Birthdays and Beginnings

Today, I celebrate the one who gave me the gift of motherhood. Jacob is a true gift and I am grateful that we are sharing this experience together. To think, only God knew on Jacob's 9th birthday his sister was being born on the other side of the world! He, of course, is the glue holding this whole operation together. I embarrass him hourly, but he hasn't bailed on me yet! Maggie is quite enamored with him.



Maggie Grace, even though I have only known her for 4 days, I feel as though it has been a lifetime. Our guide said, "I think she is girlie-girl". I agree, just like her mama!




Haddie and Maggie are doing well as they are getting to know one another. Maggie has had some moments when she has made it clear to Haddie she has been "big sistered" enough, but overall they really enjoy one another.


I am so proud of Haddie! Sharing mom and being sensitive to all these crazy circumstances is not easy at age 9. Being a big sis to Libi has prepared her for much of what she has endured in this last week. I will never forget how she was overcome with emotion when she first met her sister!





Orphanage visit:
On our way to the orphanage Maggie withdrew into herself. I was concerned for what the day might hold for her little heart and prayed for God's hand of protection.





Upon our arrival her face brightened and Maggie bounded from the car. Being greeted warmly by all who crossed her path, it was clear that she was well loved in this place.

What I saw today is hard to fully communicate. Hope mixed with hopelessness in such a bittersweet dance. The Dongguan Social Welfare Institute is home to over 900 children. Please allow that to soak in. This is only one city, one orphanage out of thousands in China. 900 children, you do the math.

May the pictures below speak to your soul:


































This little angel was in time out. It was very difficult for me not to rescue him!!!

These last 3 children we had the privilege to meet are available for adoption through Madison Adoption Associates. They were all so wonderful!


Age 8, cannot bare weight on his legs. He is very bright, and sings beautifully!


This little honey is very tiny! She is 6 and very tiny. It is not known why she is small, but she is in good health, and cognitively on track.


This last handsome dude has killer dimples. He is 7 and deaf. He has begun to learn sign language and is quite bright. Other than his inability to hear he is a healthy and happy boy!

All of the children we saw carried some type of special need label, but everyone was a delightful child capable of blessing a family with inexplicable JOY!! If given individual medical care and a family they would all make huge strides both mentally and physically.

After visiting the children we were taken to a room with black couches and over in the corner sat Maggie's foster mother. Maggie quietly sat down near her.



Her foster mother is quite smitten with Maggie. She shared with us that Maggie was her favorite. She brought Maggie a birthday cake and a card that her teachers had sent. Her foster mother informed us that Maggie was all of her teachers' favorite too because she is such a sweet girl! She received an A+ in English, and that is her favorite subject.


She helped Maggie cut the birthday cake and serve everyone with warm hospitality. I remarked to Jacob that Maggie has had some good training. Maggie has lived with her foster family for almost two years. There were 4 other children in the home, ages 10, 8, 7 and 4. We were told that Maggie got along well with the children, but she typically was the one in charge. This should greatly concern anyone who knows anything about Haddie!


When it was time to go, Maggie grabbed Haddie's hand and they dashed out of the building.







We made one last stop in the village where Maggie was found. I really have no words for that.

I once was lost....


But now I'm found!!!!!

Maggie slept on me all the way back to the hotel.

Giggles and Grins

I lay here typing this, with two little giggly girls next to me, and as the bed jiggles with their laughter I feel it sums up this day. It has been a relaxing day, and Maggie has grown more comfortable and secure. With that security has come joy. I am keeping this post short and sweet, because mama is tired!

Tomorrow we will travel to the orphanage and possibly meet Maggie's foster family. We will celebrate Jacob's 18th and Maggie's 9 th birthday, which will make me miss Brad, Joel,Jack, and Libi even more!!!

Thank you for your prayers. Know that your comments and emails are water to my soul as I cling to them daily as a connection to home!

Thanks and praise to God our Father who lavishes good gifts on us, His children!

By Grace

"For by GRACE you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9

GRACE=receiving something that you do not deserve




It is hard for me to share, because my heart is overflowing! As the day passes by it is filled with moments that I desire to hide away in my heart forever! Only God fully knows the scope of what has been unfolding over the last 24 hours, but a great blessing of healing has been poured out on my mama heart. Deep places of loss and rejection within my heart are being restored through the healing balm of His grace.

Maggie slept sweetly. She snuggled into bed sandwiched between Haddie and I, as if we had been doing so for years. When she woke this morning she greeted me with a precious smile.

We spent a bit of time on Skype. She enjoys seeing Brad, Joel, Jack, and Libi. It always makes her smile. How my heart aches for the day we are all together!

We pulled out our clothes for the day, and I had matching shirts for the girls and I that say, ..."by Grace". It is true, that all of this is only because of God's great grace. (You can imagine Jacob was disappointed not to have one!)

As we headed out into the majestic lobby of this hotel, I looked down at Maggie and she was simply beaming! She held her high. I told Jacob, she feels like a princess being paraded before her royal subjects.

Food has been a difficult barrier. She is eating, but seems to be opinionated about what she likes. Jacob and I are striving to unlock this mystery.

After breakfast we headed to do our finalization of her adoption papers. Jacob chose to stay behind at the hotel. Maggie was so nervous. In the car, she had a hold of my hand and Haddie's the whole way to the Civil Affairs office. Her whole demeanor changed. She walked with purpose, keeping a visual lock on her sister, who was walking with the guide in front of us. Her hand was sweaty as it held on to mine, and she held on with a desperation that was screaming, "please, don't let go!"



Our guide told me before we arrived that one of the officers we might encounter can sometimes drink too much and say inappropriate things. He told me to ignore him if that happened. That was a bit disconcerting, but onward we went.

At one point I was briefly interviewed by an officer, being asked if I was satisfied with Maggie and did I wish to complete the adoption. I thought, "Are you serious?" I told the officer I was MORE than satisfied and absolutely wanted to continue the adoption process of her!

Walking out of the room I thought of Psalm 81:10-16. The Lord tells the Israelites that He is the One who satisfies them, all they need to do is: listen, submit, follow, open WIDE their mouths and He would FILL them!!! I am feeling very full here in China!



Maggie had to answer some of her own questions during the interviews. Her voice is soft and sweet. Haddie and I both turned to each other and said, "Awe!" when she spoke. We are both pretty smitten with her!




Upon our return to the hotel we decided to go swimming. Maggie was excited and the giggles flooded the bathroom as the girls got changed into their suits. We navigated our way to the pool, and you seriously would have thought I was escorting the child into the Magic Kingdom as we entered the pool. Maggie was laughing out loud!

The pool proved to be quite a good decision. Maggie and Haddie had a blast! Maggie did not want me far from her, and held my hand most of the time. If she lost hold of me, she quickly reached out, calling "Mama, Mama!" After about an hour of swimming it started to drizzle rain. I gathered our things and the girls under a table with an umbrella. Thinking the rain would quickly pass over I pulled out a snack. In just a few short minutes we found ourselves in the midst of a downpour, that not even our umbrella could offer us protection from! We made our plan of escape, with one of us unable to speak the same language, mind you, and we screamed and giggled our girlie selves out of the pool area. We were truly singing in the rain!!!!

What we have learned so far....

MORE, so much MORE than I imagined! It is 3:19 AM (we are 13 hours ahead of you there) and I am wide awake, talking to the Lord about my amazing new girl!
She loves her mama. All praise to You, Lord. If I step into the bathroom, or living room, she has to come with me. She kept touching my necklace that I have been wearing for the last 3 months that says, "mama" in Chinese. We snuggled up in bed for sleep tonight like we had been for years! She allowed me to bathe, put lotion, and dress her. Actually, didn't just allow, but welcomed it with great JOY! I had both of the girls in the tub and got them out, all bundled on their towels. I was trying to warm them up, and while I was cuddling Haddie, she said, "mom, I'm okay, take care of Maggie."
Haddie is amazing! She gets that my attention needs to be somewhere else and at times redirects me to Maggie from her.
I am not sure if we have pictures or video of it, but when Maggie walks out of the room for the first time, Haddie was holding my phone which had Brad, Joel and Jack on Skype. Well, Haddie broke down and was just sobbing! Then, Mr.Amazing Jacob stepped in!!! Oh my, I could hear him talking her through it and comforting her. She was so overcome with emotion over her sister! It was such a beautiful thing!
Jacob is amazing, as I said, he truly has been my ROCK, my man child in many ways. It has been comforting to have him here with me, and be my voice of stability. I was clinging to his arm just before Maggie came out, and I think he thought I was going to lose my mind, if I hadn't already! :)
Maggie Grace is:
* thoughtful and kind. If she gets her water, she gets someone else's. If she takes a chip she insists you have one too, to the point of shoving it in your mouth! Haddie finds this very funny. Haddie will continue to say "no thank you" and the next thing you know she has chips crammed in her mouth!
* delicate and dainty. The way she holds things with her little finger up in the air. Her fingers are long and thin. Food was a bit of a stopping point tonight that brought sadness. Jacob and I tried everything. Finally at bedtime she munched on a pear. Of course, she got a pear for Haddie as well, who really struggles with eating fruit that is not cut, but Haddie knew if she didn't start eating that thing "someone" would shove it down her throat!
* puts on her shoes every time she goes to the bathroom. That may be for support. Her gait is pretty funky. I am not totally sure what is going on, but honestly, I don't care. That will all get figured out with time. She does not need much assistance, we will see how long periods of walking go for her.
We will head to do all the final adoption paperwork tomorrow morning, and then go to a Walmart type store. I will keep everyone posted. I cannot thank you enough for praying us through this journey, and now it's TRUE beginning. God has done a beautiful thing and it is marvelous in our eyes!!!!!

I cannot express how amazing this day has been! I will post more details, but I know you want pics....





Waiting....



She's here! She liked my red shirt! :) that was pretty much the only thing she said.



She pulled out suckers and gave one to Jacob and on to Haddie!!! She went through everything in her bag, and it was just a few of the items had sent in a package to her, including a stuffed cat, that looks like she has had it her whole life! It appears she took it everywhere!


She started to feel sad. It was crazy in there!!! Babies screaming...Chinese shouting everywhere, loudly...


Poor girl! The tears came...
She cried all the way back to the hotel. It was so sad.




Once in the room we discovered her red foot from the stamp on the official documentation. We all started cracking up!


From then on it's been golden!





Not too crazy about anything I came up with for dinner. Pray for that one. Breakfast tomorrow should give us a better idea.



Oh my! Need I say more? The picture is worth a thousand words!
Dreams come true!!!! Great God of Grace we rejoice in Your awesome plan!

Location:Grace! Grace!!!