Sunday,
February 3, 2007
OUR FIRST MONTH WITH SOPHIA
After a month at home as a family of five we are amazed by
the grace God has shown to our family. We find it
difficult to describe everything that has transpired thus
far, but often feel like singing “How Great is Our God.”
All five of us have been blessed, challenged and changed
permanently over the past six weeks.
Our family arrived home on the morning of December 29th
after traveling for about 32 hours from Guangzhou to
Beijing to Chicago to Nashville to Home. Although everyone
had a great time on our trip, we were very happy to be
home at last. The blessing of having Sophia with her
Forever Family is indescribable. She is a precious child
that we can’t imagine not having as a part of our family.
She is a delightful girl, who is full of personality and
has a smile that can light up a room. She is also quickly
getting our whole family wrapped around her little finger,
especially her big brothers. We feel so blessed to have
family and friends that have expressed their love through
their prayers for our family and through many other acts
of kindness before, during and after our trip. We were
challenged in many ways on our trip by lack of sleep,
different food and just the thought of being so far away
from home. Fortunately during our stay in China everyone
remained healthy easing our concerns of being away. On our
return trip, unfortunately Graham was sick the entire
flight from Beijing to Chicago. It was a difficult leg,
but Graham toughed it out. Although he was still weak, he
was feeling better by the time we made it home.
The first several days of being home presented a
tremendous challenge of recovering from our trip and
adjusting to our new family of five. We did not get to
catch up on our sleep quickly due to all of us still being
on China time. Sophia particularly was challenged by
having her schedule literally turned upside down. Like
with everything else thus far, she showed how great of a
baby she is by still being in a great mood even though
everything she had ever known had changed. God never
promises us that our road will be easy and this experience
has been one of the most challenging we have ever
experienced, but through it all God has provided
everything we needed to make it through.
The way Sophia has responded is also further proof that
Love truly does conquer all. It is hard for us to imagine
losing everything that is common to us, but whether in
China or now at home she has developed a bond to each of
us. She still likes to be able to see one of us at all
times, but in time she will understand in her little heart
that she is loved and that her forever family will always
be there for her. Sophia is also amazing us with
everything she has learned in such a short period of time.
She will try to say several words already and will melt
your heart when she tries to blow you a little kiss. She
is also already trying to stand up while holding on to
something. At first she couldn’t move around at all, but
now she can roll and crawl around quite easily.
We have also had a wonderful time introducing Sophia to
all of our family and friends and sharing “Our Little
Blessing”. She quickly has captured the hearts of many
people who have gotten to witness the fulfillment of God’s
promises for our family. We were also thankful to be able
to celebrate Sophia’s 1st Birthday with everyone twice,
once at church on January 20th and again with family on
January 26th. Debbie is certainly having a great time with
all of the pink and all of the frills and doing my best to
make sure that she is a spoiled little Daddy’s Girl. The
boy’s reaction to their little sister continues to be one
of the best parts of our story. Amazingly they have yet to
show any signs of jealousy unless it is related to who
gets to sit the closest to their little sister. Last week
both asked if they could give Sophia her bottle at bed
time and carefully rocked her while she took her bottle.
There is no greater expression of love than from a child
and I think she clearly feels the love that each have
shown her thus far. |
Friends are friends forever
Surrounded by a loving family
Graham rocking Sophia
Blessed! Three Times Over
Mommy's Little Girl is "1"
Now I have 6 teeth |
