Update!

I cannot believe it has been nearly a year since I posted. I guess trying to keep up with Facebook has distracted me from blogging! I wanted to write about Ping's story since she should be home soon! I was thinking she would be here by now, but the process has taken much longer than I expected. It was either February or March 2012 that I saw her sweet face & also saw that folks had inquired about her. However, because of her special needs, a family had not committed to her. Her picture just stayed on my mind & after much prayer, I applied for pre-approval knowing what fate might befall her were she not adopted. In July, 2012, I received that pre-approval. It took several months for me to find an agency & then get started with the paperwork. I had my initial meeting with my agency & was working on paperwork & other documentation, as well as starting the fundraising process. In December 2012, I received video from the governmental authorities in her country showing her medical condition. It was clear that she had some difficulties feeding & that she was significantly developmentally delayed. The authorities wanted me to see this so that I would know fully how she was doing. I guess they thought I would change my mind. While seeing her that way was heartwrenching, it did not change my resolve, though I did put the adoption on hold for awhile to be sure she would survive. Within a week of me getting the video, she was moved to a mission-run institution for children with medical needs. My next official update on her was after my dossier had gone to her country & she was thriving & making developmental progress. It has continued to take more time than I ever thought it would. However, I am now just waiting on the travel approval so that I can go get her. The light is at the end of the tunnel! I know that Ping has no idea what being in a family means & just how much adoption will mean in her life. Had she not had an adoptive family in process, she most likely would not have survived. For most children, adoption gives them a future, for Ping, adoption is lifesaving. We are all excited about meeting her & getting her home. I know that God has orchestrated this & He has chosen our family for Ping. He has truly put my family together in an amazing way -- each of my children have a story that points directly to divine intervention. These next few weeks will be a roller-coaster ride.... we are buckling up!

Can Anything Good Come From Nazareth?

This past Sunday, I had the family of little Teresa on my heart -- well actually, Saturday & then into Sunday. She is the little girl, born in China with a heart defect so severe that it is miraculous that she lived past her infancy. She was a survivor, though, & had expressed her desire to be adopted & have a family of her own. At 3 years of age, she was thriving, although, her adoptive parents were told that she might not even survive the plane trip home. She did & she continued to thrive. Because of her lung pressures & the damage that living with only half a heart had done, her parents were told that she would not survive heart/lung transplantation. But, Teresa had other ideas! She lived every day to the fullest -- full of love of life, her parents & Jesus. I have been reading all about her in blog posts & am amazed at how this small child could radiate so much love & joy despite needing to wear oxygen tubing & limit her activities because of her heart defect. Finally, she was deemed healthy enough to have a heart transplant (she had improved enough not to need lung transplant) & she did get one. Her mother wrote in a blog post that for a few hours while the heart was working, Teresa's toes were even pink! That heart began to fail & Teresa was put back on the heart-lung bypass machine, called ECMO, to allow the heart to rest. During her time in the ICU, her mother continued to write about Teresa's life & her will to live. Those posts were shared via social media, & prayers & well-wishes began pouring in from around the world. We learned how much this little princess  & her love for Tiara's & the Disney princesses, touched people. Ultimately, Teresa's body could not withstand the stress, & as her mother wrote, Teresa rode her princess bike into heaven to be with Jesus.

What have I learned? In spite of pain, Teresa persevered. She kept waking up despite huge doses of sedatives. She would sign that she was thirsty & she signed her love for her family. One of the things she would say was "I love you more," & she continued to sign that when she could. She had such a spunky spirit, too. She went into the OR wearing a crown & carrying one for her surgeon to wear. Her mother wrote that Teresa had a smile & a hug for everyone. This little girl embraced life! Remember, this is a child who should not have survived infancy, should not have survived a transcontinental airplane trip & definitely should not have lived until the age of 6. So many people would have seen her as a dying child from the moment she was born, yet she was a living child until the moment she died. She never gave up, even with shortness of breath, pain, insurmountable odds, that child never gave up.

This one child has impacted the lives of people around the world in a way that missionaries never would be able to. This child's life preached the gospel. Her family is carrying on for her & continuing to minister. I read in her mom's blog that Teresa's sister wanted to take a photograph of Teresa & give it to the Disney princesses. Her family went to Disney & did just that -- gave her photographs to the princesses & shared with them about Teresa's life. They touched people who were strangers to them & now those people will touch others by simply sharing how Teresa's story has impacted them.

So, Sunday in church while I was thinking about Teresa's family & listening to the sermon, the question, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" made me think, "Can anything good come out of China?" The answer is a resounding yes! Look at what a 6 year old's life has done... how she has ministered to people, the example she has given, the joie de vivre she had, the legacy she has left & the memories left with her precious family that her mother so graciously shares with us. She was an orphan in China but a precious child of God who found her forever family when she was 3. His plans for her were fulfilled in a heartbreakingly short amount of time but in a way no one could ever have anticipated.

There are many, many orphans in China & around the world who dream of families & a future of hope. They are in God's hands & the apple of His eye. Many of us are called to adopt them, others are called to help in their adoption, others minister to them in other ways & others are called to pray. When we don't respond to our calling, we are not honoring the Lord & we are in some way making the path harder for others. We don't know where a single act of obedience will lead. I doubt Teresa's parents had any idea about the impact she would have after they adopted her.

Yes, Something good came out of Nazareth. Something good is still working miracles today & touching lives. Rest in peace, dear, sweet, precious, princess Teresa, in the arms of our "Something good," the Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords, & King of Kings!

Summertime!

My favorite time of year! Actually, I think it's my kids' favorite time of the year, too, & not because school is out. They like all things summer -- pool, ocean, extended daylight, lighter clothing, pool, ocean ... You get the idea! I could, however, live without the summer bugs with the exception of lightening bugs, lady bugs & butterflies! They can stay. We celebrated 7/11 today with free slurpees! I also picked up my home study today! I thought "so excited" & then the image of Gru in Despicable Me popped into my head. I can picture him saying, "sooooo excited" when he was talking with the orphanage director about adopting his girls. I had to chuckle even though he was saying that with ulterior motives -- I am not adopting so that I can obtain the shrink ray & then steal the moon!

Just think -- this will be Ping's last summer without a family! Now, that's exciting!!!!!

Prayers for Ping

Nearly 2 weeks ago, I got a video of Ping that showed that her medical condition had deteriorated & she clearly needed some intervention. It was heart breaking; so difficult to watch. Miraculously, Cheryl Graham from IAAP was able to find a place for her & on Christmas Day, she was transferred to Maria's Big House of Hope where her medical, physical, emotional & spiritual needs may be met. I was concerned that she may be in pain & I am just so thankful that she's in a place where she will receive care & if she is in pain, it will be managed. I would've gotten on a plane that day & gone to her if I could but the best we can all do at the moment is pray for her.  Please keep her in your prayers! Happy New Year, & God bless you, little Ping!

A Home For The Holidays

There is a special that comes on at Christmas every year that I love to watch. It usually is on TV around Dec 21st but this year it is on the 19th. Unfortunately, we won't be home to watch it. :( Various music artists perform & the show highlights children that have been adopted from the US Foster Care System. At the end of the show, they typically spotlight a few waiting children.

It makes me think of children everywhere who will experience Christmas this year not knowing if they will have a family at Christmas time next year. Some are too young to really understand that, like my little Ping waiting in China. She doesn't know yet that life in an orphanage is not the way most people live or what being in a family feels like. By next Christmas, Lord willing, she will know the love of a family. There are so many more that will hope for a family but will never get one.

From Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "All I Really Want" : All I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in A shoulder to cry on if I lose, shoulders to ride on if I win There's so much I could ask for but there's just one thing I need All I really want for Christmas is a family.

http://www.songlyrics.com/steven-curtis-chapman/all-i-really-want-lyrics/

Pray for foster children, orphaned & abandoned children all around the world this Christmas!

It Takes A Village....

I can't believe it is nearly Thanksgiving already! I am thankful for so much. This weekend, I have experienced yet again the joy of watching my kids being encouraged & doted on by friends. We have been at church quite a bit for Glorious Christmas Nights rehearsals. Even in their most restless moments, our church family has been nothing short of encouraging to them & to me. There were some funny moments, as well, like when the music indicating the scene change didn't start quite as quickly as expected & Marcie blurted out something like, "where's the music?" (Or was it, "we need the music?"). Marcie had a ball at a sleepover with one of her friends last night & then we had the joy of taking this little girl with us to Sweet Frog while Charlie rehearsed with the youth. This little girl is full of joy & spunk & just a delight to be around. While at Sweet Frog, we saw some other friends from church & just had a nice time with them. Friday night while Charlie was rehearsing, Marcie was at her sleepover & Kyle & Joanna were quietly playing their DSI XLs, I enjoyed being able to sit & talk with another friend -- it was so nice to be able to talk with another adult, relaxing, with the kids quiet. I really appreciated that time & the support & encouragement especially for my newest adoption quest. I am truly blessed with friends who are so actively involved in my kids' lives & my life both in my community & at church. They don't understand yet the value of having so many caring adults in their lives but I do & I appreciate each & every one of you. Thank you!