and panic and then he is just a tiny little guy who needs to be held and reassured.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">We brought Luke to the cardiologist when we were first home and after an Echocardiogram, EKG, physical exam and review of Chinese medical records it was determined that Luke’s Tetralogy of Fallot was “in good balance” and his shunt repair was still viable, meaning that he didn’t need emergent surgery but could wait a few months until he had been able to attach and bond a little more with our family.<span> </span>There are still a few unknowns about his situation, and so he will have a cardiac catheterization by Dr. Scott Lim at the University of Virginia Medical Center on April 10 (Good Friday) to give us more information before his surgery.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">We will meet with Luke’s surgeon, Dr. Ben Peeler, also at UVA, on Thursday April 16 to go over the results of the Cath and also the specifics of his surgery and information about his post-operative course.<span> </span>Luke’s open heart surgery will be Friday, May 15, most likely first thing in the morning.<span> </span>Please join us in praying for a successful surgery, for healing for Luke’s little heart, and for strength for us, his family, as we walk through this time ahead.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div></span>Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-2805025116155756002009-02-17T04:40:00.000-08:002009-02-17T21:23:08.164-08:00Luke and the Lions<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc8ot5-R2YuGc2wOp_CJ-TqOlOyAqISENo_YY59vwAJC6wnz2634AlLjHLQl1B09aG5ay_KyJSPN-LBr_owWL4ojppoA8ly2PD16V7zaCZ8xYWNsbMI_XqmljHqP-PtFGRVV5NXMqIfvZ/s320/DSC_0108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303985410889599634" /><br /><br /><br />We never fail to be amazed by the sometimes strange and wondrous process our adopted children have gone through to develop a healthy mother/child and father/child bond. The change can happen in only a few days. But often, it takes weeks, months, or even years. <div><br /></div><div>Luke apparently has his own ideas of how to begin forming an attachment with his "Mama" (Mommy) and "Baba" (Daddy). His favorite bedtime reading has been <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Mama, Where Are You?</span>, a picture book written by Diane Muldrow and illustrated by Rick Peterson. At first, he loved to go through the pages with Bonnie repeating "Mama....baby!" as he gleefully pointed to the pictures of the animal mothers and cubs. Of late, he has begun changing this routine to alternate his exclamations. "Mama.....baby!.......Baba......baby!" he says as he moves from picture to picture.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>But by far Luke's favorite way to begin conceptualizing his idea of Mommy and Daddy are the ubiquitous Chinese stone lions standing guard in front of thousands of buildings here. These statues are always displayed in pairs, with the father lion to the right, his paw on top of a ball representing the world, and the mother lion on the left, her paw playfully atop an upside down cub. </div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTHlkyjwdWOMrt87IghMuHO_UXTvbeJ9X-NgblMsJxwFnvOXUWdkRcdOaINh1botQPhX8opRsQwDcTe8vEkED3ev1uqu9ZNqFtGQVPdoZ5LijPLigUFJ8Z_-Qy_epH-Abbfn_vJukIeuV/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303994277321324962" /><div><br /></div><div>Whenever Luke spies these statues, he begins running back and forth between the two figures, crying out "Baba!" at the male lion, then "Mama....baby!" in front of the female lion. He never fails to elicit smiles from everyone in the vicinity. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>What could be more universal than this? </div><div><br /></div><div>A little boy trying to come to terms with what a family means to him.<div><br /></div><div> </div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcOp0XarJL3hqasldS6J4XOlOd5Z4l48qLl_UVsQBTFSLzCUdAE4rLLj52ey2u6xpFP1iX6wxgxlb8TBBa2pjDA4uOCnaJScSj-IB6clxPb6Lex7ZAPiM5hlMnHe5MRUa009XATxBQ-0U/s320/DSC_0071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303994271151309042" /><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAv5UCnBj5LTf-As-WFci5gtmxhOapdwtldr8N-Rp7NMHIimJvfL8DtkkTDPX-1VfZHMH87JnS4DfZBk_TFMa5Nl12h9CyID82JU5K72ad9uEXgCTuaeDxd1gA-mnbq8W7eIokfJ66WIH/s320/DSC_0073.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303994270426948114" /></div>Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-25064079651050923332009-02-16T07:13:00.000-08:002009-02-17T04:39:34.696-08:00No pictures....please.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8GaQWrQEENPMSSBJfvYO_zWRiQIE4qTdjt6h0l1WERla8JxKsVgCFz_VeaUG5hMKXmekN5jCKOIsB2tMXzy3i5j1RDRj7O8FW75TojjEaKe0Ccr560NdX8U4o6Ik4VlmqvxfzhNqKMsw/s1600-h/DSC_0756.JPG"><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tBtC4pYywre-XYHHNsJM7LD3LK-gTk7-yw_MKFtdrU4RCEuu27b940dzungnm3HO9uHcvo6W3FFTdmgXjwCdM357GVnU25FH7e40fcJ6lWJrqDELnJkjWjhTHni3Q3zzyeMHil2Hqlca/s320/DSC_0910.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303414594272094514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ALkR8MnDW-GW3YMJOQb7uyrYexvLCO7nopzoJhaPwZIJVRkaKCZg2IhzYm2F3mXcXTnk27d6D8t1djL5PJ_Leu8K64v1HwgQkTZ8th6CPNqiyc8wcDu5e5RZUx2UyiGF1J5PwWMRmgQl/s1600-h/DSC_0867.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ALkR8MnDW-GW3YMJOQb7uyrYexvLCO7nopzoJhaPwZIJVRkaKCZg2IhzYm2F3mXcXTnk27d6D8t1djL5PJ_Leu8K64v1HwgQkTZ8th6CPNqiyc8wcDu5e5RZUx2UyiGF1J5PwWMRmgQl/s320/DSC_0867.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303414587285636450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPC1B5KkbpUsXgcxzS-GZEAu2pGDLMZjQPq3y-vhm05KiE2rGWej2e-mWI8HIMDrv9oNo0_DU4t1quxK2inKcBd-5_imUoTMdnOuo6f6EjDa4rAOqPJWO2qVPsznf46W53Xr9kZbaPNUT8/s1600-h/DSC_0808.JPG"><br /></a>Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-26417883628519733912009-02-16T07:02:00.000-08:002009-02-16T07:12:36.994-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwYdJAonDgo3pmyoE2q_Q_SCqGAmIrFTqhgPYj3yBijjxYY0mOFFVP5dSDnSnyoPzCPXGQbyXH2Ph0EndObbHyZZUuOS8Z_BVrs8Rvls_vCzTD3vou0MahOsV9U9tC9kgoLNtUPfWknL_/s1600-h/DSC_0879.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HXNk4bhyczpWH0tuyf1db7LJSU2lzxG3o_plfdxUNv7hDDamHDXzAyas0qO-NviWBiC1jc4WwsdGtkckcJJI-Uy7cJliTNFnDpOOjexLshp1Kvt6C_hrHiXFptzy2xJdkQzFspD5M16R/s320/DSC_0789.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303412888109682594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvW_ywmO1zsc4POiMxRa_LS9WeKQuShdBrOAPrpgmiNQ8gTWDOyXBl-ycwUUuigEz5EibFRppj1R0ZNgFQAOIxr76B5bZp1HZrk8d03wTFHL93xtRFFc5FmwPomP6qhHF2bupePtSR1_3R/s1600-h/DSC_0845.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvW_ywmO1zsc4POiMxRa_LS9WeKQuShdBrOAPrpgmiNQ8gTWDOyXBl-ycwUUuigEz5EibFRppj1R0ZNgFQAOIxr76B5bZp1HZrk8d03wTFHL93xtRFFc5FmwPomP6qhHF2bupePtSR1_3R/s320/DSC_0845.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303412870473074098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcRH4_ay-MNgtviPsOutZfDAaTvPI2mtqRcr2G0_JyxlWlz-Zcq1es7erz_ZPxlNO4xROV0V2FsLZm8a1XOI0fGcZrthkEQWaFY0WS4SiH8pPSqe9eBBt3uSVwS-tCQMM5poVgRJgw358/s1600-h/DSC_0868.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcRH4_ay-MNgtviPsOutZfDAaTvPI2mtqRcr2G0_JyxlWlz-Zcq1es7erz_ZPxlNO4xROV0V2FsLZm8a1XOI0fGcZrthkEQWaFY0WS4SiH8pPSqe9eBBt3uSVwS-tCQMM5poVgRJgw358/s320/DSC_0868.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303412859595603618" /></a>Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-19120843524323920862009-02-15T17:26:00.000-08:002009-02-15T17:28:57.071-08:00Becoming Luke's Mama<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">We arrived in Guangzhou yesterday and are staying once again in the beautiful and elegant White Swan Hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Luke loved the plane ride from Nanchang to Guangzhou; he loved the big seats with the tray table that went up and down (and up and down…), he loved zooming along the ground and taking off up in the air, and he especially loved the peanut snack and his very own bottle of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">By the time we had checked into the hotel we were really hungry, and so we headed off to Lucy’s for some good ‘ole American food (well, kind of).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So now we know that Luke loves pizza, French fries and ketchup, and spaghetti.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He will do fine in America.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He hasn’t met a drink yet that he doesn’t gulp down, including milk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Forget the dumplings; give him a dinner roll or banana bread.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Oh, and did I mention the chocolate pound cake at the buffet breakfast? What could be better than entering the Straka family with a pre-existing love of chocolate?!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m seeing his May 1 birthday cake:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>chocolate with chocolate icing, chocolate chips and chocolate sprinkles…the “Straka birthday special”…</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Luke continues to enjoy running to each and every elevator, pushing the “up” or “down” buttons, and then the appropriate floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He announces loudly to anyone or no one, it doesn’t matter, “ONE!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or “TWO” depending one where we are going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With great authority and enthusiasm, I might add.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But at some point yesterday evening, a bit weary from our travels and from trying to negotiate life in a different culture, living out of a suitcase, packing and unpacking, and attempting to get to know a fully formed little boy with his own personality and life experiences that haven’t included me until 1 week ago, I started to feel a bit pitiful.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I commented to Andy that while I loved Luke’s merry and outgoing personality, it seemed that he would be just as happy going off into the sunset with our guide, or any other friendly adult for that matter, as staying with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>While my intellect knew that bonding and attachment take time and don’t happen in a significant way after only knowing someone a week, my heart was yearning for a sign that Luke recognized me as someone more than anyone else, someone special, his mommy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I think this is the hardest part of adoption for me: trying to be patient as the attachment and bonding process works itself out over time with consistent parental love and affection and the relentless pursuit of a child’s heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But I always long for instant attachment!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>yearn for my child to want to be held as much as I want to hold him or her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I want my child to trust me, while knowing that there are layers of loss that need to be tunneled through and shed before deep trust can exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know these things, and yet such knowledge doesn’t erase my heart’s desire to love and be loved in return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is this waiting to be loved reciprocally that is especially hard for me at the beginning of an adoption journey with a new child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can wait for that love to develop, I will wait; but it is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My most fervent prayer recently has been for Luke to feel our love, to know that we are his forever Mommy and Daddy and not just 2 people passing through his life, and for him to be able to love us back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not just in his endearing, charming, sweet, Luke kind of way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But in a special I know you’re my parents and you’re totally for me and will be with me forever kind of way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know, that’s a lot to ask of a newly adopted 3 year old.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But God is a big God and nothing is impossible for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the midst of chaos and change and uncertainty, God is steadfast; His love is everlasting, deep, unfathomable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know these things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And so I ask for my own little miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After Valentine’s Day dinner with 2 other families in our travel group we arrived back at our room where the highlight is always the before-bed bath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Luke LOVES the bathtub!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He loves playing in the water, loves scrubbing his face, loves the soapsuds, the washcloth, the freedom of floating in the big tub with his little body, and most of all the nightly bath capsule that magically turns into a farm animal.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Last night he chose a green one, and was ecstatic to see it turn into a duck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“Quack quack” he chirped, breaking occasionally into a mixed Chinese-English rendition of “Twinkle twinkle little star”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Merry as could be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Life is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Really good.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Until a bit of a slip in the tub from some overexuberant “swimming”, and Luke must have hit his lip or bitten his tongue…something to do with his mouth, because out of this little guy came the most pitiful wails as he put his hands over his mouth and just sobbed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We scooped him up out of the tub, checked for disaster (no blood, teeth seemed intact upon quick inspection in mid-wail), and then I cradled him in my arms, his tiny little body engulfed by a giant bath towel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I rocked him and held him and loved him while his wails turned into shuddering sobs and then forced little bleats….I held him close, and he melted into my arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>His “real” cries turned into “fake” ones (those of you with the same kind of mommy ears know what I’m talking about) and it occurred to me that Luke liked this embrace, this rocking, this being held within the cocoon of the towel…he was letting my love and comfort sink in, and wasn’t this what I had begged God for?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For Luke to feel my Mommy-love and to sense, to know, that this was different than anyone else’s love?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I held Luke and rocked him for a long while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And then we moved on to the after-bath ritual of “creaming up”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(can’t have dry skin in a dermatologist’s family!), brushing teeth and PJ’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I planned to run downstairs in search of a Dove bar or 2 for Andy’s and my Valentine’s night celebration, but as I headed out of the room, Luke panicked and burst into tears, holding his arms up to me and crying out my name: “Mama!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Mama!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Mama!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This has never happened before as Luke has seemed equally as happy with Andy as with me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He is happy when we are both with him; he is happy with just one of us if the other is off somewhere; it’s been really nice in a lot of ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No clinging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And yet no signs of special attachment either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Can’t have it both ways.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But now there is a little boy at the door of the hotel room calling out desperately for his mama, and I think that God has answered my prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I forsake my quest for chocolate (not something I forsake lightly, but this is big, bigger than chocolate).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is the first time Luke has cried for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I feel needed, wanted, special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is my little boy and I am his Mommy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I scoop him up in my arms, and as he buries his head in my chest his sobs abate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can comfort him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is huge.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I cuddle Luke in the dark on the couch; I wrap him in a blanket, I hold him until he falls asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am part of the miracle of attachment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am Luke’s Mama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Thank you God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-73398386532366509392009-02-13T00:46:00.000-08:002009-02-13T04:59:36.271-08:00Please Send Spaceship Now<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_i8s-rXSXxU53gMD1RgkygWqkd9vsZZUJvVCImP0DMqQgPuuRfqlKB0kEhAaG3AcB0cIRXyDVBeAzYQuKJsArSlY8smbE-F42sBqYy7olIFeqBJtm5-mXYjOK6Dcjeo4rVt5GS2Bu-iP/s1600-h/DSC_0524.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_i8s-rXSXxU53gMD1RgkygWqkd9vsZZUJvVCImP0DMqQgPuuRfqlKB0kEhAaG3AcB0cIRXyDVBeAzYQuKJsArSlY8smbE-F42sBqYy7olIFeqBJtm5-mXYjOK6Dcjeo4rVt5GS2Bu-iP/s320/DSC_0524.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302265668954557330" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">We love our intrepid Luke.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And we love the Chinese.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We really do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But there comes a time on every adoption trip when the rush of emotions, the adrenaline for the journey, and the exotic curiosity of the surroundings have worn off and we find ourselves simply longing for home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It doesn’t help that here in the Middle Kingdom they have their own way of doing things, often beyond the comprehension of we mere Westerners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To our surprise, it has grown quite hot here in Nanchang. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Eighty degrees Fahrenheit the past couple of days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our guide Jenny informs us this is quite unusual for this time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A stiff wind has also begun to blow, which, instead of clearing all the pollution from the air, only serves to stir it all up into a cough-inducing, eye-stinging soup of grit.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Maybe the unexpected change in the weather helps explain why the relative peace and quite of our hotel room was shattered yesterday morning by a man with a mallet outside our window banging loudly on the metal superstructure of some gargantuan piece of ventilation equipment two stories below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-family:'Times New Roman Italic';">BOOM<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>BOOM<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>BOOM</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Okay, something in the mechanism must be stuck, we thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The guy was there to fix it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Except that he kept right on banging and banging and banging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Soon, he was joined by a friend, and the two of them proceeded to serenade us in stereo with their clamor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The philosophy seemed to be what you can’t solve with precision and accuracy, proceed to conquer with raw brute force…. whether or not it seems to be working…. over and over and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With brief breaks for lunch and maybe a Tsing Tao (beer) or two, the cacophony continued throughout much of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By mid-afternoon, our bangers had added a rhythm section and actually seemed to be developing, in their own way, an elegant sort of cadence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Could it be that we’d completely misunderstood?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Maybe these guys actually had some kind of New Year’s Ming Dynasty ceremonial drum thing going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Or it could just be Morse code for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Five Star Jin Feng Hotel My Green Home.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In any event, we were able to escape the noise, at least for a little while, with a pleasant and informative tour of the beautiful Tengwang Pavilion and a performance of traditional Chinese music and dance that stopped us all, including even Luke, in our tracks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> Finally, </span>at five PM, the mysterious banging mercifully ceased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After nine days of Chinese food (as good as it mostly has been) we finally broke down and sojourned to Pizza Hut for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“American style” pizza (cheese and pepperoni) and Chilean white wine served in a glass mug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What a treat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am always stunned at how enthusiastically the Chinese have embraced Pizza Hut and KFC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As our guide in Beijing informed us, there are now more KFC restaurants in China than in any other country on earth, including the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Luke loved Pizza Hut too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He especially liked the side dish of waffle fries and ketchup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(We’re already corrupting the poor kid with fast food.)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">With our American fix fulfilled, we contentedly retired to our hotel for the evening where the bangers had apparently all gone home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hold the anchovies and pass the earplugs.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Andy</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment-->Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-59981523362748222852009-02-12T05:00:00.000-08:002009-02-12T05:02:47.772-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUR9WpmjRiVvJh43NuLtfFUevpZ7LN7YQViylAIQR9QD4OU_mt0sPPBmuc34Jy2y68-CHVfBYYLhZIxmaQSA0PIdDTPCOi5_nJss74L3UIe0HbAhc0BTHz8O36WO5sEckDa4xypC5nS8Do/s1600-h/DSC_0605.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUR9WpmjRiVvJh43NuLtfFUevpZ7LN7YQViylAIQR9QD4OU_mt0sPPBmuc34Jy2y68-CHVfBYYLhZIxmaQSA0PIdDTPCOi5_nJss74L3UIe0HbAhc0BTHz8O36WO5sEckDa4xypC5nS8Do/s320/DSC_0605.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301895488821778514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrIIPJhaKtGw6BdQfOLxkIOOEtlH4EtoKkkofU5SF7gcRE1z5V-zNwZ3hixcbZxX61xCoJZgDu3XDQhw-hi6BQWboY2sWkR2Nq6xJKgZp-clXn4LwbFM_1mTyCXsJHp4yszQJxXPrPXNO/s1600-h/DSC_0549.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrIIPJhaKtGw6BdQfOLxkIOOEtlH4EtoKkkofU5SF7gcRE1z5V-zNwZ3hixcbZxX61xCoJZgDu3XDQhw-hi6BQWboY2sWkR2Nq6xJKgZp-clXn4LwbFM_1mTyCXsJHp4yszQJxXPrPXNO/s320/DSC_0549.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301895480438607410" /></a><br 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtP80JcctOO1Ekroa43HT9a6j2vOD1xeziMPlP3EBYvHBLwEezmIsnLaDJnsm3k1yt-kup6AUd6gXJQ8eCICLQ7YTnzJrm6TCJ7NcazU_fy4sAGGCuIV1mB7F9qXKqf2lPJrDGDoXm4wt3/s1600-h/DSC_0513.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtP80JcctOO1Ekroa43HT9a6j2vOD1xeziMPlP3EBYvHBLwEezmIsnLaDJnsm3k1yt-kup6AUd6gXJQ8eCICLQ7YTnzJrm6TCJ7NcazU_fy4sAGGCuIV1mB7F9qXKqf2lPJrDGDoXm4wt3/s320/DSC_0513.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301895475032182066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgt6cDYrE61crqaE_JFjFMREkEm4L8_KEEen-p5cCfjZv8MdxEY9hjM7tYFH10jjtYV9r5aUmGSXMPJuZSftVb5QGyk7dhmd1uMm-yPyDgO1eXWhL4gw9_4l16riKOsc75uYvLqeyIcqX/s1600-h/DSC_0497.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgt6cDYrE61crqaE_JFjFMREkEm4L8_KEEen-p5cCfjZv8MdxEY9hjM7tYFH10jjtYV9r5aUmGSXMPJuZSftVb5QGyk7dhmd1uMm-yPyDgO1eXWhL4gw9_4l16riKOsc75uYvLqeyIcqX/s320/DSC_0497.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301895471309763986" /></a>Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-53169779273545132132009-02-12T04:51:00.000-08:002009-02-12T04:55:14.181-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCo2N9ssy9OUAqMVwzHaDXis4I-nDZAS3ifqLSlRYPzdM3rt5QgF_wts-ZMYkP5AZqz-59jjkJuuw6bQ4LaI-6xhXtETpvaTtt8KWAbelFWpoXxoSOi8dgD1CTNZJ-7nobx-1pBdEcR1oG/s1600-h/DSC_0588.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" 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id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301893284509070866" /></a>Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-59641256678219416882009-02-11T16:15:00.000-08:002009-02-11T23:15:02.971-08:00"Tinkles and Poopoos"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSp-EhyRAaNJbBsA5aYsar6kRpoGobboTBW8RbdMyI7_82DeaRLTl9LpGsi_kchtUk6Ui-8pMPflXAm9DmzXZqQfonleOwXCAYVymX-6BCEaLMl1SCdDBr8ChS9qSLL3I4hdlI9y1_ToX/s1600-h/DSC_0611.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSp-EhyRAaNJbBsA5aYsar6kRpoGobboTBW8RbdMyI7_82DeaRLTl9LpGsi_kchtUk6Ui-8pMPflXAm9DmzXZqQfonleOwXCAYVymX-6BCEaLMl1SCdDBr8ChS9qSLL3I4hdlI9y1_ToX/s320/DSC_0611.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301698778376809266" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For those of you with weak stomachs, or with little to no interest in the downside of traveling in a foreign country with a small child whose toileting habits are relatively unknown, feel free to stop right here and come back tomorrow for a new blog entry extolling the wonders of Luke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(Because, trust me, this little guy has so many wonderful virtues to extol.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But for those who want to know the seamier side of things here in urban China and for those adoptive families who have walked this path before and know that things are not always easy in such situations, read on….<br /></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">First, a little background….Andy and I have done the diaper thing with many children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We have done the toilet training thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We have washed messy underwear after “accidents” and cleaned throw-up off clothes and stuffed animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s part of being a parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not glamorous, not fun, but part of the job description.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, lest anyone reading this think that I’m overly stoic and unmoved by the smell of puke or stinky poop, please know that this part of parenting is not my favorite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Nor Andy’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And so we were both very happy to learn that we were adopting a toilet-trained son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Good stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bonus.</p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">While visiting New Day I watched Luke use the potty along with his buddies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Really good stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yes, the nannies informed us, Luke is completely potty trained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Oh, by the way, we do get him up at midnight to use the potty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Oh, and by the way, we often get him up again in the middle of the night (or was it early morning?) again to use the potty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Twice during the night?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Andy and I asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yes, we were told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Hmmm…might not be sustainable for us, but let’s see how it goes, we thought.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We noticed that when Luke was handed to us in Beijing his nanny took a soggy diaper off his little bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hmmmm, I thought, but chalked it up to an unpredictable routine and uncharacteristic travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The order of his New Day Foster Home life had been disrupted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We would just have to work at reestablishing a routine of sorts to help out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">But just in case, the first night we decided to put a pull-up from the emergency supply we brought along, just in case….and sure enough, soggy diapers in the morning.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">No problem, we reasoned.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We didn’t get him up twice during the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The little guy was exhausted and needed uninterrupted sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were exhausted and needed some sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No problem.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next night we got him up around midnight and sure enough, the next morning, a dry pull-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We can do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One of us is usually still up around midnight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Maybe this whole supply of pull-ups taking up space in our suitcase will go to waste.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Time to head back to those adorable little boy undies.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ah, overconfidence in parenting is never a good thing, even with a sixth child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can verify, yet again, that pride really does go before the inevitable fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Today we went to Elephant Park, a beautiful area of walking paths and a Taoist temple on the edge of a lake.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The weather was unseasonably warm, and we could even sense a little sun through the smog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Truly the perfect day to enjoy a park.</p><p class="MsoNormal">We had been sticking pretty close to the hotel to keep things quiet and stable for Luke, to develop a bit of a routine, and to be near the all-important western toilet in our hotel room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If there’s one thing I really do not like, it is the Chinese squatty potty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And my experiences in the past have shown me that when traveling away from westernized hotels and thoroughfares a western toilet is often hard to come by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">However, emboldened by Luke’s potty successes of the past few days, we thought a trip to the park for a few hours would be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Just in case, we packed an extra pair of pants and a special pair of undies with trains on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Luke proudly wore the dark green pair with tractors and his khaki pants and doggy shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Out we strode, ready to enjoy Elephant Park.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We hadn’t been there too long when Luke suddenly grabbed his pants, hastily pulled them down and squatted on the stone path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Quick as a wink, our little boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No problem, I thought as I tried to react but felt as if I were in slow motion.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Chinese children do this all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">No problem, hadn’t we just the day before seen a Chinese man holding a small baby boy next to a tree on the roadside of a busy highway, encouraging the little guy to tinkle by freeing the important body part through a split in the clothing and making repetitive sounds that were, I think, supposed to elicit thoughts of running water….so this is how it’s done in China, no problem.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The problem, however, is that Luke has been taught to sit on a western toilet while tinkling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And so as he squatted in the middle of Elephant Park, with us, his parents, the only non-Chinese in sight, he very adroitly tinkled all over his tractor undies and khaki pants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>While we all squatted helplessly around him, realizing that the damage was done before we even had time to react.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hey, I reminded Andy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You’re the guy, the daddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think that if he is going to choose this method in China, then you need to teach him, you know, the guy way to stand and do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After all, you’re the guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I do girls’ hair and put in the bows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I pick out their outfits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think this little boy tinkling thing is in your department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Seemed reasonable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pass the buck, baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For the moment, we were congratulating ourselves on having the presence of mind to bring along a change of clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Great job.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No problem, this little tinkle accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Off went the wet undies and pants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I pulled out the tissues that I always have with me in China (just in case).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And on went the new clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I figured Andy could defer the tinkling lesson until we were in the privacy of our hotel room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So on we went, and soon were within the hallowed walls of the Taoist Temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Just as Andy was deep in discussion with our guide, Jenny, in answer to her question “Do you have any kind of religion?”, I noticed that once again Luke was pulling his pants down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ah ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know what this means.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And this time I was quick.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I mean, really quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m a fast learner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(See, there’s that pride thing again)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So as Luke squatted I pulled his pants and undies down around his ankle, away from the potential stream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But alas, our little guy can really squirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Another outfit, history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And this time there was no replacement.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our earlier parental pride was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What to do?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>How to save face?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How to get back to the hotel in such a state?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>How to keep up with the hand washing of the limited supply of clothing for Luke?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Once again, we stripped off the soggy clothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And we decided that it was time to say goodbye to Elephant Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So off we went, our formerly resplendent little guy now with only his jacket wrapped around his legs, little skinny totally adorable legs that they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Back to the hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Thank goodness for the Lovelast liquid detergent that I brought along!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is the best stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But I digress….</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Luke was merry as could be, completely unfazed by his many outfit changes, striding happily and with great confidence up the steps of our five star hotel with bare little legs and his blue Nike sneakers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Thank goodness his shirt was big enough to cover the important areas that were completely bare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Where does he get this confidence, this happiness, this sense that all is right with the world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is amazing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Andy and I were a little more battle-weary, a little less confident, and suddenly I was very glad I had brought the stack of pull-ups along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We agreed that when traveling away from the room in the future we should use the pull-ups rather than underpants, and wondered if our supply would last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who knew?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We lay Luke down for his nap with our new best friend, the pull-up, safely on his little bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We let him sleep for close to 2 hours, and then decided to wake him up so he wouldn’t be awake all night…besides, I would put him right on the potty to help reinforce the “right” way to do things after the morning’s “episodes”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No time to wake up slowly and possibly have another “accident”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had done this potty training thing before and knew the ropes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was a pro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I took my sweet and sleepy little guy and prepared to plunk him on the potty when I realized that his pull-ups were full of poopoos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Whoa!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That was a new one!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Up until this point he had been great about doing those smelly poopoos on the potty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Were we regressing in all areas?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Mayday!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Squishy poopoos everywhere!</p><p class="MsoNormal">I stoically began the clean-up process and wondered where to put the smelly pull-ups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I didn’t travel to China this time with those little blue baggies that smell so nice and help hide the odor of poopy diapers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I thought those days were over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sigh.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The good news?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Throughout all of this Luke didn’t grumble or complain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He stoically stood as I cleaned off his tiny little bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Happily jumped into the bathtub for yet one more bath (bonus! He seemed to be thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Another bath!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My lucky day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s all good.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Whereas Andy and I were thinking, where do we put this diaper?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Man, I’d forgotton how bad a poopy diaper smells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We are definitely going to run out of pull-ups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Wish we had packed more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, this sordid tale has a happy ending, as I suspect all stories involving Luke will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He’s just that kind of a little guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Andy cleverly carried the poopy pull-up down the hall to the conference room where, moments later, a room full of Chinese smoking heavily (on our non-smoking floor) would not even notice it….and I sat at the edge of the bathtub, watching Luke happily enjoying the bath, as if it were the absolute greatest thing in the world, this bath, this bathtub, our hotel room, my sitting next to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And so I had to grab my camera, to capture that moment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To remember that even though my original life plan had not included changing a poopy pull-up on a child of mine at the ripe old age of 49, that it really wasn’t all that bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In fact, looking at Luke’s merry little face, beaming up at me, it really was pretty good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Bonnie</p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_n0V75FCb86N3BkE3Cq-5TAntJ-MMc8OA2OY2JF4-Ja2AUj7JvxcHG2jrjJhKerObVNLkpHisAa8UmfQe39YhqqIElVbozuXVICj2QjYQKNUC79b-imZ391YOhL-Hvb9JfYahEE8SBAA/s320/DSC_0584.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301702963634621554" /> <!--EndFragment--> </div></div>Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-32395417737228288362009-02-11T01:28:00.000-08:002009-02-11T01:31:16.175-08:00Happy Birthday, Lily<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Today, February 11, 2009, is our daughter Lily’s 13<sup>th</sup> birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And here we are, thousands of miles away, longing to celebrate with her and let her know how special she is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sure, we had a party and cake and presents before we left.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But there is something about your actual birthday that begs recognition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And so, since we won’t be sitting at the dinner table in our home in Virginia with our birthday girl tonight, we will continue the Straka birthday tradition here on our blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I would like to focus on one of my favorite birthday traditions in our home: to go around the dinner table and ask each family member to say something about what is special to them about the birthday girl/boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love hearing the words of affirmation that are offered at each celebration; truly they are more important to me than any gift in a box or package.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So to you, our special Lily, I would say these things: I am glad you are my daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You are precious and a gift from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the 4 years and 3 months that you have been part of our family you have blossomed, grown, changed, and developed an inward beauty that has been a joy to behold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You have learned a new language, become part of a family, and found God.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You have given your heart to Jesus, and you will never be the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Your quiet strength, your heart of service, and your desire to do what is right are all things in which I marvel and rejoice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love how you show up in the kitchen to help at dinner time, how you give Aimee and Noelle baths and play “teacher” with them in your room, and how you offered to share your room with Luke when we bring him home.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lily, you have developed a strong work ethic that was not part of your life when you first joined our family.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You have excelled in school this year through your own hard work and determination; I love that you care about doing your best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love that you talk to me about things that go on in school, and I don’t just mean schoolwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Seventh grade can be hard in so many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love that you want to be kind and good and honest in your peer relationships, even in such a broken world in which we live, and even if it is hard to find someone else who wants to behave the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for the notes you sometimes write to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I save every single one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Your words are more precious than gold to me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And thank you for being willing to trust me, even with your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know it took a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There were a lot of reasons that trust has been hard for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I admire your bravery and your willingness to take this leap of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will do my best to be worthy of your trust.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lily Grace Taohong Straka, I love you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Happy 13<sup>th</sup> birthday.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">XO</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mom<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">XO</span></p>Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-52017668304316746512009-02-10T05:21:00.000-08:002009-02-10T06:05:47.444-08:00Adoption Day<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIgCWvqCD8Q8GlrzibkJFEkuEqfk3F3cN_9fxSgo_cGCfhLxEyB0sgOp_JOSAsmSy1LWrB_zDkim-eDkFZ5u5ZUS2Eoea_qj3cmpGSCYcsLyDwcPAibBHDhwReb7Y6QSIJDshXfDZ5DU6/s320/DSC_0485.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301167183041073538" /><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7hF1O992zD0jL-5okkgB9OI_STd8LrC41goGuSR0-2LP9dNokvkkV0-Cg0dcd3tGts9_GzGrjOr_qrKERLzhU3jVh-U_zrEaYldVCX1pITV6Xkzf12fYOTpatgU66y4AS-_jjvxe-1bu/s320/DSC_0437.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301160490349576258" /><br /><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7b8nV9ft5_erjQqK82QtpY-7-GOojKXJjraZWZ5oVnvd3EKdAVplahFvXU-913W4Z7rmmzG0JSnc7A7XmEPcqNEL5A7nFN74fVRmlEHSbGDMLs0ZgBZNEhZ1x17iW8-x16Eb72NuVvmp/s320/DSC_0431.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301160487836905250" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Yesterday Luke officially became a Straka.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We signed the forms, added our thumbprints to our signatures, paid our fees and promised multiple times to never abandon or abuse Luke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We told numerous officials that, yes, we did, in fact, “like the boy”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We told them that we loved him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We told them we would offer him the best medical care and educational opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We told them we would love him just as much as our other five children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A few handshakes, a few smiles, a few more photos, and a last stop at the local police station for a photo of Luke (new Chinese requirement), and Luke’s adoption became legal under Chinese law.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But really, Luke has been ours from the moment God opened our hearts to starting the adoption journey.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Or I guess it is really more true to say that he is God’s child, given to us to love and raise, and the privilege from here on is ours.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Let me tell you more about our Luke:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">He loves to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He specially loves noodles, dumplings and banana bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(So, Sarah and Straka ladies, count him in for our afternoon tea time with fresh banana bread!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Oh, and he loves chocolate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is a true Straka.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">He has the world’s best smile.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It lights up his entire little face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is an all-encompassing manifestation of the happiness of the moment, often accompanied by a little chortle of glee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We are seeing more and more of these smiles as Luke becomes more and more comfortable</p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqWuuLIl4AJqmh_2qZ1Va8I5QxMTStmq1rKhfQFSdHvGNsPhxu4twabty9lJiB4JRKiG7tTgsKRv7F_q3d5uqANkBqmxQR-VKwSM85gmIUFUKZ7POhXf9OSWx3Hg38AqEZ9JqWdel3BCz/s320/DSC_0473.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301160480175057074" />with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>His little eyes crinkle into half moons and he tilts his head back a bit, squinting up at us to see if we are willing to smile along with him…do we get how very good the particular moment is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Is our funny bone tickled along with his?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Are we with him in the midst of his mirth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One thing about Luke…he likes for us to join him in his emotions and activities. <p class="MsoNormal">Which brings me to the next Luke thing that I love: his little English expressions such as “Come on!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Come on!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>said typically with great enthusiasm as we are getting ready to head out our hotel room door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He looks around for both Andy and me and makes sure to grab both of our hands (he waited this long for us to get to China, he’s not going to let us go!) and then with a huge grin on his face urges us forward to the next adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s pretty amazing, really….he has no idea what is going to come next when we walk out that door, but he’s ready and pretty excited about whatever it might be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is capable of great enthusiasm and I like that.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I love his adventurous spirit and I marvel at his resiliency and ability to trust, even in the face of such huge changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He inspires me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I want to be brave, adventurous and resilient like Luke.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I love the way he hurries from one location to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We call it the Luke-skip-shuffle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is his own way of ambulating, kind of a combination of a skip and a gallop and a shuffle with a little hop thrown in for good measure here and there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is merry and suggests that good things will be waiting at the end of the journey.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Luke loves his dark blue GAP baseball cap that I brought from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He puts it on first thing in the morning and wears it all day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He sometimes takes it off to look at it, or maybe try it on my head or Andy’s head so that we can giggle together about how it doesn’t fit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But then it’s right back on Luke’s head, a few sizes too large so that it is impossible to see his eyebrows and sometimes even hard to see his eyes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When he has it on and wants to see us or talk to us he has to tilt his head way back just to see…it is so incredibly cute.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One of the memories of our first days with Luke I will always treasure is of a little boy, tiny in stature, with his too-large cap on his head, tilting his neck back to look up at us, or anyone else, for that matter.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Luke is not going to be a pants-sagging American boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is used to the Chinese way of hoisting his pants way up on the waist (with many layers underneath, of course).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And so even when I pull the waist tabs way in on his American-made pants, they fall down lower on his waist than he likes, so he goes around all day with one hand on his pants, tugging them up, and up, and up….today he is dressed in overalls and seems relieved not to have to be working so hard to hoist up those other pants!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Luke loves to wash his hands and brush his teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Thank you nannies at New Day for teaching him so well!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He has taken the task of hand washing and elevated it to an art form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is so tiny that he can’t reach the sink in our room, so we turn the baby bathtub upside down and he stands on that, perched at the edge of the sink for the hand washing experience. I learned very quickly that this is not a rapid event but more of a marathon type of thing that is to be enjoyed, experienced and exulted in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Here’s the technique: after wetting his hands, Luke gleefully grabs the soap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Next ensues a good minute or more of squishing the soap, dropping it in the sink and exclaiming each time “uh oh” with a huge smile on his face, grabbing it up again, and so </p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oGHE9uZF5pUPOqndpT45eO6ggbpuim9ejRbLCYpZzHaPj4pjxAhqIPLR69f3acxv2sZv4Lw1Mu1lQOKcZdbkD9bkrF3R9vzZmxKTp7aoY6ZVoi-rkMuifZOZiABgBQ62D-av8cDQzYiV/s320/DSC_0481.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301160470782475698" />on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><p class="MsoNormal">Eventually Luke allows himself to part with the soap, and then in true surgeon fashion rubs, scrubs and rings his hands over and over again, grinning the whole time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He loves this process!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Finally he will joyfully rub his soapy hands over and over again under the running water, escalating, if allowed, into seeing how far he can squirt the tap water across the sink and counter…at that point I typically turn off the water and announce “All done!” and it’s time to dry the hands and move on to the next exciting endeavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Never have I seen a child enjoy hand washing as much as Luke.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Luke is a very relational child.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He seems to be drawn much more to adults than children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He rarely passes by an adult without searching out eye contact and typically waving.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He rebounds quickly from the ones who don’t respond, and then moves on to the next person who might be a potential friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When his efforts are rewarded, and someone smiles back or talks to him, he is very pleased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What pleases me, however, is that he seems to know that Andy and I are the ones he needs to stick with, and even though he likes relating to others, he doesn’t run over and climb into the laps of strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When others hold out their arms to him he typically shies away, preferring to stay in the safe grasp of Andy or myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Even though deep attachment and bonding will take time, I love the fact that Luke already seems to know that we are the ones he needs to stick close to; we are his “Mama and Baba.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I marvel that this little boy can accept our love so readily and that he can turn around and trust us when we are still relative strangers to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Even during the brief time he wept after his nanny left him with us, he never once pushed me away in his grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As I held him and rocked him, he leaned into me, as if asking me to help take his pain away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He allowed me to love him at a time when he could have just as easily run to the other end of the room or railed against me for the confusion of the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Maybe this is part of Luke’s gift to us: to trust us when he doesn’t really know if we are trustworthy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And to allow us to love him, even in the face of grief and loss.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Bonnie</p> <!--EndFragment-->Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-71564196530591263122009-02-09T00:25:00.000-08:002009-02-09T00:41:18.795-08:00The Legend of the Green Foam Turkey: Luke Becomes Ours<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyInibGfeQb7kZMRX0ep0Cgdxa1yQPhGB76mPq2AdcWHkG6FZcezyS6p5Ct2XrXT2-xBjbYFL1EAr41flmXtX4SuG54hYyHiJrlIUElo_8wJLBA2VS9Il8HZL2iDkw1GekD2ellkI3UP28/s1600-h/DSC_0380.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyInibGfeQb7kZMRX0ep0Cgdxa1yQPhGB76mPq2AdcWHkG6FZcezyS6p5Ct2XrXT2-xBjbYFL1EAr41flmXtX4SuG54hYyHiJrlIUElo_8wJLBA2VS9Il8HZL2iDkw1GekD2ellkI3UP28/s320/DSC_0380.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300713301962004386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHY23nD9rpD47ZzcBqLvUoSY4f6n01PeF20hsMHPI419DNZOYpu5F3gCp9Os9DF6OLlNx99EeGXAgxGkUwsmhKmYLNsrj0T1MAZ7sE2BKwjPmlMxIp1LkyCDhp94wi0v_OX9MsTM5_4CQ/s1600-h/DSC_0378.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHY23nD9rpD47ZzcBqLvUoSY4f6n01PeF20hsMHPI419DNZOYpu5F3gCp9Os9DF6OLlNx99EeGXAgxGkUwsmhKmYLNsrj0T1MAZ7sE2BKwjPmlMxIp1LkyCDhp94wi0v_OX9MsTM5_4CQ/s320/DSC_0378.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300713297185130338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyU-3rpVj2tXhzM0R_kpzpy32F_bC1Xl5gy9doUala52Se21P0b0zrcRJvAGTGbNiIGVWAck6CGAT9zgvXB6cklqbe32jGDMxUdeNz7-vBFJ6Jo4v_VCEd0DDZRpyZ7TyQGcaEyR03xuzW/s1600-h/DSC_0379.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyU-3rpVj2tXhzM0R_kpzpy32F_bC1Xl5gy9doUala52Se21P0b0zrcRJvAGTGbNiIGVWAck6CGAT9zgvXB6cklqbe32jGDMxUdeNz7-vBFJ6Jo4v_VCEd0DDZRpyZ7TyQGcaEyR03xuzW/s320/DSC_0379.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300713295595636530" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">GreatWall's Nanchang guide Jenny brought Luke to our hotel room at 4:30 Sunday afternoon, accompanied by the assistant orphanage director and a nanny from New Day who had traveled with Luke all the way to Nanchang from Beijing by train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Luke had already gotten to know us a little at New Day, of course, but this was the official hand-off, the moment we would take custody of Luke. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">All went well with the introduction to the assistant director and the paperwork (much more to come at Civil Affairs tomorrow) and with our reunion with Luke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Soon, the inevitable moment arrived for the nanny to say goodbye, and the others all began leaving the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who knows what thoughts, what terrors, must have hit Luke then?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His smiling little face disintegrated into a wall of tears, he tried to run after his nanny, crying “Mama!, Mama!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Everyone beat a hasty retreat from the room, leaving us behind with the wailing, grieving Luke.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Mama!” he kept repeating over and over, in a hoarse little voice.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Who could blame him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Even though he knew we were to be his new parents, his three-year-old little heart had just been ripped away from the one remaining contact with the last two years of his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He had been left alone with us in a strange hotel room a thousand miles away from his time at New Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Old pro adoption parents that we are, (right, who ever really has a clue what to do in this kind of situation?) we resorted to holding Luke and rocking him, first Bonnie for several minutes, then I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We tried giving him food—a banana, cookies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We tried distracting him with toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We tried a Chinese cartoon on TV (Dad’s brilliant idea).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Nothing seemed to work.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Mama!....Mama!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Luke wailed on for another twenty or thirty minutes or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And we, at our wit’s end, about to join him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Hey,” Bonnie suggested.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“How about we try giving him a bath?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">So into the bathroom we flew to begin drawing hot water and big soapy suds, Luke still wailing away, his whimpers and cries now echoing off the tile and stone bathroom walls like some piteous torture chamber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(Lord knows what our hotel neighbors must have been thinking.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We stripped off his multiple layers of clothing (typically Chinese) and plunked his little scrawny self into the bath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This failed to end his cries, but at least they seemed to ratchet down a notch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That was the moment it started to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Bonnie had brought along a package of foam bath capsules like the ones our two little girls, Aimee and Noelee, love back at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With a surgeon’s skilled hands, she adroitly removed one from the wrapper and quickly handed it over to Luke to plunk in the hot water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He stopped crying for a moment and looked at it, fascinated.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bonnie showed him how to put into the water and begin swishing it around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Very soon, a little green foam turkey began to emerge from the capsule, much to Luke’s delight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“It’s working,” I said.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Bonnie smiled. “I think so.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The little green turkey progressed from plastic embryo to full-blown foam bath creature in short order.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Luke poked and prodded his new bathtub buddy around his miniature lake and soon began to discover that he really like this big tub and all these soapy suds floating around.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">At last, he looked up at Bonnie and me with his soul-searching eyes. Okay, he seemed to say, I’m with you guys now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For better, or for worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Love you, forever and forever.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';">Andy</span></p><span style="Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"> </span><!--EndFragment-->Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-69936341085515478812009-02-08T04:35:00.000-08:002009-02-08T04:44:12.949-08:00Beijing to Nanchang<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtK8ukcIMyHevwc_TDdy4sr0phq4yMoRQe2ijMvgpJfirgWwt7gf76N6ZTZPlsF-YpoXn6ai0_82xnjpmrX3_y7Sxct133VvTJ3FexvmKufIu7XthURppYNJrwEDtzYtjr6Az5uIDEA-1o/s1600-h/DSC_0094.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtK8ukcIMyHevwc_TDdy4sr0phq4yMoRQe2ijMvgpJfirgWwt7gf76N6ZTZPlsF-YpoXn6ai0_82xnjpmrX3_y7Sxct133VvTJ3FexvmKufIu7XthURppYNJrwEDtzYtjr6Az5uIDEA-1o/s320/DSC_0094.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300406351557634002" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">The rest of our time at New Day was filled with getting to know Luke and the other children, observing the routines of his little life, taking a visit into town with Doug and Sarah Grace and sampling the delicious Mandarin oranges, eating in the dining hall, being served breakfast each morning in the guest house kitchen, meeting and listening to Karen’s sister and brother-in-law and being awed and humbled by their life’s journey and ministry, helping Ellie (the New Day nurse) with medical care for the children, visiting a few foster families, and overall soaking it all in, trying to take mental pictures to last a lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Andy shot more video and I took a few photos the second day, but I found the kids were more open in approaching me if I didn’t have a camera in front of my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Each time Andy and I reappeared, Luke looked a little surprised and then a huge grin would cross his face and he would reach out his arms to be held and cuddled by one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yes, he really is a cuddly, sweet little boy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thank you Lord.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We also spent time here and there with staff members such as Carrie, who coordinates the sponsorship reports, Caroline, who coordinates all the visitors and volunteers, Doug, whose daughter was adopted from Leping SWI, and who is responsible for the relationship with the orphanage director there and hence the finding of Luke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lauren, as mentioned previously, is spending a year at New Day teaching preschool, and will be heading to college next fall.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They are all Americans with generous hearts and a love for God as well as the children and mission of New Day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What a privilege to count them as friends.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After lunch with Luke, many hugs, and final photos, we left New Day for a visit to the Heartbridge Unit at New Hope Foundation’s foster home about an hour away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were treated to an afternoon of touring the building, meeting many of the children, and getting to know Joyce and Robin Hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Joyce is a physician who oversees the care of many special needs orphans and has a tremendous ministry in China.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She helps coordinate the medical care of the 18 children who have beds on the second floor of the New Hope building and comprise LWB’s Heartbridge Healing Home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What a wonderful, colorful and peaceful place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As we wandered from one part of the building to another I was able to scoop up children here and there for a few moments of cuddling and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I kept looking for little Xin, a post-operative 2 year old little boy with congenital heart disease whom we have been sponsoring through our office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He has been doing so well that he has been moved downstairs so that he can play more with other children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I finally found him in the very last playroom we visited…there, through the glass I spied a darling little boy with a huge smile on his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He looked just like his photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I went into the room with Andy and Joyce, wondering if Xin would allow me to pick him up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No worries!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He literally ran up to me, arms outstretched (in full Luke mode), a huge grin on his face, eyes twinkling.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I scooped him up and danced around the room with him, stopping for a few photos just to document the moment (Wendy, I’ll get those to you when I’m home).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is darling!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What a gift he will be to his forever family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Another little life forever altered by the life-saving surgery that was funded and coordinated by LWB.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We lightened our suitcases even more by leaving medical supplies behind with Joyce, and then we bid our new friends goodbye and headed to our Beijing Hotel, the Poly Plaza, in the downtown area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We dropped our things off in our room and then headed outdoors, down the street, for a little “adventure” in nighttime Beijing….we perused the many restaurants and decided to have dinner at a place that was filled with Chinese, hoping that was a sign that the food was good and reasonably priced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were not disappointed, and enjoyed dumplings, an eggplant dish, chicken stew, and some type of beef sliced very thinly and coated in sauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I like eating in “local” hangouts when traveling, as long as there is a picture or English name next to the menu item so I don’t end up eating something that I will end up regretting….the Chinese have a very interesting and different array of meats and animal parts that seem to be widely available in restaurants and stores, and I’m just not that adventurous!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We decided to forego the Great Wall tour the next day (BTDT) in favor of spending a leisurely day exploring the area on foot, catching up on emails and blogging, and organizing our suitcases and life a bit in preparation for meeting Luke the next day in Nanchang.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Andy found a local cell phone and sim card that worked as my phone and the sim card we bought in the Beijing airport did not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I puttered around the local market and picked up a few trinkets but am saving most of my shopping/buying for Guangzhou.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We skyped our kids back home and caught up a bit with their lives and were happy to see that Chris and Julia had made the drive from Duke and were with the girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Thanks guys!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And thanks, Sarah, for your wonderful care of the girls during the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We were up very early this morning (Sunday) for a 2 hour flight from Beijing to Nanchang, the capital city of the Jiangxi Province.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Luke spent 3 months at the Leping SWI, in the northern portion of the Jiangxi Province, before being taken to New Day, so all his Chinese adoption paperwork will need to be completed here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We are staying at the Jinfeng Hotel, a beautiful 5 star hotel in downtown Nanchang.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We splurged by upgrading to a larger room than originally planned so that we have a king size bed for snuggling Luke and room for him to play as well as a large Jacuzzi tub where I anticipate that he will have some fun bath time enjoying the foam animal bath capsules we brought along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I remember how much Noelle loved those foam animals on our trip to adopt her last year.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A highlight of the evening routine.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We are waiting for our guide, Jenny, to bring Luke to our room any minute now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am not sure if we will also meet the orphanage director or anyone else, but being flexible is the key, and I am glad that they are bringing Luke to us rather than our having to travel somewhere outside the hotel to meet him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We know that he took the overnight train with a New Day staff member last night, and I bet he is tired and a bit overwhelmed with all that has gone on over the past 24 hours; certainly a break in his routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am so glad that he has already met us and that we will not be complete strangers to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will show him once again the photo album I pulled out at New Day and I also have a little set of cars for him to play with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So today, February 8, is Luke’s Gotcha Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Tomorrow will be his official Adoption Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We will meet with the local officials early in the morning to complete all the necessary paperwork and then will have the rest of the week to get to know each other and explore the local area until we fly to Guangzhou on Saturday Feb 14.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Valentine’s Day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(On a side note, I brought multiple bags of chocolate for the big day, not to mention before and after, because Heaven forbid I should be out of chocolate in a foreign country!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Or anywhere, for that matter….ah, chocolate, my comfort food.)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tomorrow is the last day of the Chinese Spring Festival (aka Chinese New Year), so the officials are very motivated to complete Luke’s paperwork first thing in the morning as they have the afternoon off work to celebrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have a new appreciation for the magnitude of this Chinese holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It lasts for weeks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Fireworks were going off all night long in Beijing both nights we were in the Poly Plaza Hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And since the room was quite warm and our windows were open to try to cool things down a bit, we really heard those fireworks!</p><p class="MsoNormal">Bonnie</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment-->Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-31595815545664019292009-02-07T21:22:00.000-08:002009-02-07T21:29:29.377-08:00More Photos Of Luke<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdPjTvmBcKq6u-PIAn6W4VOwQY_MPYOunpfWVSe4DkMzjVAo3Io5kPLzRWIrANf5WD05kQFsvfSuwiT9ofE7aKEAaEUimdPuA-lu8knbWGPlRlY8GV7vnDYZtJiK2wuJcCvf-1ZVGN9E0/s1600-h/DSC_0065.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdPjTvmBcKq6u-PIAn6W4VOwQY_MPYOunpfWVSe4DkMzjVAo3Io5kPLzRWIrANf5WD05kQFsvfSuwiT9ofE7aKEAaEUimdPuA-lu8knbWGPlRlY8GV7vnDYZtJiK2wuJcCvf-1ZVGN9E0/s320/DSC_0065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300294205317827618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUbddC-i5vavRkR6EfNYAMnCF_ZkVIsAzoQO-xPT1QFo1WPb9Qqe3HeIqhgLem2Pvka17C2AsbAhj344XRY6-JUiqshm72DU0UnU-h3jmHyfsDhz1j3AnlpHUOAeeQGhz2RPbUlsZbO6u/s1600-h/DSC_0090.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUbddC-i5vavRkR6EfNYAMnCF_ZkVIsAzoQO-xPT1QFo1WPb9Qqe3HeIqhgLem2Pvka17C2AsbAhj344XRY6-JUiqshm72DU0UnU-h3jmHyfsDhz1j3AnlpHUOAeeQGhz2RPbUlsZbO6u/s320/DSC_0090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300294202369116386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ38eGh0c7YPA2vLt-x5mP3-5ez57hjlzMjqYky70zDdNjdyIGSeFZSlxjk4YCLQM-W8F9k4JkOseqRJldPQW2a0szIr7rY-C56FuLTTzdXorFXNVQHmpvlGxa9CQy3GzYUB9r_C5_sPs/s1600-h/DSC_0267.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ38eGh0c7YPA2vLt-x5mP3-5ez57hjlzMjqYky70zDdNjdyIGSeFZSlxjk4YCLQM-W8F9k4JkOseqRJldPQW2a0szIr7rY-C56FuLTTzdXorFXNVQHmpvlGxa9CQy3GzYUB9r_C5_sPs/s320/DSC_0267.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300294196735949570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2awTEh5njzcX9TjDQnnl9LKp0mz2cUqzQlLmaCeB1uJmRt_QKLkxR8AtMjuGyveATAF7wOJ6ft3_cnhyDxs76N3abGD7IWpk6Flyw8i9JCx4frUEsaWBs9B3BeCykzzDEqgHH4-QUxUZ/s1600-h/DSC_0134.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2awTEh5njzcX9TjDQnnl9LKp0mz2cUqzQlLmaCeB1uJmRt_QKLkxR8AtMjuGyveATAF7wOJ6ft3_cnhyDxs76N3abGD7IWpk6Flyw8i9JCx4frUEsaWBs9B3BeCykzzDEqgHH4-QUxUZ/s320/DSC_0134.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300294191826926226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYo0gZyMVDR5tw5yxXYJF7KMe4SsK7oZPtvl6290RZPvlWf5p_ebfuThhLwoDtUGjtK55c4_OgOgPUQugrTOwnx-4e3XLwHE1pzUE3kf2Dn_bNRGxrBNjeSOkGEfWRIIsupyb_XBdftlj/s1600-h/DSC_0255.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYo0gZyMVDR5tw5yxXYJF7KMe4SsK7oZPtvl6290RZPvlWf5p_ebfuThhLwoDtUGjtK55c4_OgOgPUQugrTOwnx-4e3XLwHE1pzUE3kf2Dn_bNRGxrBNjeSOkGEfWRIIsupyb_XBdftlj/s320/DSC_0255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300294187741153490" /></a>Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-57503695024015781952009-02-07T21:14:00.000-08:002009-02-07T21:30:27.212-08:00The Beautiful, Brief Life of Paul<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmFzKeKaVaRP41gsr-gBqTAg9ibC4jDiTw2Fa9gOStBhSPBLZe4qNdT65Vo7N2XjXanrYrM2V6hpi_pzcR9oc1m2TKkUPiJoXpKkdaLYwG73fEdnKQLLAakUKv7SJ3a8nuxNdiGP7QTk-/s1600-h/DSC_0209.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmFzKeKaVaRP41gsr-gBqTAg9ibC4jDiTw2Fa9gOStBhSPBLZe4qNdT65Vo7N2XjXanrYrM2V6hpi_pzcR9oc1m2TKkUPiJoXpKkdaLYwG73fEdnKQLLAakUKv7SJ3a8nuxNdiGP7QTk-/s320/DSC_0209.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300291017587454466" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We have just stepped inside the door to the children’s wing of the New Day Foster Home outside Beijing with the Foster Home director, Karen Brenneman.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">In a moment, a mini-avalanche of precious, special-needs toddlers will come barreling toward us down the hall.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Among them, shyly at first, our new son Luke.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But on the wall up the stairs to our right, hangs a beautiful photo of a little Chinese boy standing in a wheat field wearing a straw hat who looks strikingly similar to our son-to-be.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This, we will soon come to learn, is Paul.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Paul lived at New Day for two years and was very special to all of his caregivers.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">He died from complications of heart surgery at a hospital in Beijing.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But his spirit lives on through Luke (who was originally given the name “Seth” by the New Day Staff after the biblical story of Seth who was born after the slaying of Abel by Cain) and through the dozens of other children still at New Day.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So we pause here for a moment on the threshold of introducing you to Luke in memory of Paul.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Luke and the Straka family are just one small part of the much greater story of the love and life-saving treatments provided here and at the New Day Healing Home by the incredible, faith-filled staff.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Luke and the Strakas are just one small part of the even greater story of the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the thousands of sweet, underprivileged children, their bodies broken but their beautiful souls intact, offered special grace through places like New Day.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We wish we could take them all home.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span> </span></span></p>Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-17967387760081373782009-02-06T21:02:00.000-08:002009-02-06T21:21:05.124-08:00First Hours With Luke<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhed5N_mv2ubsEjGwiOyGr85pnEStwt8C1nY2sFu7Sc4nsq03l-P6YADrGmqVnNogEfSNvjNX55fIi_dEy14q5AcB8r8Eh1dowvISt4ujJ3ARdQS-Iui2wpzKwhqcv8MTGNOI2ebaJOjnjx/s1600-h/IMG_0169.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhed5N_mv2ubsEjGwiOyGr85pnEStwt8C1nY2sFu7Sc4nsq03l-P6YADrGmqVnNogEfSNvjNX55fIi_dEy14q5AcB8r8Eh1dowvISt4ujJ3ARdQS-Iui2wpzKwhqcv8MTGNOI2ebaJOjnjx/s320/IMG_0169.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299919088043924594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try 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style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iDEKgPgvYqSzkQo1DADQi7aZJ4uBFN79ei-M-g9oH82jb4w8quK9k9OoxNCbSJ50DHujPatRQNBr1WujI6w6hU0AWkneM9XnqbiqXfCUsDg-n9v2uTiRPXkkVGjU3xPfy-79yYh-0zSj/s320/IMG_0150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299919081385488722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8UmABLUV4LeP_6G9VuBcP5o6OzzcV62U386YE_-TlSLeW9pa-INN3DH2NB7ENksoUvWor6ha45nlizliGodo5eDoGh_eWiAEa7Ti6Fmu_m6NUf91u15eCYgs412w1c2uYcprA9hIRa3l/s1600-h/IMG_0143.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8UmABLUV4LeP_6G9VuBcP5o6OzzcV62U386YE_-TlSLeW9pa-INN3DH2NB7ENksoUvWor6ha45nlizliGodo5eDoGh_eWiAEa7Ti6Fmu_m6NUf91u15eCYgs412w1c2uYcprA9hIRa3l/s320/IMG_0143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299918395496769298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvoxKF5NvAPOe5QNGpf-PcHfUxuVW17wQoQ5mTbve1TylcbrW2ISOBH0VQvKU_8f94EBIOb0V5at7JkPLsUzI5nNrP_OYfTBB7dD5a27PqPzdfoE-JhognEASOo2Ek2U0Cj_KnX4P5iW3/s1600-h/IMG_0087.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvoxKF5NvAPOe5QNGpf-PcHfUxuVW17wQoQ5mTbve1TylcbrW2ISOBH0VQvKU_8f94EBIOb0V5at7JkPLsUzI5nNrP_OYfTBB7dD5a27PqPzdfoE-JhognEASOo2Ek2U0Cj_KnX4P5iW3/s320/IMG_0087.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299917962632387074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1LDtn5-BtlPB-7ajPgyHkAuWQ_Rxd2l6PVQ4HyEZeh5ifuX0bJC5gl-_JBexPAP5bm1BrM-vnjmVhSf4qdzCWB9AzpnyRtrFxhPUhXvdYlpYCSmiu7BkZ1YfugNxTiMUH2yqQBZ90zmj/s1600-h/IMG_0045.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1LDtn5-BtlPB-7ajPgyHkAuWQ_Rxd2l6PVQ4HyEZeh5ifuX0bJC5gl-_JBexPAP5bm1BrM-vnjmVhSf4qdzCWB9AzpnyRtrFxhPUhXvdYlpYCSmiu7BkZ1YfugNxTiMUH2yqQBZ90zmj/s320/IMG_0045.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299917668032216866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGM3gue02Rc101y-eaIUN1MsurfciKo_8zkwYYStcqe6-LpkcYkP8OG5G1IddIjzhdOwBTDVc3YYfiELMZwGGHkKR4Ogb8_qe9ptDmOH9L1GPOCmIWw8CgBAkJ7pBMzPitLEOTMNwhATb/s1600-h/IMG_0022.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGM3gue02Rc101y-eaIUN1MsurfciKo_8zkwYYStcqe6-LpkcYkP8OG5G1IddIjzhdOwBTDVc3YYfiELMZwGGHkKR4Ogb8_qe9ptDmOH9L1GPOCmIWw8CgBAkJ7pBMzPitLEOTMNwhATb/s320/IMG_0022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299917295223740018" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After meeting Luke in the hallway we moved into the nearby playroom where several nannies were holding babies and playing with toddlers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Luke and his buddies trailed along with us,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>into the playroom, with looks of expectation on their faces.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The older children knew we were Luke’s mommy and daddy and that this was a big event.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I sat down in a corner of the room and pulled out a little photo album I had put together before leaving home.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There were photos of Luke in the beginning, and then photos of our home and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Luke’s initial shyness wore off quickly as he gleefully thumbed through the album and then settled on the fun activity of pulling individual photos out of their clear plastic holders and then re-inserting them, over and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Soon all the older children had crowded around to see the photos and to be part of the action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I marveled at the fact that Luke, our new son, was settled so happily in my lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That he was so light and tiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That he looked so incredibly cute in his carefully selected khakis and oxford button-down shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That he was meticulous and neat in the way he returned the photos to the album just so, in the right place, right-side up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What was he thinking?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How long would it take before he would know, really KNOW, that I would be his mommy forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That I would never leave him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That we could look at photos over and over and over again, time after time, year after year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">How long would it take before I would know, really KNOW, him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Before I knew who he was, in his entirety, what he liked and didn’t like, what made him happy or sad, how his mind worked, what made him laugh, how he was best comforted when sad or scared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">While these thoughts raced through my head, I looked around at the other children who were crowded around us, the children I had read about and whose photos I had looked at over and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They were adorable, beautiful, soulful; some were immediately engaged, asking to be held or cuddled; others hung back a bit, watching, waiting to see what would happen.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It struck me so forcefully how much each child needed to be sitting on the lap of his or her own mommy or daddy, looking at their own family photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can never get the faces of the children left behind out of my mind.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Soon it was time for preschool.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The older children ran happily down the corridor into the classroom, a brightly lit and colorful place with tables, chairs, toys, and a wonderful 2 story custom-built playhouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There are 2 teachers: Lauren is from Alabama and is taking a year off between high school and college to live at New Day and teach the children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sarah is Chinese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The 2 women alternate teaching the lesson; Lauren was in charge on the day we were there.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The children learned colors, numbers, songs and phrases in English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They sat around the table listening carefully as Lauren taught, waiting with their little hands folded for their M&M reward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When it was snack time, and a plate of cut up pears was passed around, Luke made sure that his new Mama and Baba each had a piece before he selected one for himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The children had lessons and songs interspersed with play time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was so much fun to watch Leah, Julia, Adah and Brett make a beeline for the playhouse where Brett hung out the window and grinned and the girls dressed and undressed their baby dolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Abigail, Luke and Olivia pulled out puzzles and toys and played at one of the tables with them while I roamed around taking photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When Luke noticed that Andy and I were not by his side he would find us, grab our hands, and gently lead us back to his side.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He had been waiting for us and did not want us to wander off! </p><p class="MsoNormal">The highlight of the preschool morning was when Andy carried in his laptop for Luke and his friends to see and talk with Kelci at the other end of Skype back home in Virginia. There was great excitement among the entire group as they crowded around the computer with the talking blond girl on the screen! We told Luke that this was his Jie jie, the oldest of 4, and that he would see her soon. I'm not sure what he understood, but I loved looking at his little face, earnest, serious, deep in concentration, as he sat on Andy's lap.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Bonnie</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-62267522060297576472009-02-06T18:04:00.000-08:002009-02-06T18:35:41.195-08:00Meeting Luke<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfDADvLpLEakubu9JaQiGuHMdmS435WwkrPdGbslnF8-rEUENhRPt3DjB0Uaqcx3gQus9Fzr-8YCBPX1z-5uIe9VXAk381Dfk-hPGGJilB6UxCvRR6HotJ5Xo8QyEEm_ZwLRsb7cHNr57/s1600-h/IMG_0021.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfDADvLpLEakubu9JaQiGuHMdmS435WwkrPdGbslnF8-rEUENhRPt3DjB0Uaqcx3gQus9Fzr-8YCBPX1z-5uIe9VXAk381Dfk-hPGGJilB6UxCvRR6HotJ5Xo8QyEEm_ZwLRsb7cHNr57/s320/IMG_0021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299877780019378626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-M8L319gDV1rB_O9Yr-rplntX01wIrVHI2KBTUrmGnMqyPLJngqnBaTa3eolFtHIYMMuA-GxTxp0h1CkOqd3oERjsN3NcGA92EnKc-T_koG-52gOnlLM4yAyGsM-33Pyq4wK9viGXrpe4/s1600-h/IMG_0018.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-M8L319gDV1rB_O9Yr-rplntX01wIrVHI2KBTUrmGnMqyPLJngqnBaTa3eolFtHIYMMuA-GxTxp0h1CkOqd3oERjsN3NcGA92EnKc-T_koG-52gOnlLM4yAyGsM-33Pyq4wK9viGXrpe4/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299877062155534962" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Here’s what we already know after spending a portion of a day with our new son.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He has a huge heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We’re not talking about his physical heart, which will need repair, but the grace of his spirit, the instant empathy and warmth he shows to others, the love and “old soul” understanding so evident in his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The night before, we had flown in late to Beijing from Tokyo and been met at the airport by a driver and our new friend Caroline, who has chronicled her special relationship with Luke (Ping Nan) while working as travel coordinator at New Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On the forty-five minute drive to New Day, Caroline told us story after story about Luke and how excited he was to meet us.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His nannies had apparently laid out four possible outfits for Luke to wear when he met us the next day, and Luke had chosen the button-down style yellow shirt and khakis—a young prep boy waiting to happen, if ever there was one.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We had been able to keep it together up until the moment we were getting ready to step over into the children’s wing to meet Luke for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That’s when nervousness and the natural questions hit.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Will this little guy be everything we have been given to expect?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Will he be frightened by our appearance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Will he be unruly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Or will he be overcome with the enormity of the change about to happen in his life, shut down his emotions and refuse to give us eye contact? </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Having been through this process so many times before didn’t seem to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If our experience has taught us anything, it is that each child is totally unique, and each situation unique, and it is sometimes dangerous to try to generalize too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Better to hope for the best and keep our expectations realistic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So there we were, standing at the entrance with Karen Brenneman, the Director of New Day Foster Home, on pins and needles.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">The door had only been open for a few moments and our shoes removed, when from down the hall came a flood of precious children, mobbing us like we were rock stars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">“Ping Nan!” we heard one of the nannies call out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“Your mama and your baba!”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">And suddenly there he was, the best-dressed elf in the place, staring at us from down the corridor among all the others, making his way rather tentatively toward us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We almost didn’t recognize him at first, so slight a figure in his clean khakis.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He went straight to Bonnie, stopping for a moment to look at her again, hesitantly holding out his arms to be hugged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She hugged and kissed him and looked across at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">“Mama.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Baba,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Simple as that.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">In an instant, we had added a new member to our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There are the necessary formalities of the paperwork yet to come, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But leave it to Luke with his little earnest face and outstretched arms to instantly capture our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Andy </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5896715990827112704.post-5283392055272896622009-02-01T20:33:00.001-08:002009-02-10T01:06:48.372-08:00Musings From A Mother's Heart<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Each adoption journey has been different for us.<span> </span>But each has been orchestrated by God, of this we are convinced.<span> </span>We thought we were finished having children after just one.<span> </span>We were happy, content, busy.<span> </span>Childcare was a struggle.<span> </span>I had a busy medical practice and Andy traveled quite a bit with his medical sales job.<span> </span>I couldn’t imagine how I would juggle things with another child.<span> </span>But then we had such a desire for another child.<span> </span>And when we had Kelci, 7 years after Chris, we couldn’t imagine life without her.<span> </span>Again, we felt complete, done.<span> </span>A son, a daughter, 2 careers.<span> </span>Who needed more?<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">But the dream to adopt from Asia, that has been part of me ever since I was a child, never vanished.<span> </span>And after over 20 years of marriage, Andy joined me in that vision.<span> </span>So, in 2003 we brought 10-month-old<span> Aimee home from China.<span> </span>She rocked our world!<span> </span>Not only were we back into diapers, but this child was by far our most active and energetic!<span> </span>Life was more than full.<span> </span>We were DONE having children.<span> </span>Three was clearly our limit!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">One night I sat down at the computer to pray for waiting children on an agency list as friends of ours were looking to adopt again, and we found Lily.<span> </span>We had only been back from China for 6 months with Aimee and hadn’t quite found a new equilibrium.<span> </span>We definitely were NOT looking to adopt again, but there she was.<span> </span>Trust me, God whispered to my heart.<span> </span>She will bring you joy.<span> </span>Trust me.<span> </span>She is yours.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">After a weekend of prayers, discussions and God’s Holy Spirit working overtime in our hearts (!), we moved forward in our decision to bring 8-year-old Lily home.<span> </span>We agreed that this was definitely it.<span> </span>We were at our limit.<span> </span>No more children.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">And then I heard about baby Susan at Starfish Foster Home in China.<span> </span>I was asked to pray for her, and so I did.<span> </span>I was amazed to learn that people all over the world knew about her and had contributed money for her heart surgery.<span> </span>I was awed at the number of prayers being offered up to God for her to find a family and for healing for her heart.<span> </span>I shared this with our family and we all agreed that she would be a big blessing to some family.<span> </span>It was while I was in church praying for her that God whispered again in my ear:<span> </span>she is yours.<span> </span>Bring her home.<span> </span>Trust me.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I argued with God during the entire sermon.<span> </span>I reminded him of how busy we already were, how we already had 4 children, how Andy would definitely NOT be on board with another adoption, how the kids had already stretched and accommodated a lot of change in the past few years and had less one-on-one time with me than in the past, etc etc.<span> </span>And then I realized how ludicrous it was that I was reminding God about all these things.<span> </span>Was He or was He not O mnipotent and Omniscient?<span> </span>Surely He knew all this, and yet He was still entrusting me with a precious child.<span> </span>Did I really want to follow Him, no conditions, or not?<span> </span>It was one of those huge epiphanies.<span> </span>A turning point for me.<span> </span>Nothing about trying to adopt Susan made sense on a human level.<span> </span>But where was my faith, my desire to follow God in all things?<span> </span>I had to choose.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">When I walked out of church that day I had chosen:<span> </span>to follow God no matter what.<span> </span>And that meant doing everything I could to bring Susan home.<span> </span>I shared my heart with Andy, who did not share my vision at all.<span> </span>He promised to pray about it, and for the next several weeks we both prayed and continued to feel very differently about the situation.<span> </span>Andy felt that God was calling him to be a good steward of the family we had, while I felt God urging me onward in faith to bring Susan home.<span> </span>We both knew we had to be in agreement before adding another child to our family, so I waited (not very patiently, knowing how sick Susan was) and prayed.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Finally, after a family meeting and lots more prayer, Andy felt God calling him to support my desire to bring Susan home, and we jokingly called it “our plunge into insanity!”<span> </span>Bring it on, I thought, and I jumped into the paperwork.<span> </span>I exchanged numerous emails with Amanda, Susan’s foster mother, and was so grateful for the love she poured into our little one.<span> </span>We all started to picture our life with Susan, with a 5<sup>th</sup> child.<span> </span>Our dinner table felt empty without her.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">And then the bottom fell out of our world when we learned that she had died from complications of her heart disease.<span> </span>We loved her so; moving forward without her was hard.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">In the midst of our grief I was sent an email by another adoptive mom with information about a little girl, about the same age as Susan, who had mild heart disease and needed a family.<span> </span>Would we be interested?<span> </span>Andy and I prayed about it, and wondered if maybe part of Susan’s legacy was to lead us to this new child.<span> 20</span>We said yes, and moved forward with a different agency to bring Mandi home.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I put Mandi’s photo next to one of Susan and resumed the paperwork.<span> </span>We worked on preparing our hearts for this new child.<span> </span>I was comforted by the fact that she had mild heart disease and longed to hold her in my arms.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">And then we received a call from our new agency telling us that Mandi had become very ill and died quite suddenly and unexpectedly from a massive heart attack.<span> </span>Apparently her heart disease wasn’t as mild as expected.<span> </span>This was a huge shock to us, and once again we grieved deeply.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Andy and I couldn’t even talk about adoption for awhile.<span> </span>But at some point we had to decide what to do about the paperwork that was once again on hold.<span> </span>While spending the day driving back and forth to Northern Virginia for the umpteenth FBI fingerprinting appointment, we talked about where we felt God leading us.<span> </span>We both agreed that our hearts were open to adopting still, but we didn’t feel that we should search for a child.<span> </span>Rather, we agreed to be open to adopting if we felt God sent us the child, as He had with Susan and Mandi.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">So we went home and prayed and waited.<span> </span>In the spring of 2007 we were sent information about a group of waiting children who needed families.<span> </span>One little girl in particular stood out, although I ended up deleting the email as I could not imagine starting the paperwork for the adoption with yet one more agency.<span> </span>I figured that if God had a child for us then He would send him/her through one of the agencies we already had worked with and who had our paperwork.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">But I am still learning about how God works, and He works without limitations!<span> </span>A few weeks later I received another email from the same agency reporting that 21 of the 30 children had found families, but there were 9 still waiting.<span> </span>I looked again at the children, and found that the little girl who had grabbed my heart was still waiting.<span> </span>I don’t know why I was drawn to her:<span> </span>she was older than Susan and Mandi and I really=2 0wanted to adopt a baby this time around.<span> </span>She had a special need that was scary to me.<span> </span>I don’t know much about neurologic diseases in children, and the fact she couldn’t walk was a significant issue for our family.<span> </span>She looked sad and forlorn, with short cropped hair.<span> </span>She was wearing a bright pink jacket in her photo and was propped up at an awkward angle against a bench for the picture.<span> It was clear she didn't have the balance or muscle strength to stand on her own. </span>Why could I not get her out of my mind?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I finally asked Andy to look at her information with me, fully expecting him to say no.<span> </span>But all he wanted to know was her age (3 was good for him as he did NOT want to go back to the diaper stage!), and then he said, “Let’s adopt her”.<span> </span>But then he added “But this it IT!!!!”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">We brought Noelle home November of 2007 and have been blessed beyond measure by the sweetness of her spirit.<span> </span>Truly each of our children has been the exact one we were meant to have, and we are thankful that God has given us each one.<span> </span>How we would have missed out if we had said “no8 0 to any one of them along the way!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">But we really did think we were done after Noelle.<span> </span>Truly.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Our journey to Luke began when I read last May that a special little boy needed a forever family.<span> </span>We were not looking to adopt another child.<span> </span>Our lives were full, our home filled to overflowing, and we felt “complete”. We had brought<span> </span>Noelle home from China 6 months before and had finally found a medical diagnosis for her after months of doctor’s visits and testing.<span> </span>We had just moved my medical practice to a brand-new location after a long and involved building project, and I was looking forward to a little time without any major changes on the home or work fronts.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">And then I read “I know a special little boy that needs a forever family.<span> </span>He is at the New Day Foster Home in Beijing and his name there is “Seth”.<span> </span>He has Tetralogy of Fallot – a serious heart disease – and has had one surgery alre ady to correct this.<span> </span>He is absolutely gorgeous and precious…..Please pray for this little one to find a home.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I am passionate about waiting children finding their families, and I always pray for these little ones when I hear about them.<span> </span>If there are photos or specific information, even better.<span> </span>I can pray more specifically.<span> </span>I love when individuals advocate for a special child;<span> </span>it never ceases to amaze and inspire me how God often uses one person to lead another family to their forever child.<span> </span>So, when I read this about “Seth”, I started to pray for him and his forever family, whoever and wherever they were.<span> </span>I also was curious about New Day Foster Home, and discovered they had an amazing website, with information about Seth and all the other children with medical needs whom they help.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I started to feel that sense of mystery and holiness that are part of all adoption journeys.<span> </span>I prayed often for this little boy, and found myself checking the New Day website periodically for new photos of him.<span> </span>I even wrote to Karen, the director, for more information about him.<span> </span>And the more I prayed, the more I started to feel that God was quietly and persistently impressing upon my heart and spirit that we were to be this little guy’s forever family.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I contacted the adoption agency that had his file.<span> </span>I found out that there had been several families who had been interested in adopting Seth, but had backed out after having a doctor review his medical information.<span> </span>So now the agency was being more careful about handing over his file, looking for a family who could commit to him in the face of his serious medical condition and unknown future.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I was asked to fill out a questionnaire with answers to questions such as: What do you feel is the worst case scenario of his condition either prior to the adoption taking place or even after he has come home?<span> </span>If his next surgery goes well and his family is able to bring him home, what sort of resources (medically and emotionally) do you have available to help with his care?<span> </span>What support systems do you have in place that would allow you to deal with the worst case scenario?<span> </span>What do you20feel you would struggle with most?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Filling out this questionnaire brought back such vivid memories of Susan and Mandi.<span> </span>I wrote in my answers about our journeys to bring these little girls home, and how each had died in China of complications of their congenital heart disease before we could bring them home.<span> </span>I could answer from experience what things enabled us to move forward from the pain and grief of loss, what support systems ministered to us, and how our faith in God’s goodness, even in the face of indescribable pain, endured and was strengthened.<span> </span>I wrote about how we were led to Noelle, in a mysterious and miraculous way, and how we were willing to take the leap of faith to adopt an almost 4-year-old child with an unknown neurologic problem.<span> </span>And how Noelle has been such a blessing to us, a gem of a child, sweet, loving, bright, beautiful, inside and out.<span> </span>Loving and losing Susan and Mandi were defining moments in the life of our family.<span> </span>Defining moments in my personal journey and in my relationship to God.<span> </span>And the gift of Noelle has been a sweet blessing to us after crushing loss.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I have learned that my life is not my own.<span> </span>I cannot prevent loss.<span> </span>As a physician, I could not heal Mandi or Susan.<span> </span>But I could be faithful to God’s call to bring Noelle home.<span> </span>At some point along the way I let go of what I thought I should be doing with my life, and asked God for strength for the day, sometimes for the moment, and wisdom and guidance to follow His will.<span> </span>I pray every day for His discernment, for courage to follow where He leads (which often seems to be in areas that go against my human desires!)<span> </span>and for faith to trust Him more than my own human mind and heart.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">So as I filled out this questionnaire for Seth, and as I prayed about this little boy, I begged God to open the door for us to add him to our family if that were His will, and to close the door if He had picked a different family out for Seth.<span> </span>I tried to guard my heart from falling too much in love with this little guy, in case we were not able to bring him home, but the more I learned about him, the more I realized I had already fallen head over heels in love with him.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">It a lways amazes me how deep the love can be for a child that is waiting, a child that the waiting family has never physically held, a child who can be thousands of miles away, born of another mother, living in another culture…it is a profound mystery and really quite holy and wonderful.<span> </span>I fell in love with Seth the same way I did with Chris and Kelci when I was pregnant with them, and the same way I did with Aimee, Lily, Susan, Mandi and Noelle, when I was waiting to bring them home from China.<span> </span>It is an unbelievable, powerful, inescapable love.<span> </span>A love that would cause me to give up all else for them.<span> </span>A bond that cannot be severed, a longing that is deep and intense.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">When we were told by the agency that they were releasing this little boy’s file to us, my heart leaped with joy and I felt like the luckiest, most blessed woman on earth.<span> </span>To be given the privilege of raising this sweet child, our first son born in China, was almost overwhelming to me.<span> </span>God had surely opened this door, and as if in confirmation, the next Sunday’s scripture reading at church was one of my very favorites:<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">But now, this is what the Lord says-</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">He who created you, O Jacob,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">He who formed you, O Israel:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Fear not, for I have redeemed you;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I HAVE SUMMONED YOU BY NAME; YOU ARE MINE.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">When you pass through the waters,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I will be with you;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">And when you pass through the rivers,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">They will not sweep over you.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">When you walk through the fire,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">You will not be burned;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">The flames will not set you ablaze.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">DO NOT BE AFRAID, FOR I AM WITH YOU;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I WILL BRING YOUR CHILDREN FROM THE EAST</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">AND GATHER YOU FROM THE WEST.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I will say to the north, “Give them up!”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">And to the south, “Do not hold them back.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">BRING MY SONS FROM AFAR</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">AND MY DAUGHTERS FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH-<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Everyone who is called by My name,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Whom I created for My glory,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Whom I formed and made.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Isaiah 43:1-2 and 5-7 (caps added by me)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I felt as if God were speaking directly to me:<span> </span>“Bring your son home!<span> </span>Bring him home from afar!<span> </span>Do not worry! Do not be afraid of his heart disease, of the unknowns, of adding a 6<sup>th</sup> child to an already busy life, of the finances, of anything!<span> </span>I will be with you.<span> </span>I am with you.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">We jumped into the paperwork involved with an international adoption (ugh….so many hoops through which to jump, more of the same forms over and over again, 6<sup>th</sup> FBI fingerprinting, just in case our fingerprints somehow changed!), always with the vision of our little boy in mind.<span> </span>We decided to name him Luke, “bringer of light ”.<span> </span>New Day changed his name from Seth to Luke so he could start getting used to it.<span> </span>When we received preapproval from China, New Day told Luke he had a family, and we sent him a box of goodies and photos.<span> </span>We received photos back of a very happy little boy looking at the photos we sent!<span> </span>And we were told that Luke is very excited to have a family.<span> </span>It is so wonderful to know that he is being prepared for us, and that should help so much with the transition.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">We have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have contacted us about Luke to tell us how sweet and loving he is and how much he has touched their lives.<span> </span>We are amazed by the kindness of others who have loved him, sponsored his surgery and care through financial contributions and gifts, and reached out to us as we have waited to bring him home.<span> </span>Lynn and her family raised money for Luke’s monthly sponsorship by making and selling beaded bookmarks.<span> </span>(She met Luke in March 2007 when he was at the Leping SWI in the Jiangxi Province right after he was abandoned and he was very ill and sad.<span> </span>His little face so touched her heart that she tracked him down to the New Day Foster Hom e and has been sponsoring him ever since).<span> </span>She wrote me “We wanted to let you know that our thoughts and prayers have been with Luke and that we do have some pictures of him in Leping if you are interested.<span> </span>We thought you might be interested in a tiny bit of his story and thought you would like to know that people here in Burlington, Canada have had him in their prayers!”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Lori, who wrote the information about Luke looking for a forever family, met him at New Day in May 2007 when they were adopting in China and she did some medical volunteer work there.<span> </span>She too fell in love with him and has been his sponsor and advocate.<span> </span>She wrote to me:<span> </span>“Seth is just miraculous.<span> </span>He was abandoned at almost two – really sick when I first met him – yet so loving, so sweet and such a fighter.<span> </span>He has a spark of life in him that I haven’t seen often – in spite of all he has been through, he perseveres and isn’t spoiled or “bitter” or whiny.<span> </span>He was so grateful for every little thing or every little affection shown to him.<span> </span>He is obviously quite smart and liked playing games with me.<span> His smile could light up a city.<span> </span>I would do almost anything for that kid and I really do love him.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Bekah, a college senior with 6 younger siblings, including 3 adopted from China, fell in love with Luke in the summer of 2007 when she was on a short-term missions trip at New Day.<span> </span>She wrote: “Seth actually caught my eye before I went on that trip, when I was looking at New Day’s website.<span> </span>Then when I met him in person, I just couldn’t get enough of him.<span> </span>Two weeks at New Day was definitely not long enough for me, but I happened to be there at just the right time to be the main factor in Seth learning how to walk after he gained strength back from his 1<sup>st</sup> surgery.<span> </span>Sarah, the preschool teacher at New Day, told me this summer that after Seth learned how to walk last summer, his confidence skyrocketed, and he started excelling everywhere else.<span> </span>Needless to say, after I was able to help him walk on his own and watch those first steps, he had my heart forever.<span> </span>I started sponsoring him after I got home last summer.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Bekah received a grant from her college and was able to spend 2 months at New Day this past summer.<span> </span>She has shared many stories of her time with Luke, all of which are precious gifts to us.<span> </span>She and her mom put together a photo album of photos of Luke from the 2 summers that Bekah was there and it is one of my most prized gifts ever.<span> </span>Both Bekah and her mom, Vicky, had been praying since May 2007 for God to lead this little boy to his forever family. Vicky wrote me that she had specifically been praying that Luke would be placed into a large family who knew and loved God.<span> </span>She also prayed that Luke would have siblings from China.<span> </span>She ended her letter to me with these words:<span> </span>“I will pray for your travels to Luke and for his transition into family life.<span> </span>I will also pray for his heart- physically, emotionally, and spiritually.<span> </span>Sincerely, Vicky (AKA Bekah’s Mom and adoring prayer warrior for Luke)”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Each month we receive a copy of the sponsorhip report from New Day.<span> </span>The comments are always so wonderful to read!<span> </span>Here are a few excerpts:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">June 2008:<span> </span>“Now that Seth is 3, he goes to preschool earlier every day.<span> </span>He loves to go to the classroom; he always runs to it so that he can be the first one.<span> </span>Music classes are his favorite.<span> </span>He likes to sit in the chair close to the TV when the children’s sing-along video is playing.<span> </span>He always sings, and sometimes he’s the only one!”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">July 2008: “His favorite food is watermelon, and he eats more watermelon than all the other children.<span> </span>He is a young man who is happy every day.<span> </span>He loves attending school.<span> </span>He follows the teacher’s instruction well, and he is able to put puzzles together and tidy up his toys.<span> </span>He likes riding his bike, especially when someone is pushing him around while he is on it.<span> </span>He also loves to swim in our big swimming pool in the backyard.<span> </span>Spending time on the swings is one of his other favorite activities.<span> </span>He is a clever boy who knows how to brush his teeth and wash his hands after lunch.<span> </span>Seth is such a delightful young man and is a joy to have around.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> ;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">October 2008: “This month Luke has been very cheerful and more talkative than before.<span> </span>He says hello to guests when they come and plays games with them.<span> </span>He has his own games in the game room and likes to put some toys into the larger toy car and say “Are you ready? We will go now little brother!”<span> </span>Luke sings, dances, and plays games with the other children, and he is very happy every day.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Nov 2008: “Every time he (Luke) sees a plane flying above, he will point it out to me and say, “I will be up there some day to find my real mom in America!”<span> </span>I hope he is able to go home soon.<span> </span>He’s a very capable little boy and likes to do many things by himself.<span> </span>He can name his body parts and tell you his age by holding up the right number of fingers.<span> </span>Every morning, he sings children’s songs with other kids.<span> </span>He always has a song in his heart, and he’s full of life and joy.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">We have received precious emails from staff at New Day.<span> </span>Carr ie, who coordinates the sponsorship program, wrote “Luke has been so cute lately…he is SO EXCITED about having a family.<span> </span>We printed and laminated your family photo so that he could keep it with him.<span> </span>He looks at it a lot, and he loves to tell all of us about you.<span> </span>When we ask him if he has a mom and dad and brother and sisters, he says yes.<span> </span>I think he’s memorized your faces already….he has so much love in his little heart…it is precious to see.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Caroline is the Foreign Relations Director at New Day and has been<span> </span>there for about a year and a half.<span> </span>She is helping us to arrange transportation and housing while we are visiting.<span> </span>She wrote this to me about Luke: “He has touched and blessed my heart more than I can say. He is the sweetest, most tender and loving little boy I've ever known. Lately he and I have been waltzing a lot in the playroom. He calls it "1,2,3" in English because we count the steps. You'll love the way he holds your face in his hands before giving you a kiss. You'll love how he does puzzles upside down once rightside up gets too easy. He loves "This little piggy," but not on his toes - on his fingers.& nbsp; The first day he found out he had a family, he pulled me into his room to show me the photo album you'd given him. He talked a mile a minute and my limited knowledge of Chinese just couldn't keep up with him. But I remember him saying things like, "My sisters blow bubbles!" "My brother is so tall!" "My mom is so pretty!" and "My dad has GLASSES!" (he loves glasses). I feel a little silly telling you all these stories because you'll soon be learning all these things first hand - and so much more. I've been praying for his forever family for so long - and from all I've heard about your family, I just know Luke hit the jackpot.<span> </span>I can't tell you how excited I am that he'll soon be going home.’’</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I am completely overwhelmed and grateful for this outpouring of love for our little guy!<span> </span>He sounds like the cutest little boy ever, and I can hardly believe that in a few short days he will be in my arms!<span> </span>We have felt so supported during our adoption journey by the staff at New Day as well as the Great Wall staff.<span> </span>Stephanie is the waiting child coordinator, and has been a cheerleader for Luke right from the very beginning.<span> </span>I love sending her information I receive about Luke because I just know tha t she loves him dearly.<span> </span>It is wonderful to have an agency advocate like Stephanie.<span> </span>She wrote: “We were all giggling in the office yesterday over the comments on him.<span> </span>What a darling!!!<span> </span>I really cannot communicate to you clearly enough how much everyone in this office has him in their hearts.<span> </span>There are a few of us that have one of his pictures set to our desktops because you just can’t help but smile when you see him. <span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span>J</span></span><span> </span>He always starts my day with a smile!”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Karen Brenneman is the director of New Day Foster Home and is an amazing woman.<span> </span>We had the opportunity to get together with Karen and her husband Byron over Christmastime when they were in the states as Byron’s family is also from Virginia.<span> </span>They have such a wonderful ministry in China.<span> </span>Karen has a huge heart for the children and New Day has helped over 100 Chinese orphans find forever families.<span> </span>You can read all about New Day at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.newdaycreations.com/foster" style="cursor: pointer; color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">www.newdaycreations.com/foster</a>.<span> </span>I am so looking forward to spending a few days there at the beginning of our adoption=2 0trip.<span> </span>In addition to meeting<span> </span>Luke and learning about his life there we will have the opportunity to meet the staff and the other children.<span> </span>Can’t wait to hug them and give them lots of love!<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Karen does so many wonderful things to help the children prepare for their new families.<span> </span>She wrote recently:<span> </span>“Today I did a countdown calendar for Luke. He was so excited when I gave it to him....he was running around showing everyone.<span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">We went over how soon you were coming and put a sticker on today's date to show that one was done. We will do this each day till you come.”<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">So the day after tomorrow, Tuesday February 3, we will leave Charlottesville for China.<span> </span>And on Thursday, February 5 we will hold Luke in our arms.<span> </span>The end of this particular paperchasing journey.<span> </span>And the beginning of our journey with Luke as our son.<span> </span>Please pray for us, for Luke and for our 5 children at home.<span> </span>Join us, if you’d like, as we write about our trip over the next few weeks on our blog.<span> </span>Thanks to so many of you who have loved us, supported us, and prayed for us on this journey.<span> </span>To God be the glory!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">Bonnie</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">2/1/09</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> </div></div></span>Linkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759727404517025710noreply@blogger.com20