Our First Encounter...

In line at a checkout counter with the Littles in their stroller. Exchanging a few things and of course a price tag is missing. Price check. An older woman gets in line behind me then walks in front of the stroller and then returns to her place in line. I notice that when she  walked up she didn't really look very happy. I step back and let her check out while I'm waiting on a "Price check" and then.... it happens.... a comment about the children God has recently placed into our arms. Not a "They are so cute" or "They are so precious" comment which I do hear quite often, but a negative, derogatory, make my heart pound comment. Oh no!

At first I must admit my hair stood on end and my heart beat out of my chest and I really just wanted to explain to her how precious these children are and why can't she see that. Then I felt sad for her and took a second to ask God how do I handle this. What did He want me to do? Well, I'm not sure I handled it the best way. I did say something. I was kind and light in tone and I really wanted to honor God- but did I want to defend my children more? Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut. I'm not sure. I will say that because of her comment I was able to share some of our journey with the young lady at the checkout counter (who said she would like to adopt one day) and those who were now also in line got to hear how God lead us to China and provided for Timothy and Annabelle to come home with us. This has also been an opportunity for me to share with my big kiddos that Timothy and Annabelle (and we) will probably face more racism and that we need to be ready to respond in a way that will honor God first and foremost.

Yes, I (we) know there are many children in the United States that need families. We don't take that lightly. I could give you reasons for us going to another country like.... the orphanages and foster care over there are so much worse than here and the children get thrown out when they turn 14. But, those aren't the reasons we went to China. We went to China because that is where God led us. That is where our children were. We prayed about a domestic adoption. God drew us overseas. Not to China at first. We learned much about other countries, orphans, ministries and more while "we were trying to choose a country." You see, I don't think WE CHOSE. God did. For us, He chose China. Why? Because Timothy and Annabelle were there. God chose them to be ours before the foundations of the earth. Why? I DO NOT Know. I only know that I am blessed to be the mother of all four of my children. I do not know why Annabelle and Timothy had to have the beginning that they did, but God is faithful. He is trustworthy. He has and has always had a plan. He created all the children and desires for all of them to be His children. When one of His creation becomes His child, He doesn't see His Asian child, His American child, His white or black or Hispanic child. He sees HIS child. No race. No color. No disability. Just HIS. We pray that one day, Annabelle and Timothy will be His children, too.

If you would like to help orphans (or widows), see our Helpful Links to the right.
Blessings,
B

ENT, Cleft and Progress Update

Visited the cleft doctor a couple of weeks ago. Miss Annabelle's palate looks good. We won't know much about how well those muscles will work until she is speaking more. My guess is she will need some speech therapy. She will try to copy what we say, but there are some sounds that she just can't replicate. The doctor said that her lip and nose needed to be redone. I don't even see it now when I look at her except when I see her in the mirror... I notice it then. Don't know when we will do it. The doc says the younger the better. Surgery will even out her nose, thin her lip and remove all the white lines from previous stitches. It may not really seem to matter now, but it will when she is heading into the teen years.

Both littles went to the ENT on Friday, and BOTH passed their hearing tests! That's very good news. Before examining them, the doc warned me that 98% of the children from China with cleft palates need tubes because of large amounts of fluid in their ears. The fluid causes many infections and hinders speech because if you can't hear properly, you can't repeat sounds properly. Both kiddos have a small amount of fluid but nothing to be concerned with. He was very surprised that Annabelle did not have much and thinks it should clear up on its own. He said she probably would NOT need tubes.... her ears should have been a lot worse. Also, he asked where they learned English. They were speaking so well. Of course, just from us. That was another good sign that they can hear just fine (just what I thought.... selective hearing!). Timothy will speak sentences, and Annabelle tries very hard to repeat and speak on her own (some of which we can understand). They've learned so much in 3 months!

A couple of firsts for the last few days....
Timothy and Annabelle got into a wading pool at a friend's house. Annabelle loved it. Timothy, not so much. Then later in the week, they both entered the baby pool where the Bigs have swim practice. Again, Annabelle loved it. Timothy, not so much until another little boy started playing catch with him. Then, today, Miss Annabelle went to her class at church and did very well. When we picked her up she even knew the motions to the memory verse they learned. Too cute. However, we learned that Timothy is not yet ready to go to his class. When we picked up Annabelle he got very clingy and worried we would leave him. He needs a little more time. Today he played quietly while we sat in the family room for service. It was nice to hear the teaching.

The last day or so I've really been thinking about their birth mothers. I pray they will have a peace about Annabelle and Timothy and know that they are loved.

Thanks for checking in on us.
Blessings to you,
~B