Big Steps

The last couple of days have been a roller coaster of excitement. Then again, I hear this is always the case with a first child, this is always the case with adoption, and this is always the case with a trip to China. It seems that we have a rolled into the perfect storm of trials and excitement but the rainbows we continue to find at the end of this journey have no words that can describe them or contain them because they are created by God Himself!

Yesterday was a long hard day for our family.  At 9 am we boarded a van along with two other families adopting through CCAI and headed for the town of Promise's orphanage.  Chinese law just changed so that to get a passport for these children, their pictures and application must be taken place in the same city as their orphanage. Unfortunately for us, this city was 3 and half hours away.  The trip there, however, was relatively easy and uneventful. We even had lunch with no problems. Then, the storms came.

We were stuck at the PSB office as they made these children take the "perfect picture" for their passports.  After fours hours of pictures, more pictures, feedings, diaper changes, naps, and finally some more pictures, all three children were cleared after they decided to photoshop the pictures together! Our questions was why they couldn't just photoshop after 1 or 2 pictures. We knew the answer to be very simple though... its China.

The trip got really rough on the way back. Here in Henan Province of China exists a large farming community. This time of year is a transitional stage where they harvest their crop, burn the fields, and prepare for the next crop.  The problem with this is you have a province the size of Florida or Wisconsin with over half of it on fire. The smoke is almost unbearable. On some days in the city the smoke is so dense that you can only see a few blocks at a time.  This is the type of throat burning smoke we had to breathe for the 3 and half hour trip back. Everyone has been struggling from it today. BUT, God is good and we keep moving through all the necessary steps here in China.

Today, has been a blast!  Promise's fever finally broke and she has started eating like a champ! She is also starting to come out of her shell and babble a lot and laugh a lot! One of the highlights for today was her discovery of bubbles. She absolutely loves them! In fact, that is what seemed to drop her guard the most thus far. We have also started to see her show more interest and curiosity in absolutely everything. She even had a good time at the park today. It has been so much fun!

(Click on video to watch it)

Of course it is not all fun and games in the parenting world as we are learning.  Those of you who are parents reading this should get a good laugh.  Promise has been dehydrated with the infection and fever she had been battling. Finally today Shannon was able to get her drink a lot of fluids.  She had a full bottle of slightly sugared water and some pedialyte in the last 24 hours. Well, while Michael and Promise were sitting at the computer watching her first cartoon, she unloaded so much fluid that it filled up the diaper and overflowed it... right into Michael's lap!  Then, at dinner, she did it again... right into Michael's lap!  But, there was no time to be angry or upset. After cleaning it all up and changing her diaper and clothes, all she could do was laugh about it!

Overall, to this point so far, it has been an amazing journey and we are just getting started!  The greatest lessons, however, are gaining a better understanding of God's love toward us and His adoption of us. Promise was born with 3rd degree cleft lip and cleft palate.  Just a few years ago neither of us could have imagined trying to deal with this condition in our child.  But God's love has filled our hearts for Promise and we love her just the way she is. She is absolutely beautiful.  Yes, coming from the orphanage, there was an overwhelming odor coming from her and she was absolutely filthy. But we accepted her and loved her just as she was.  We brought her back to our room, fed her, let her take a nap, and bathed her.  She hated the bath but it was what she needed.  Down the road she is going to have a few surgeries and it will be painful, but it is what she needs.  God does the same with us! Some people think they are too messed up or too filthy. But, just like Promise who could have not been more filthy and has some serious problems, God will accept us just as we were able by His grace and love were able to accept her! And to try to explain the love we have for her is impossible. This is the love that the Creator of the universe has for us!

Thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy post and for continuing to pray for us! It may be a few days before another post but Lord willing we won't leave you hanging for too long :)

Promise opening the card her American friend Chloe Perry made for her :)