Thanks to everyone for your love and support

My heart is so full tonight. Every day I find out about more people who have been praying for Charis and I. There are so many who have already done so much for us - my dear friends who not only stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to greet us when we came back from China, but also had my living room filled with bottles, clothes and diapers for a 6 month old and food in the fridge for mom! For my family, particularly my sisters and their families, who are so excited to have this new little one to love. For everyone at work who has been so supportive and are working so hard to keep things going in a very stressful work situation. For those who have given us and are planning to give us presents and for all the folks who have generously lent or given us baby items they're not using. Folks at work and my "adoption friends" have already given us showers, a church shower is planned for this coming Sunday, my close friends are planning a somewhat smaller gathering and friends from the Spring Road congregation are also planning to have a celebrations with us. And then I found out today that several families from the McCrory, AR congregation, where I worshipped over 20 years ago, have gifts for Charis. Again, my heart is so full. This little girl who never had a mother, an extended family, a church family or so many friends who love her and are praying for her, has all of those now. A simple thank you seems so insufficient, but thank you.

Catching up

On Sunday, Charis and I will have been a family for one month. In some ways it seems like it's only been a few days - like when there is something wrong and I have no idea what it is - and some days it seems like we've been together for a very long time - like when she gives me that gorgeous grin when we're talking in bed in the morning. She got her first tooth this week. I've known that teeth were coming and she loves me to rub her gums (with a cloth diaper). But on Tuesday, I felt something sharp and sure enough, there it was on the bottom! I think it won't be long before she has a few more too. The biggest accomplishment of the past week has been her ability to wake up in her room and be comfortable and happy there. For the first couple of weeks, she cried every time she was alone in her room. While three weeks seems like a long time, it's all still very new to her. But the past few days, I often hear her playing and talking to the crib toys long before she every lets out a cry to let me know she's ready for me to come rescue her.


We've spent a lot of time at the park with our friends the last couple of weeks. Charis is as likely to fall asleep while we're strolling as she is to check out nature, but it's good either way. Today we went to a local park that has a creek where children regularly play in it. Our friend Anna, who is one and is game for anything, was having a great time playing in the creek so we decided to try it too. I dipped her litte feet in and she LOVED it - she wanted me to keep doing it and keep curling her little toes up in the sand. I think she may give Anna a run for her money. But we also have our good friend Sasha we can hang with when we are feeling a little more mellow - at least until they both can walk:)

Home

For those who may not know, things in China did not exactly work out as I had planned. The day we met Chen Jia Bin (Claire), it was very evident she had multiple medical and developmental problems. She's a beautiful and sweet little girl and Jill and I came to love her dearly in the two and a half days she was with us. But, as a dear friend reminded me, our plan B is often God's plan A all along. After much heartache and consultation with both American and Chinese medical professionals, I knew I could not bring her home. But God's hand was evident to everyone involved when I got a referral for Yong Xiao Shun (Charis) the next day and was able to adopt her the day after. We arrived home on July 31st after a long and grueling trip that included a 14 1/2 hour flight from Shanghai to Newark, NJ. But the verse that keeps playing over and over in my head is "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 I would have never even asked to be the mother of a 5 1/2 month old daughter from China, because according to all that I know about Chinese adoptions, that would not be possible. God has been glorified in the recognition of His work in this adoption.




We've been home a week now - what a trip the last three weeks has been. I'm going to post info and pictures about the trip, but haven't had time to put it all down yet. Charis is doing well and has slept through the night the last two nights. We've been to visit grandma (who thinks she's quite special!)and had our first bath at home. We've had our first trip to the pediatrician (and our first blood draw - ouch!). We've had several visitors and Aunt Sharen was so gracious to stay with us the first few days - I am so grateful to have sisters who are so excited about having a new niece. After all, the last nephew was 19 years ago!!! And I'm also grateful to those who have shared their baby items with us - thank you Kristen and Avery, Jackie and Anna, Terri and Gianna, Connie and Hannah and others!