The best going away present
He stole my heart the very first time I held him. It was June 2009, and I wasn’t sure this little three pound miracle would survive the summer. I prayed over him and prayed over his future family and left him in the hands of the Father. I returned in the fall, and his dimples and eyes and grin further cemented the bond I had with him, and I rejoiced in the fact that he was quite obviously thriving. Over the next two years, he wrapped me quite tightly around his perfect little fingers. I love every one of the kids at the orphanage, but with this little guy we call Alex, there was something special. Were I a few years older and in a slightly different life position, I would likely try my darnedest to adopt him.
Rewind even further, to five years ago and my first year in Siping. A family came to adopt another child that was near to my heart in Siping, and I was able to meet up with them in Changchun. Thus began a friendship with this family and my first real connection with the adoption community. This family wanted to adopt from Siping again, but as you may well know, finding files for specific children is quite difficult, or some would even say, impossible. A couple years ago they attempted to find the files for a few children at our orphanage, but their son was waiting for them in the south of China.
A few weeks ago, the mom in this family asked for the full names and birthdates for a few of the toddlers at our orphanage. I gave them to her, but with a very doubtful heart. Finding one of their files would be like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. Consequently, when I woke up one morning a couple weeks ago to the news that they had not only found Alex’s file, but that the file would be held for them until they could get the paperwork in order, I literally wept tears of joy. Big ugly tears of joy. And when PA arrived earlier this week? More tears.
Knowing that Alex will be with a family that will give testimony to the Father’s work and healing in his life? Knowing that I’ll be able to see pictures and receive updates as this little boy grows up? Knowing that the Father loves and has a plan for each little life at the orphanage? Pretty much the best going away present a girl could ask for.
I have big, big tears as I am smiling. I remember Eric and I sitting at our breakfast table watching the city life through a window of our hotel in Changchun. With surprise we confessed to each other an unexplained pull…connection to where we were…the people we were watching…the city streets with all it’s activity.
We are so blessed to share our life with our beautiful children. Katherine, you are also a blessing in our life. As we diligently push for paperwork to be done, we absolutely cannot wait to love, hold, and show our new precious son a new life.
I have huge tears running down my face. As a mother of an adopted SN child from China, this post is just an amazing beautiful blessing. Thank you for all you did while volunteering in China at the orphanage. I just love happy endings. Continued blessings to this little boy, his new family and your new life back home.
Awesome, God!
God is so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!