Distractions

I was holding John’s arm trying to keep him from confronting the guy on the cell phone and at the same time trying to convince him that this was part of the “experience”.  The hostess had just announced very clearly for the group to turn off our phones, not just silence the ringer.  One gentleman in the center of the group began making a phone call and then taking flash photographs.  The others in the group were surprised at the level of rudeness and disregard that this man was operating in.  We were all there to listen and learn, but this guy was messing it up for us all!

Turned out that this man was staged- a plant.  The point of this room (the first room) on the No More Orphans experience was to discuss how in life we are all distracted and when we take the time- with no distractions- to look the truth in the face- or in this case the orphan- it changes us- wrecks us and we must act.

Our family attended No More Orphans- Every number has a name and every name has a face.  This was a night of raising awareness about the orphan in our city, state, country, and worldwide.  At the same time, a call to the Church to act.

Some staggering facts and possibly the one that hit me the hardest (and apparently one of my sons, because he quoted it to me later in the evening):  If we removed all of the people who live inNew York City, we could fill it up again with all of the orphans in Africa andAsia.  Do you hear that!?!  One of our most populated cities could be a city of orphans.  For those of you who live in Tampa—Raymond James Stadium could be filled up THREE times with the number of children in America that need a mom and dad!

The orphan spoke and gave their testimony last night—The amazing part is that each of their stories were stories of redemption- They had been rescued, a part of a family, loved, and given a hope and a future.  We are all adopted– Adoption is a picture of what as Christians we have been given by God.  We have been redeemed, rescued, given a permanent place in God’s family (no longer an alien or outlaw, but now a child), loved, and have a hope and a future.  A family- a place to belong- is something that every human heart needs and desires.  We were created with this longing.  An orphan- no more.

The truth:  Many children – about 143,000,000  (To give some perspective:  there are about 300,000,000 people that live in the United States) - do not have a family or even a voice.

There is something that we can do and actually if we are followers of Christ we are called to do something:  pure religion is helping the widow and the orphan (James 1:27).

To each one, God has given a gift to use for His purposes (I Peter 4:10). When you are quiet and still–What is He calling you to do?  Guardian Ad Litem.  Be A Voice.  Mentoring.  Sponsoring a Child.  Encouraging.  Adoption.

What’s your distraction?

Hurry Up and Wait

This week, I’ve begun to feel “the wait”.

Just about all of the paperwork on our family’s side to complete is finished.  We just have to send in the immigration papers and then our dossier (folder with all important documents) will be ready to be sent to China. 

So, now we wait…The past couple of days, I have awoke with such a strong desire to want to know Naiya, to know who she is, to see her, to hold her…I am ready, now.  We are waiting to be matched (the adoption agency matches us with our child) and that could come any day or any month.  I am ready, now.  It is not an impatient “now”, more of a excited and ready “now”.  I am feeling many emotions lately– like a mom who is waiting to hold her little one for the first time would feel.

So, what do we do while we wait to be matched? 

This week, I caved and really started to look and dream about cribs, crib bedding, and paint colors.  I was trying to be sensible and wait until we are matched, but I’m excited to create her space…It’s all becoming so real! 

While at Target this week, I couldn’t resist the pink sparkle Converse shows that fit in the palm of my hand.  I don’t know just how old she’ll be or how big she’ll be, but the shoes remind me that she’s coming. 

I have been praying for her.  Praying that she is safe and hugged today.  Praying that our family will be ready and love her completely and best.  Praying that I would love my family and be the wife and mom I need to be to my husband and boys.  Praying that God would quiet my longing heart.

So, today, as we waited, our family flew a kite in the cool breezy weather.  We had a blast.  As the kids ran around and I took a try at kite flying, it reminded me of China and my 25^th birthday that I spent in Beijing, while I was living there…For my birthday, all that I wanted to do was fly a kite in my favorite beautiful Beijing park.  I thought about the kite that I chose:  a pink butterfly kite.  With hundreds of Chinese people, I tried to make my own kite soar.  I wasn’t too successful at this.  The Iron Man kite we used today flew better, I thought.  Made a note to self to bring back a pink butterfly kite fromChina to fly with Naiya someday.

As we wait for Naiya, we continue to live and yet are aware that there is one family member who isn’t yet with us in body, but definitely with us in heart! 

We will be there soon, little one.  This, I promise.

Perfect Strangers

Throughout this journey, there have been many generous gifts given from family and dear friends.  To all of you, we say thank you so much from the depths of our hearts.  When we began this journey of adopting in China, we wondered how financially this would be possible. 

Something special happened last week.

About 2 months ago (end of December), my Aunt Dana mentioned our family to her church and to a local adoption ministry/organization that she knew of.  She simply asked if they could help. 

Out of her request and the incredible hearts of a church body in Georgia and adoption organization, our family is receiving grant money and donations to help fund the adoption fees. 

We are seeing and experiencing the body of Christ in a new and amazing way…those we have never met are being touched to give and to help bring our daughter home.  We are blown away!

My aunt’s church (without us knowing a thing about it) bought baby bottles and passed them out to their church members to begin collecting spare change–for the purpose of helping to bring Naiya home.  Wow! 

One child in my aunt’s church, who is adopted from Russia, came to the collection table with a bag full of change to give.  I am told that they encouraged her that her gift would go to help bring home a very special little girl like her who is in China right now.  She gave with excitement.  Yes, God loves a cheerful giver. We look forward to meeting her and the others in the church and thanking them in person once Naiya is here. 

This is way bigger than us…God is using Naiya and her journey to allow other’s hearts to follow God’s leading. 

When David (my 11 year old son) heard me relaying this to John about this, David said quietly to me, “That is cool”…I told him this:  When God asks us to do something, He will provide a way.

 

Losing It (Literally) February 12, 2012

Part of China’s requirements for adoption is to have a full physical and to be under a certain BMI (Body Mass Index). Everything checked out great with our physicals except my BMI! I had a few pounds to lose. No woman likes to hear that. It’s a sensitive issue and frankly I wasn’t going to blog about it, but I am throwing my pride aside and sharing even this part of the journey.

Before Christmas, I knew that I had 5 pounds to lose. Easy, I said. Our social worker said to work on it after January 1st and not deprive myself during the holidays. When I weighed in after the holidays, I had gained another 5 pounds! I guess I enjoyed it too much. I was a bit devastated. Now, I had 10 pounds to lose! This was the last thing at that moment holding up the adoption. Reality set in and honestly I started thinking that I would do whatever it takes…I want to go get Naiya.

I cut out soda. Cut out sweets. I counted calories. I walked a little more. I prayed, because to me this was going to take God’s help. In two weeks, I have lost 9 pounds. One pound to go. As soon as the scales say the magic number (which I’m hoping is today), I will jump in the car and head back to the walk in clinic for an updated physical form with that one number to change.

The good things: beginning a more healthy lifestyle, having lots more energy, and being more fit to run around with my boys and Naiya 

Ni Chi Fan Le Ma? (Have you eaten?- A Chinese greeting) February 7, 2012

Our school has now started offering Mandarin language classes one time a week after school. David came to me to ask if he could join. I was ecstatic! Michael was not far behind. Inside I was doing a happy dance. Every Monday for one hour, the boys are moving their tongues and mouths in a strange way to make foreign sounds that mean words to the Chinese people.

After their first class, they came bounding in to my classroom to tell me, “Wo ai ni!” I understood what they said and responded. They told me they loved me. They then were playing with what they had learned and began to point at some others and say “Wo bu ai ni.” (I don’t love you). We all laughed and enjoyed speaking this new language that Naiya is hearing every day.

I am so excited for the boys to try out all that they will learn when we travel to China and to be able to communicate with Naiya in the most simple way of telling her that they love her in her heart language.

Two Legit February 5, 2012

Last Saturday, we invaded the Tampa Airport passport office with John, Nana, David, Michael, Melissa, Rachael, and me to secure passports for David, Michael, and Nana. The clerk saw our crew walk through the door and his eyes got big. When we told him that we just needed 3 passports, he relaxed.

David and Michael will be traveling with John and me to go get Naiya. This has the potential to be their first airplane trip ever. They keep asking if we could try it out (riding an airplane) and take an airplane trip to New York before we strap them in for the across the world flight. We know they have ulterior motives. They’ve heard about the Toys R Us in Times Square.

The Home Study Interview #2 (January 5, 2012)

During the application process, John and I both had to write 10 page autobiographies, in which we had to answer in detail about our childhoods, adolescence, parents, marriage, parenthood, etc…

During the 2nd home study, we were interviewed and asked questions based off of our autobiographies. It is extremely fun to be able to talk about the difficult with the good and to see and tell how it is true that God does work all things for good to those who love God and are called according to his purposes, because through these “tough and trying” things we are being conformed to the image of Christ. When you are telling your story to some body, you come to realize that through some of the hardest times you have experienced some of the greatest growth.

Now, our social worker is going to go and write our home study and we are starting to send the already notarized documents to the Secretary of State of Florida and then on to the Chinese Consulate in Washington D.C. The paper chase continues.