Last Day In Xian....

The time has finally come for them to leave Xian. I wonder if Grace has any idea how much her life will change. If she will retain any of her previous memories? If she knows just how much we love her.

Kerry is really looking forward to being in Guangzhou. It's kind of like a right of passage. Plus he will be surrounded by adoptive parents. It has been pretty hard on him to spend eight days in Xian without anyone speaking English or having familiar things. Kerry is not one who will go out and explore, especially with an infant on his own. They did have tours planned and dinners, etc but I believe there were three days with nothing planned and even the best of people would get bored sitting in a 12x12 room with only Chinese speaking television.

He did it though and all for one reason, Grace. This little girl is so precious to us. She started out as a description in an email. Then a few pictures in a fedex envelope. When we saw her pictures we just knew she was ours, something in her eyes, the dimple in her cheek and the curiousness in her expressions. She was our daughter. I cried when Kerry said "we can do this."

Some people ask us, Why? Why would you adopt? You have three perfectly healthy children. For me it is easy to answer. I love children and when it became impossible for me to have more I knew God would find a way to fulfill my prayer for more. It helps that I have a wonderful husband who is willing to listen and be open minded. We had talked about adoption before having our oldest. We knew it was possible that I couldn't have children. I started gathering China adoption information way back in 1995. Amazing that ten years later we would start the process for Hope and then two years later God led us to Grace in the same Province of Shaanxi.

I agree with Kerry. Children should not be alone. It is not the plan God had for them. They need a family to nurture and guide them. I feel blessed that we were chosen to parent all five of our children. Adoption is not something you should take lightly. There are so many more aspects to adoption than just becoming parents to a precious child. You will also have to teach your child about her/his culture, about loving China and birth parents, no easy task. It is God's will for all of us to " adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
And this gave him great pleasure."
(Ephesians 1:4 NLT)

There are so many more things I could say. The most important being that I am truly blessed. I have five beautiful children and the greatest husband in the world. I love you Kerry!