We officially have a daughter waiting for us in China! After two plus years of waiting, we finally know her face... This precious girl with her worried little expression is all ours.
So much information to share ... but I'll get to that in the coming days. For now, here are the basics. Our baby girl is almost 15 months old. Her birthday is July 31!!! If you know me well, you know what a big deal that is. So now, we have three July 31 birthdays in my family -- our daughter, me and my sister. It was meant to be.
She is living in an orphanage in the area near Hong Kong (way down in southern China), and we are hoping to travel in February to go get her. It should take about three months for all of the necessary paperwork to be completed so that we can travel. We are very excited and trust that the next three months will fly by with the holidays and with all we have to do to prepare for our trip and her arrival.
There is SO more to share about our girl, but I'll do that in the next post. Just wanted to get our big announcement out now!
We went to the Petting Zoo at Oak Mountain State Park for the first time the other morning. It was such a fun time.
We met Britton's friend, Weaver, there.
The animals were extremely docile.
Yeah, that's a goat on the pony's back. The pony was extremely laid back, or tired, or old, or something. I don't think he moved from his spot the entire time we were there.
Weaver kisses one of the friendly goats.
My little curly-headed boy.
Britton didn't just want to get close to the pond, he wanted to get into the pond, which is ironic since he's not the biggest fan of water and only tolerates bath time.
Only the sheep were a little skittish around us.
Britton decided he wanted a snack and had a little meltdown.
After I gave each of the boys a vanilla wafer, the sheep decided we weren't so scary after all.
I think this drainage ditch was one of the boys' favorite things. Go figure.
This video is of my brother navigating his way in a raft through the Lodore Canyons on the Green River in Utah. You'll remember my brother from his last visit here. (The video at the bottom of that post is still my all-time favorite video!) Anyway, my brother lives in Colorado and guides rafts in the summer and skis in the winter. He has a real job too, but it seems like he mostly plays. ;o) Ahhh, the life.
It's only Monday for another hour ... so, just in time for this week's Makes My Monday post ... ... is this little pantry-raiding, nilla wafer-eating ...
...one-socked, diaper clad tot.
Caught him red-handed (as if he cared), but too cute not to take a picture!
Just thought I would post a bit about the adoption conference we went to last weekend in Nashville. It rocked our world and it wouldn't be right if I didn't post some tidbits about it here. Danny and I have long had a heart for adoption, and are in the midst of our own adoption, so we were very interested in attending this conference in Nashville called Together for Adoption: Our Adoption in Christ ... What it Means for Us and Orphans. It explored both the theology of adoption and the practical "how to" side of adoption. There were some incredible speakers all with personal stories of domestic and international adoption and their involvement in foster care and how they were compelled to do so because of their identity in Christ.
A few quotes from some of the speakers that keep ringing around my head ... Scott Roley (Senior Pastor of Christ Community Church) said “we (Christians) holler loud against abortion,” so why aren’t we “standing up for orphan care?” In other words, how does the gospel affect our involvement in issues of social justice? Here is Scott Roley talking more about his topic "Adoption and the Pursuit of Racial Reconciliation")
Ed Stetzer said “even the un-churched know that Jesus was involved in social justice, and they often wonder why the church is not.” We cannot separate the great commission (to make disciples of all nations) from the great commandment (love your neighbor as yourself). Many churches become renowned for their service, but never proclaim the message of salvation. Stetzer said, “if we lose the Gospel, we lose our mission.”
Russell Moore said, “We can love the idea (of adoption and orphan care), but when it comes down to it” we need to follow through. He made an interesting point ... “we could learn much in the laboratory of orphan care how we ought to operate as the body of Christ.” There is a strong element of dying to self involved. Which is hard for the American church because it means we must “love people more than we love stuff.”
And, finally, from a woman who was in the foster care system from the time she was 18 months old until she aged out at the age of 17, she said that in being a believer now, the hardest thing she has had to come to grips with is "where was the church?" when she was a foster care child and going from bad home to bad home. With as many Christian families in the U.S., there shouldn't be 500,000 foster care kids bopping around from foster home to foster home. ****************************** We also ran across some really incredible stories and ministries. Here are but a few ...
3by3by3 Here is a story of a how a young family grew 3 by 3 by 3. Below is a quick video of their story. Seriously ... take the time to watch.
You heard it right ... this couple is only 31-years-old. You can read more about them at their site.
Perhaps, a modern-day Mother Teresa?
Another way God is redeeming the lives of orphaned children is happening in Uganda and by way of a young Nashville suburbanite. As a teenager, a girl named Katie went on a mission trip to Uganda. She returned and lives there today and has 14 adopted daughters. She is only 20 years old. Here is her blog. Here are pictures of her precious daughters. And her newest daughter is here. You can almost see that little one coming from death to life in a matter of days in those pictures. This seriously blows. me. away.
147 Million
This organization raises awareness of the orphan crisis in our world, sells products that go directly to orphan care, and helps people raise money for their own adoptions.
Abba Java This organization sells coffee beans from Africa and then the proceeds support orphan care in those countries.
Anyway, that's about it. My summary here so does not do justice to the powerful things we heard and saw last weekend, but wanted to share a little bit about it.
When our son was very sick in the NICU, a friend monogrammed his initials on a blanket for us. As she stitched the letters B - G - D, she thought of the phrase "By God's Design" ... as surely our son's condition did not take Him by surprise. Even as our son came home and has continued to thrive, and as our family has recently grown by adoption, we rest in knowing that all of this has been By God's Design.
Britton
Britton is our little miracle boy! He came into this world on his way out of it. Born without a heartbeat, he joined the land of the living when he was nine minutes old. He has made an amazing recovery since, and is truly our beautiful, little miracle boy … our gift from God! He spends his days learning to be a sweet big brother and just generally being ALL BOY. To catch the beginning of his story, click on his picture.
Lia Katherine
Lia Kate is our precious chosen child! She was adopted from China over Christmas '09 and we are loving life with her. She is our girly girl with a particular affection for all things shoes, dresses and baby dolls. She is full of joy and laughter and our lives are richly blessed with her in it. Click her picture to read her adoption story from the beginning.
Caroline Collins
Collins is our sweet 7-month-old in China! We can't wait to bring her home. Maybe another Christmas in China?
