Laughing at His affection

This is my current facebook status:

Sometimes God's goodness to me is kinda ridiculous. I don't mean to sound irreverent, but seriously, I've met me. And the God of the universe delighting in me is just. plain. hilarious. So if you see me laughing like a crazy person, it's because that's the sane response to His scandalous grace.

It's true, y'all.

Those who are blessed enough to know Henry, know that our boy is one affectionate child.  He tells me I'm beautiful usually 40 times a day.  He says it so often I've come to doubt he actually knows what the word means.  (Trust me, I am anything but beautiful after an hour on the elliptical.  I'm sweaty, red, and hangry.  Hangry = so hungry I'm angry.) 

Often Henry's first words to me in the morning are, "Mommy, you're beautiful.  I just love you so, so much."  He often kisses me so often its embarrassing.  I try to remember that in a decade I'll be missing all the cuddles and smooches.  But really, when I'm in the midst of cooking or cleaning or tagging yard sale items, it can be cumbersome to be hugged and kissed 37 times in the span of 20 minutes.  I confess that at times it takes all of my good mommy will power to hug and kiss him back and not say, "Henry, I know.  You just told me three minutes ago.  You're in my way; Mommy is trying to do something."

This is what our adoption journey has been and continues to be like.  God is just smothering us with affection.  To the point of claustrophobia. 

If you long to feel God's tight squeeze upon you, might I suggest you take the opportunity to boldly obey him in some small way.  Forgive your spouse that misspoke.  Love the unlovable.  Uphold the cause of the weak and oppressed.  Defend the poor.  Care for an orphan or a widow.  I guarantee that is where you will meet Him in a new and profound way.  You'll hear God's voice tell you "You're beautiful" and you can trust that He knows what it means.

On the Next Episode of Hoarders...

The attic has been emptied...but there are still folks dropping off stuff throughout the week. 

The Paper Chase is on...

i800a FILED!!!

And now, between the piles of pricing for our gigantic yard sale, I will be working on our other Dossier paperwork.

Charlie, we are on our way!

Something's Happening here...

We are almost set to send off our i800a.  In the adoption world, this is our preliminary immigration paperwork.  Basically, we are petitioning the US gov't to allow us to adopt a child from China.  Once we get the go ahead from China regarding our dossier and the like, we will then repetition them for adopting our specific Charlie.  (Insert plea to all young peoples to NOT get an alcohol possession ticket because it will become a giant thorn in your side when doing things like this.  It will require calls to clerks of courts, emails to lawyer friends, and letters overnighted to specific court houses because these tickets get wiped out of systems and then you'll also have to explain again and again that you were an idiot college freshman.)

Also, let it be known that God is at work through many many friends of ours.  Our living room is slowly becoming stacked to the ceiling with items for our yard sale.  And we haven't even finished emptying the attic of all the stuff donated by our families.  Henry's preschool even donated all the toys they decided to get rid of to Charlie's yard sale.  Once again, what a joy it will be to tell Charlie of all the folks who loved him here.

In addition to dropping off toys, clothes, furniture, books, and electronics, my friends are also volunteering to help at the yard sale.  A family is going to host a lemonade stand because they want their kids to be a part of making an orphan a son.  My buddy Ann has requested to be in charge of all the weird people that inevitably show up at yard sales.

With each price tag affixed to an item, I am reminded that it is not just our family that God is growing, but His Kingdom.  This is what God does.  He uses people to love one another.  He sets the lonely in families.  He does not leave us as orphans, but adopts us into the largest, loudest, most loving family in the world.

We are grateful.

Clearly, there is room for one more kiddo in this sleepover bed.  And to top it all off, when Grace requested Henry sing to her, he broke out with the following song, "My Charlie lies over the ocean, My Charlie lies over the sea..." and then Gracie joined in to finish it up:
"Bring back, bring back, oh bring back my Charlie to me, to me!"

Apparently, Sloan thinks he's a celebrity

So after a day at the pool, we ended it with getting some ice cream.  Good old fashioned 31 flavors, Baskin-Robbins.  And because I was 437 calories below my targeted caloric intake thanks to 45 minutes on the crosstrainer, (anyone else addicted to the My Fitness Pal app?) there were 2 scoops of Lemon Custard with my name on it. 

When we arrived and placed our orders, BR was empty.  By the time we sat down with our ice cream, the place was filling up.  By the time we left, it was packed.  As in 37 people were now in line and filing out the door. 

Sloan looked around and said, "Elizabeth, why you gotta go tweeting my location."

Thanks for your continued prayers

I cannot express to you how much y'all's emails, texts, and FB messages have meant to me.  To know that our boy is being prayed for around the clock.   This is good because the picture we have of him from over the weekend is just so sad to see.  His head has been shaved (typical in an orphanage to prevent lice), his clothes are filthy and falling off his body, and because they don't use diapers, his pants are split so the orphans can just relieve themselves whenever they need to unfettered.  He is still my precious boy, I just desperately want to cuddle him and let him know I have diapers and Oreos in my purse. 

I cannot post any pictures of Charlie.  But I can post a picture my buddy Laura posted on my FB wall.  J'adore.

Lost in Translation

Sometimes there is more than just the Pacific Ocean between us and our boy. 

For example, our son's diagnosis on his referral isn't even a medical term in the United States.  We think we might know what they are attempting to say, but even that is cryptic because his actual medical information doesn't even match up with that.  For example, let's say your child was diagnosed with asthma.  You would expect to see things like "wheezing, shortness of breath, and crackling lungs" on her chart.  But what if your daughter's dx was clearly stated as asthma but the file read "breathing normal, no signs of wheezing, oxygen levels normal"? 

What we do know is that he is delayed in his motor development and possibly speech.  Profoundly by Chinese standards.  Within norms by US standards.  And considering that he has been institutionalized his entire life, we are not surprised.

But also there are just some things that us Americans say and value that are a far cry from the way it is done in China.  I think sometimes I forget my son is in a Communist country.  For example, on his referral there is a section that tells us he can pick up a pill with his fingers.  I understand this is a measure of his dexterity, but can you not have my son playing with pills? 

We had the opportunity to recently ask questions of his caregivers.  I asked if he was able to play peek a boo or does he look for things hidden by his caregivers.  Basically, I was wondering if he had learn object permanence, a typical question at a 12 month check up.  They responded that their caregivers do not hide things from their children.

 I did ask what his favorite foods were.  Apparently he and Gracie are kindred spirits already as his favorite foods are bread and cookies.   (Note to self:  find out if the sell Oreos and graham crackers in China.) 

I also asked what his favorite toys or books were.  They responded as they were unsure as he has not been exposed to these things. 

Y'all, we gotta get my boy home.  Forget about praying for funds, let's pray for his paperwork to move along swiftly.  We've got to get a Thomas book in our boy's hands STAT.