Wednesday, November 15, 2006

China. It is hard, and a little bit sad, to believe that our time in this country is nearly at an end. We have only two full days left here before we get on a plane and head home. It doesn’t seem like enough time to see all that we still want to see.

I’ve been reading adoption blogs for so long that I had both great and low expectations for our travels here. I came prepared for everything to go wrong, to be flexible and “go with the flow,” to be prepared for the poverty and the extraordinary natural riches we’ve seen.

Wise counsel from those who have BTDT (been there, done that) encouraged us to get off Shamian Island and see some of the surrounding city, to visit our daughter’s orphanage (no matter how difficult it would be), to take time to talk with the residents here, and to not wish our time in China away because we’re longing for home. If you’re in the process of adopting, and are waiting for your referral, I would offer you the same advice I took from the many, many people who shared their own stories.

We have seen some of the most beautiful sights you can imagine. We have also seen some of the poorest neighborhoods you can imagine (probably even worse than you can imagine). We have enjoyed almost every minute in this beautiful country.

Our journey to adopt Katie has been a long one. It started as a dream over six years ago, and became a reality just over one week ago. The journey is hard. It is emotionally exhausting. It is financially draining. It is worth absolutely every prayer, dollar, tear and wish that you have made. It sounds like a cliché, but it is absolutely true: you will forget all of the anguish of the wait, once you hold YOUR child in your arms for the first time, and when she smiles at you, and reaches for you, you know you would do it all again in a heartbeat just for her.

We have been blessed with four wonderful children. Three were born to us, one we had to wait for. Each one is a blessing from God, our Heavenly Father, and we treasure all four of them. We have watched our boys adore Katie, argue over whose turn it is to hold her, find his own unique way of making her smile and laugh, then watching her respond to them in ways that would melt your heart. All three are wonderful big brothers to this special little girl.

Since it is just one week until Thanksgiving, and because we are incredibly thankful for our family, and because we will be home for Thanksgiving Day, a uniquely American holiday, for Katie’s first birthday, and for Christmas, here are some thoughts from a mother’s heart.

I am so thankful we heeded wise counsel (and our own hearts) and brought our boys along with us to meet their sister, and to see the country of her birth. I am very glad that we were in a financial position to bring them, and I am so happy that all of their teachers and school administrators were so supportive and enthusiastic when we pulled them out of school for over two weeks for this trip. I know the boys will have unparalleled memories of their “trip of a lifetime.”

I’m also incredibly thankful that the CCAA matched us with the perfect child for our family. Of all of the babies in China, they picked one who unequivocally “fits.” We’re thankful to God that she seems to like us as much as we love her, and lights up and reaches for us when she sees us. We are thankful for every spontaneous grin, giggle and belly laugh, as we know how much Katie’s life has changed in such a short time, yet she is able to bond with us. We know that there are many instances when the bonding doesn’t go as smoothly for families as it has for us.

We are thankful that Katie has been healthy, and that the minor issues she had have resolved themselves. There are many babies, including some in our travel group, that are really sick, and whose parents are worried about traveling home with a very ill child. Please pray for baby Emme and for parents Mike and Bianca.