Wordless Wednesday - I love swimming.

Orphaned No More

Pictured are 16 kids who less than a month ago were orphans. Some living in an orphanage, some in foster homes. No mommies. No daddies. No families.

Today each one is being loved on by a mommy and daddy. They are part of a family. They are no longer orphans.

Amazing doesn't even begin to describe it.

Not only that, but it was amazing to see how each child "fit" with their forever family. You could see the fingerprints of God through the placement of each child. He knew. He made it happen. It's miraculous really.

So many of you were part of our miracle. You gave financially. You prayed.

You prayed. Never underestimate the power that was unleashed because you prayed.

I have been so humbled and encouraged by your support, your comments and your prayers.

And while I know you already know this... you can continue to participate in the miraculous. There are millions of orphans who need your support, your comments and your prayers.

How can you help? You can give financially to organizations like Lifesong for Orphans.

Lifesong offers adoption grants to families who want to adopt but can't afford it. They also work with orphans in Ukraine, Liberia, Zambia, India and Honduras bringing them hope and aid in the name of Jesus.

You can pray for the orphaned child. You can pray for the families who are adopting and have adopted. You can pray that more and more families would be called to adopt or foster or get involved in some way.

You can act. You can raise awareness, host an Orphan Sunday event, visit the orphaned, adopt.

We all have the opportunity to participate in the miraculous.

The question is, will we respond and join in?

Please Pray

Go here. Read how God works in suffering.

Then pray for a miracle for this family today.

Unpacking

If you are the kind of person who unpacks your bag immediately after you return home from a trip, the title of this blog post probably didn't even register.

The thought, "She can't still have unpacking to do after being home over a week?" probably never even peeked into your brain because that concept would be completely foreign to your worldview.

If that is you. You might want to stop reading.

Now.

For those of you still with me, prepare yourselves to gain absolutely no redeeming value from reading further. My friend Sarah sometimes writes blog posts entitled "purely pointless."

That is pretty much what this is.

All this hype to confess, I am not unpacked after being home over a week.

My suitcases are empty and put away. I accomplished that task by Wednesday.

In case your worried, the clothing suitcase was unpacked and washed the next day; we would have been underwearless otherwise. Just the kind of information you are wanting to hear on a Monday morning I'm sure.

Back to my point, or non-point if you'd prefer, I'm still living out of my toiletry bag.

I think it has to do with bathrooms.

I don't like cleaning them.

Kory tells me if I'd quit procrastinating I could have them cleaned in 10 minutes.

The same would hold true for unpacking my toiletries (which reside in the bathroom in case you were wondering about the connection).

And still they sit, because, well, I'm disciplined like that.

Maybe today will be the day I can officially say I am unpacked.

Maybe I'm blogging about this to give my self that extra boost of motivation.

Maybe the end result will not be purely pointless because I will actually follow through and unpack.

Maybe this will only be purely pointless for those of you still reading.

And if you are still reading,

I'm curious... What kind of an unpacker are you?

Ups and Downs

It's been an up and down kind of week.

Walls, emotions, tempers, sleep. Up and down.

Frankly, I've been the worse offender. Terrible I know, but true.

I'm happy to report that as the week has gone by, we've (I've) been having more ups than downs. At the core, I believe it boils down to this: I suck at change.

We just don't get along (me and change, or change and I?).

Suhn, I'm happy to report has been doing really well. The kids love her and she loves them. She has been eating well, sleeping well (after the first two nights) and overall seems to be adjusting well.

Going to bed has been a little bit of a challenge. She panics at bedtime. She also grieves at bedtime. The tears come, sometimes for both of us.

My mom suggested a bedtime routine that has blessed us both. It seems to bring comfort to Suhn, although she will still cry through it some nights. It definitely brings comfort to me. Grounds me and keeps me focused.

Simply put, I rock her and I sing. Hymns mostly, they are what keep coming to mind.

Jesus loves me this I know...My Jesus I love thee..On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand...He leadeth me oh blessed thought...What a friend we have in Jesus...Jesus, Jesus how I trust him, How I've proved Him o'er and o'er; Jesus, Jesus precious Jesus, Oh for Grace to trust Him more.

I sing, I worship and I remember that my Savior's love surrounds us both. And when I place her in her bed we both seem calmer and ready for whatever is to come.

Wordless Wednesday - A Sister at last!

We're Home!

1 - 40 minute flight from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, delayed 1 hour, arrived at airport hotel at 1:00 am.

Up at 6:30 am. 1 - 14.5 hour flight from Hong Kong to Detroit, MI, included 1/2 hour of hard crying from Suhn, smooth sailing after that - thanks for praying!!!



1 - 2 hour layover in Detroit followed by 1 - 40 minute flight to Chicago


Met in Chicago by Kasey, Daniel and Alea (thanks guys!!)



1 -2 hour car drive home - so hard to stay awake, so ready to be home.

Met at home by kids, grandparents, sisters and cousins.

So good to be home!!!!

1 Jet-lagged momma = bare minimum "we made it home" blog post.

Don't worry... more to come. :)