800...

Posted on February 2nd after Lizzie's orphanage visit

Thank you all so much! Lizzie and I had a long talk last night. 

So much for her heart to take in.

So much I want to tell you all about that visit, like the amazing art work some of the aged out kiddos had done... 

and the beautiful gift they gave her at lunch... 

and the precious faces of those who had been there too long and those who had just arrived...

Both without hope...

They have a pet goat that they have raised from a baby...

their own veggie garden...

and a wonderful program in which their aged out kiddos can work...

 and create...

 and feel productive.

We were actually able to purchase some of the ceramic pieces!

Will was a trooper, laughing and talking with all of the nannies! 

He is such a flirt! 

We are gonna have to watch this one! 

*grin*

In the end though, as beautiful as their buildings were and as amazing as their therapy rooms were... 

it is still an institution and there are 800 children there y'all! 

800!!

Please, if any of this has stirred your heart and you think the Lord may be leading you toward one of the precious ones who wait, please just ask!

Ten Years Ago...

Posted on February 1st

Ok so it is all too fresh. There are no words right now. Only emotion, real and very raw.

Did her bio Mom think of her today?

She would not have known the daughter she could not raise was...

10 years later...  so close.

Two of her nannies were still there...

along with 800 children...

We saw only a small portion of those precious, waiting ones...

It was a good day, a healing day but a hard day and one day soon, I know the words will come...

but not today.

Thank you for your prayers. They were felt and felt very deeply.

Pearl River Cruise

Posted on January 31st 

Last night was the Pearl River Cruise.

Again, BTDT twice before but seeing it through Lizzie's 11 year old eyes was amazing!!

I am so thankful she is here and can learn more about a heritage that she has grappled with.

Will enjoyed it but the boat didn't go fast enough for him! Haha

Tomorrow we visit Lizzie's orphanage, as it is close. Walking through those doors again after 10 years will be surreal.

Lizzie is nervous but so excited to see the children who are there.  She picked out diapers and socks and candy, lots of candy to hand out.

When we visited 10 years ago, only days after we had met Lizzie, she was terrified and did not want the nannies to get near her!

Ten years ago, she got back on that bus with her new family, ready and eager to start her new life...

at two years old!

Bye Bye orphanage!

Tomorrow, I pray that she can release some of the fear and the hurt that has left its mark on her heart.

Maybe it is too much to hope for in a simple visit but I have seen how the Lord has already begun to use this trip to heal her broken heart.

Please cover my girl in prayer tomorrow!

The White Swan

Posted on January 30th

He called me "Mama" today! There are certain things we have been working on and this was one. 

Will has found it hard to call us anything but "hey, hey, hey" when he needs or wants something. 

When we talked to him about it last night, there was some push back and some quiet. I know there is a long road ahead but today was a big first step!

Now, on to the pictures! Most older adoptive families will recognize these pics!

We went to Shamian Island today...

and to the White Swan Hotel...

and to the famous "red couch"...

and to Lucy's, where we were seated at the exact same table we sat at 10 years ago!

It was hard not to get emotional as I walked through memories of our very first adoption, 10 years ago this June!

The moments that started the transformation of our lives began to flood my heart...

and I wanted to step back in time and hug my baby girl just a little bit tighter.

Oh how the Lord has used the last 10 years to mold and shape our hearts and our lives!