HAPPY birthday, ADB!!

So...just warning ya- I'm feeling...umm...sentimental.  No, that's not the word.  I'm feeling...well, not sure how to describe it!   My boy's birthday is Thursday, and we're not there to celebrate with him.  We've not been there the past 9 years to celebrate with him- kinda breaking my heart.  Okay, I found the word...WEEPY!  I'm weepy!  Not knowing if he's received his birthday care package is killing me.  Oh , how I've prayed that'd receive JOY from opening something that is HIS...ALL HIS.  Praying that is is not causing pain and heartache when he reads our letters- but anticipation and love.  Praying for his entire foster family with this transition.  Praying when the see our pictures of Audrey An, of all us, of ADB with Audrey An from 4 years ago they'll rejoice knowing that he'll be with his forever family soon!  Like I've said to many in the last few months- God just keeps reminding me to think of the long term blessings for him and not the short(er) term pain he may feel (and most assuredly will to some extent).  I said it in my last post, but I'll say it again.  God can only know what he truly needs and will be the One to provide way better tha n I ever could/can.

Birthdays are a time to celebrate, but when you have expereinced(ing) international adoptions there's an entire set of other emotions as well.  One ponders question/thoughts like (well, I do...)
1.  This mostly likely is not his actual birthday.  For many this is an abandonment day- and that day was "given, chosen or guessed" as their birthday.

2.  What were the circumstances of that day?

3. Where did this take place?

4.  What were the thoughts/feelings of the birth parents?   and the list goes on....

We are piecing together the ever so complicated puzzle and it's just hard.  No way around it.  Plain hard.  The circumstances of abandoned orphans is just plain. hard. reality. but I'm REJOICING in his birth!  I'm REJOICING that his birth mother chose life for him!  I'm REJOICING that he (and AA) have been cared for and loved by many until we can get them home!  I'm REJOICING that some very detailed prayers of mine are being answered (and I'll be able to share later)!  I'm REJOICING in God's providence that so many families are answering the call to bring orphans into their homes and see God's redemptive work through the miracle of adoption!  I'm REJOICING for two new friends who we already are sharing laughter, tears, and prayers together because of the journeys and timelines we're on together with our same agency...how cool is that!

Please pray specifically on his birthday day:
1.  His package arrives (or it would be totally ok if it's already been delivered to him!) for his special day!

2.  JOY and LOVE felt as he opens it!

3.  Warmth for him and his foster family (no heat in their home).

4.  Vitamins to be delivered (another cool God story to be shared later!) and he's taking them daily.

5.  That we'll see some movement towards our LOA (got word our dossier is only "registered" as LID- not being reviewed or translated quite yet...ugh). BUT God can move mountains and I'm asking boldly that happens on his special day. THAT would be a great birthday present of ALL of us!)

6.  ok, one for me!!!  David and I will be attending an aoption seminar hosted by our agency this weekend, and I'm really excited.  Please pray that it would be a special time for the two of us, we'd meet/click with other couples from our agency, and that it would be a time of spiritual renewal/calling as well as great informational gathering for both of us.


I'm writing this post before his birthday "here" because technically it's his birthday "there", and I'm expecting God to answer on China time!!!

Yes, I know, I know. I've not posted a photo of our sweet little guy yet.  Forgive!!  Aren't those some sweet hands though (I know you've seen them before)!?  I want that LOA in my hand before I start plastering his sweet smile all over the place.  Yes, call me weird.  I'm rine with that :-)

So, can you imagine those little hands pulling up these covers?  I can!!  hopefully this will be arriving this week- how fun is that!!!  Let the nesting begin!  Aunt Stina, I need your decorating expertise, girl!!  I sanded his new (to us) dresser today.  It's just waiting on some paint.  My elbow grease kinda went "bye bye" for a bit.  I'll have to finish that up later next week.  Oh my....he's not going to know what to do with himself with a queen size bed!!!  

Oh...and if you are an email subscriber, my apologies if you're receiving this twice.  Something FUNKY is going on with my blog!  It sent out a post again this morning from January and I ended up having to retype THIS one....gotta love technology!