Another Significant Day in the Life...

11.18.15 goes down as another significant day with the Fab Five. Although Audrey An's and Chan's adoptions were finalized in China, David and I chose to do a re-adoption in the States. The main reason is to make life easier as far as some paperwork goes moving forward when asked for birth certificates- birth certificates that are in English. This sounds easy and would be a technicality (and not many will ever see or even consider an "issue"), but to me it was hard...emotionally. I had yet another crisis in my mind- a grieving- I had to work through again. I struggled if it was really the right thing to do for them and for us. Was I discounting their birth parents just to make it "easy" for them (as in they could now hand over a document in English... and with David and Christa as their parents)? Or were we doing something that one day they will appreciate- something "official" saying we are their forever parents and not an authentic, translated, Chinese document? I know we did what was right for our family. I do truly pray that one day they'll be thankful they have both. They have two official birth certificates- very very symbolic. One in Chinese. It states fact, unknowns, and heritage. One in English. It states fact, knowns, and legacy. 

Just. So.Much.To.Process

This actually looks very official, but it really was for the photo op! The oath and  signatures were not in the court room but in a jury deliberation room. 

My very sweet friend, Kim (who also has a precious daughter born in China- aaaaand who the Lord used in my life 10 years ago to confirm in my heart that China was the country for us), is an attorney and filed our paperwork and represented us on this special day! It's all official when you wear black and have a smart friend with you (and a teen photo bomber!).

Since these three cuties keep me on my toes and we've had quite an eventful year, I'm VERY behind on blogging! I'm going to try to catch up, fill in, and use back dates...hopefully soon!

Easter and almost a High Schooler (?!?!)

My little free spirit

My sensitive spirit

My HANDSOME boy

Chan, the photographer, took this one.

 

after the photo shoot...

Although we missed David terribly over Easter weekend, the kids and I had a very meaningful Easter. Chan participated in his first Lord's Supper at church which involved me prepping him about the significance all week long.

Other family news...Chan will be having surgery to remove the hardware from his ankles on April 27. He won't be in casts again but will be quite sore for a few weeks.  David has a new position with his current company- such an answer to prayer! He completed his training, and he's loving it.  Flying+teaching+new challenge= happier David!

Last week David and I had the privilege of attending Abigail's 8th grade dinner at her school. The school hosts this each year as a "sending off" to high school (sniff sniff!). The following photos were part of a slide show as one of her favorite teachers (who happens to be one of our good friends plus her discipleship leader) read a "scroll" about Abigail. One of the verses shared and a prayer from her teacher was from Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Her teacher (my friend) was shocked to hear me say that has been one of my main verses I've prayed for Abigail since she started middle school...love that!

2 years old

4 years old

7 years old

Third year playing volleyball for her school team-doing what she loves!

13 years old....ummm, where did my baby go??? Your dad and I are thankful for the young lady you are becoming.  I can't believe you're about to be in high school. You are a joyful, adventurous, quirky, lovable, teachable, and beautiful young lady.  I love you the mostest!

What a Year!

A year since this...

Right before we left hotel to meet Chan...a tad stressed.

First moment Audrey An and Chan were reunited after almost 5 years.

I'm trying not to do the ugly cry in front of beautiful Kim- Chan's bridge foster mama for the two weeks prior to our travel.

He was loved on and introduced to The Good News!

Having a "pow wow" with Kim and Damon...trying to find out what his day had been like, learn to say SOMETHING comforting to him, and ummm... trying not to panic.

This is so Audrey An..."Here, have a lollipop, and it will all be ok."

His new family was NOT finding a way to comfort him at this point! We were looking at a scrapbook the orphanage director had made for us (we received one for Audrey An, too, on her Gotcha Day).

The girls were trying so hard...we all felt absolutely helpless. I think we saw more of the back of those sweet hands for the first couple of hours that day than his face.

Our first family photo.

teeny tiny grin...maybe

Such a difficult moment for me to watch this...but not as hard as for Chan.

Not wanting to even look at the camera and David not knowing how to console him.

My fake smile for his visa photo...my heart was breaking for him.

The next day we returned to the same office to make it "official"...blue fingerprints and all for us and blue handprint for Chan.

Then, a couple of days later, we had the privilege of traveling to the village where Audrey An and Chan lived.  We were greeted by, basically, the "mayor".  We were the first family to have ever returned to the village.  They were so excited we had returned and invited us back.

And...he's off.  He knew exactly where to go.

Something very special in that bag...you'll have to ask one of us what we left them.

Meeting the woman who cared for my "twins" for many years.  Surreal.

Oh, they were so thrilled to see each other.That's AA's bed to the right.

 

Chan, words cannot express how brave I think know you are! You are not the same boy we met one year ago. Looking at these pictures brings an incredible amount of emotion to me remembering not only the past year WITH you but remembering the past 6 years praying FOR you.  I never dreamed the first time I saw your face in a photo with Audrey An and your foster family 6 years ago that the Lord had already planned for you to be my son! It makes me gasp, shiver,and stand in awe how God knows things WAY better than I! It's been one of the hardest years of my life- lots of transition, lots of unexpected detours both professionally and personally (yes, I said professionally...I'll let you ponder on that) with many one steps forward then two or three or four steps backward.  Just a wonderful reminder of saying "yes" to God isn't always an easy road to travel. God knows what it will take to mold our character into what He wants, and man...I feel like I've repeated kindergarten about 100 times!

First day of third grade...HUGE answer to prayer of mine! He started to school where the girls go a week after the second semester started. He's amazing!

Most important decision ever made...and worth everything it took to bring you into our family: January 2, 2015 you were adopted  for the second time- adopted by The King as you trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior! One of my many prayers for you sweet boy is that you will fully and completely rely on Jesus Christ for everything. You've endured such transition.  You've showed us how smart you are, how creative you are, how funny you are, how strong you are, how sensitive you are, how stubborn you are, and how you can light up a room with your killer smile!

 Happy first Gotcha Day!