We Got You!

A year ago this month, my parents sat in a big room in China with many other adoptive families and received our girl!  Looking back over the past year, we know we had no idea what it would be like to have a new adopted little one in the family.  Yes, we were ‘educated’ by our agency and had observed other families, but our first year was nothing like we anticipated.  Often as humans, we want to know what the future holds and what our life will look like down the road.  However, we are so thankful that only God knew what this year held.  The victories have been wonderful but they have only come with much struggle.  

It is such a blessing to watch Hope blossom in so many ways.  Her sense of humor is coming out more and she enjoys being the baby of the family:)  She is also quite the copycat and we love to watch her make many funny face contortions.

Enjoying the fall season with big brother.

In September we attended a wonderful wedding.  Luke enjoyed taking apart the truck decorations afterwards.

The little guys performing a science experiment in the best location…outside!

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Isaiah 42:5-7

Learning to Give

“I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Acts 20:35

Living in a larger family has many unique joys, opportunities, blessings, and lessons.  There is always someone to talk to, someone to listen to, someone to work with, someone to play with, someone to learn with, and someone to cook for.  When you live with many people day in and day out, the depraved nature of man is also seen in a multiplied sense.  Each one of us is born selfish and with the desire to gratify ourselves immediately.  Family life is an excellent and God designed institution to teach every member that it is “more blessed to give than to receive.”


Our newest member, little Hope is beginning to learn this lesson too.  Even though she has been with us less than a year, it is so important that she learns that she is not a body to be cared for, but a person made in the image of God who was created to work.  She has learned to enjoy her little chores of cleaning her tray, throwing trash away, putting dirty clothes in the basket, helping Momma with sticks in the yard, and cleaning up her toys.  She can be particular that things are put away just so!


The ability to accept, want, and give nurturing personal love is another area that Hope has had to learn.  Dependence on parents is an area that will be a work in progress for quite awhile.  On day one in China, Hope was given her first doll and has been encouraged and taught to love baby.  She has a few dollies now and they are becoming her favorite toys.  It is so sweet to see Hope carry baby around the house as she follows Momma.


Food is one of the hardest areas for us to understand Hope’s background and for her to trust Mom and Dad with.  Tears were a normal occurrence at meal time because her expectations were not met.  Praise the Lord, there has been some big improvement in the past few weeks!  Recently, Mom gave Hope a toy bottle and taught her how to feed baby.  To see Hope give her baby food (her previous security and purpose in life) was wonderful!!  Does Hope completely understand what she was doing?  Probably not.  But she is learning that she is not here to be served in every way she desires.  She is a person created to serve her Savior and blessed to take part in the dignity of work for His glory.
Hope is not the only one working on selflessness, each one of us is a work in progress.  For me, it can be much easier to busy myself with household chores instead of keeping an eye out for relationships I can invest in.  Jesus has time for the little children, to create beautiful flowers, birds, and trees for His glory and the enjoyment of His creations.  As a follower of Christ, do I have time to patiently help my little brother with his math, listen to my brother talk about his latest invention in the shop, play the harp at a moment’s notice to help my Mom relax, or do the dishes for my tired brother even if I am ready for a break?
Today, what special way can you follow Christ’s example by experiencing the fact that it is “more blessed to give than to receive”?

When Hope Comes Home

The Lord has been leading our family down the adoption road for the past year and a half.  We were matched with a precious little girl in April and have been working ever since toward her home-coming.  Last month, Dad and Mom flew to China to pick up our little Hope.

The outside of the fancy hotel my parents stayed in throughout their trip.

Welcome to check-in!

The view outside their window.

My parents arrived on Sunday, November 10 and did their best to stay awake all day so they would be fresh to receive Hope on Monday.

Waiting for Hope to walk through the door.  Priceless!

Here she is!

Checking each other out.

The new family…Praise the Lord!

For the next 11 days, my parents visited government buildings and toured.  This structure used to be the highest in the world.

A Chinese farmer recreation at the history museum.

Playing at the park.

Hope is not used to being outside…so much to see.

A saleslady doing her best to sell tea.  I think the sweet cat is a set-up:)

Near the end of the trip, the trio visited the zoo.

Sleepy kangaroos.

Happy Guy:)

My parents brought home two calabashes.  They are similar to a recorder but have a more hollow sound.

Spending time with another adoptive family.

This was the best view of the pandas in the zoo, the rest were in a building behind a fence.

The rest of the crew waiting for the airplane to come in.

There it is!!!

Welcome Home!

Meeting her brothers.

What a wonderful homecoming!

The new and very happy family.

Hi Philip.

The rest of us were home with a couple from Church while Dad and Mom were away.

Jet lag:)

Miss princess with her Daddy, who is still sleeping!

Some daily steps of improvement include:

~ Making eye contact

~ Drinking American formula

~ Eating sweet potato puffs (from a spoon!!)

~ Allowing her hair and teeth brushed

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Romans 15:13