Glimpses of Divine Design

It strikes me the strangest moments.  The split second when the Divine and my natural experience collide and for a brief moment I catch a glimpse of more of His handiwork.    Those moments give me the goosebumps.  They thrill me...they capture my imagination...and they leave me eager for more of His revelation.

Today Daddy and I sat across the table from a truly great man.  I wrote about him a short while ago. Lu Ping, is a man who along with his wife, is raising 34 children.  We were thrilled to receive the call that he was traveling from his countryside home, seven hours away, to pay us a visit.  We were so pleased to meet his daughter, and a foster daughter, who help care for the 34 children.  His face is so peaceful, so radiant, that I find myself so attracted to the Divine image he bears in his mortal flesh.  Truly, He is an example that mankind was fashioned after the Creator.

We toured our school, talked about some future projects that we will undertake together, and spoke deeply about our shared heart for children in crisis.  We listened as he told us more about his history.  How he first became involved in the work of caring for children.  As a single, young man, he was renting a room in a countryside village.  There was a young boy he saw regularly, seemingly without anyone to care for him.  After inquiring of some of the locals, he was told that the boy lived under the bridge on the outskirts of the village.  One night he went looking for the boy, and he found him, living alone, under the bridge.  He gave the young boy food, and the jacket off his back.  The boy promptly followed him home and that was the start of a project that has already "graduated 30" children, and has just 34 more.  Although, he is now in an expansion phase with the building of a new school and dormitory, so, more children might soon come in.

He is a slight man of build.  His eyes are so kind.  We talked about helping him get some care for a special needs boy in his home.  We dreamed of future visits from us to them to help with teaching and training the children at his newly expanded compound.  We considered partnering his school with ours, ours to support their learning and helping by training their teachers...perhaps ongoing humanitarian efforts.    It appears to be a big, wide-open door of need, and I think we glimpsed some of His arrangement of these things.  Please, lift us up as we attempt to understand the path we are to travel toward these projects.

On the adoption front, the boys continue to do well.  We've had some really encouraging signs in terms of sensation for Mr. E.  He is supposed to be without feeling below his torso.  However, on several occasions now, in various ways, he has demonstrated that in fact, he has some sensation in his upper thighs!  This could have many implications! We are believing, as we do for all our kids, for healing of the body, mind, and spirit!

Tomorrow is yet another field trip!  I know....how can this keep up?  We really don't know!  But, we're off with our Elementary kids tomorrow to visit the self-same botanical gardens.(My second visit in as many weeks!)  We have a six day work week next week, and then we're off to the South to complete the all-important visa portion of the adoption process!  Parts of our tribe will be down South for one week...while others will return home with teammates to have a three-day school week!

Last night we were able to get back to our routine of individually "dating" our kids.  We have a special evening, every-other week, when the other 8 kids stay home, and Daddy and I take out one kiddo on a date. I'm going to post a photo of Brownie on her date with us.  She kept saying, "This is the best!"  My heart was so grateful for His grace to allow us these special times with our precious ones!

Must run for now...will keep trying to write...especially as I have pictures to share!

Above:  Brownie's date night.

Above: our Team with Lu Ping and his daughters, he is in the center of the photo, the shortest one there, in a gray shirt

Below:  We were blessed by their agreement to stay and go out for "hot pot" with us!  Though the lighting is bad, Lu Ping is in the center.

We are amazed by the work of His hands! 

Hangin' Tough

I can honestly say that I'm amazed at how well everything is going thus far with Mr. E and Mr. N.   Truly, my expectations were FAR lower and those low expectations have become my friends over the last 20 years (I spent the first 20 years of my life impossibly disappointed by my expectations of everything and everyone!)

Mr. E is like velcro, picking up every word or routine that passes by him.  His most recent issue is the love of eating.  He tells us he is hungry ALL THE TIME!  The last few mornings his pre-breakfast was three hard boiled eggs!  I don't know where he's putting it all, but his tiny frame is in for some major changes if he keeps this up!   Got this photo of him from a week ago...and it shows his charming, money-making smile...

He's such a morning guy...every morning when I go to the boys' room to wake them, he smiles this smile and says "Good morning!"  then "Wo ai ni Momma!" ("I love you Momma!")  How blessed am I?

Mr. N is excelling in the department of quick learning of the rules.  He is now the one who quickly tells the others when they are out of line.  This new sheriff in town is not so well received by the rest of the posse when he's trying to enforce the rules he himself only learned over the past 14 days.  Today I was taking him out, by himself, to run some errands with me.  I was teaching him some of the English words for colors and our clothes.  When we both realized we were wearing red, he smiled this huge smile, and hugged me with glee...because we were matching!  It was so dear.  We have always be watching him and how he relates to everyone else at this point, but he is charming and so fun.  He loves to sing and dance...and he is officially now the Drama King of the family.  (And THAT is saying something!)

A photo of he and The Bug while out on the "teacher's field trip" on Saturday:

Must get off to sleep.  Have to work on tracking down a missing passport (Mr. E's) that was supposed to have arrived to us over one week ago.  It is sort of an important detail...

Another TV interview tomorrow, too...it is amazing that there are still folks interested in our story...they'll come for 2-3 hours and follow us around and interview us...praying that the message of LOVE will be heard and understood.

Going to give you a few more photos here from the past couple of days...more coming soon...

Above:  On Easter morning, our two guys (The Bruiser & The Singer) played in the band as we sang to celebrate the day!

Above:  Magpie and one of our teammates, Mrs. V

Below:  Our front door (and one half of our shoe racks)..thought you'd be interested to see...

Below:  My Blue Flames English Class - most were trying to appear stoic and studious I guess, thus the limited smiles...man, I love these students!

Below:  The Singer snapped this photo of me in our elevator...he was so proud that he got me in the frame on this one!

Below: At the teacher's retreat on Saturday, Daddy snapped this safety warning...

Below:  Daddy, in a photo NOT taken by himself, at the teacher's retreat

Below:  Some of our girls with Mrs. V in the countryside

Below:  Bub, will be a first grader next year...all the ladies love him...

Below:  Brownie in a rare, non-crossed-eye, non-crazy photo shot

Off to start Monday...Sunday was a good day...but all good things must come to an end...

Easter 2012

Another weekend of big firsts for our two newest additions.  They started the next week of school this morning.  Mr. N did really well, except for his propensity that if you "start" something with him, he's going to "finish" it.  A few different kids apparently bumped into him during the school day, and he came out swinging.  This afternoon he and I ran around town trying to get some of his adoption documents finalized.  We were in two different government offices and he was a dream.  The ladies at the Civil Affairs office checked twice to see if he was the same guy who'd terrorized their office just a little over one week ago!

Mr. E is showing that he has great fortitude when it comes to getting his way.  The drop off with his aide this morning was smooth.  He was pretty smiley and happy.  But sometime later in the morning, he refused to go to English class.  He was coaxed and encouraged, but as he has shown us several times this week at home, he EXPECTS to get his way.  So, he was told he could not go on the "walk" with his aide, mid-morning.  In fact, he could not do anything else until he calmed down and received his English lesson.  Two hours later, he relented.  This character trait will serve him well, no doubt.  But, it is really a major issue in acclimating him to life outside the orphanage nursery!

Some photos of our weekend:

Above & Below:  The Team together for an egg coloring party....5 dozen eggs are colored in minutes with a crew this size!

Below:  Mr. N colors his very first Easter egg

Below:  Now a pro...The Singer is all over his first egg of the season.

Below:  I think Daddy shot this photo himself...he really excels in self-portraits ;)  (Magpie is stifling a laugh.)

Below:  Mrs. V, Brownie and The Bug celebrating the day together.

Below:  Mr. V gets a shot with Brownie too...and Mr. N aims a gun at the camera...don't know where the gun came from...but of course, it is his FAVORITE thing in this house!  AHHHHH!

Below:  Mr. & Mrs. S along with Potato show off some of their hard work/

Below:  Easter morning in the holding cell...waiting for Momma to say..."go hunt for the baskets"

Below:  The first basket was found by Potato

Below:  The Bug is always photo-ready, despite the 6:15 am hour!

Below:  Mr. N is all over this candy in a basket portion of the holiday.

Below:  Mr. E can't believe everything going on around him.  Lots more laughs than fearful eyes...this is a sampling of his infectious smile!

Below:  The highlight of my weekend...at our Easter gathering...Magpie translates the Good News for Mr. N for the first time of his life...he was CAPTIVATED by the story of God's love, Jesus' sacrifice, and that the tomb was EMPTY!  It was something more beautiful to behold than I can ever tell you.  He spent the rest of the day pouring over the children's picture bible...then he told me later that God died...but He's alive today!  Oh the joy in my heart to hear those words from my son!

Below:  Prior to the outdoor egg hunt...an insane posse of hunters.

Below:  Bub is a champion egg hunter.

Below:  Mr. N reached his quota first...he LOVED it!

Below:  The Bruiser charmed us all with his independence and authority as he explained the "how to's" of egg hunting to both Mr. N and Mr. E.

We are blessed.  We are exhausted.  We totter on the edge of feeling totally overwhelmed and periodically delighted by the changes in this brood.  But He is faithful, ever faithful, and encouraging us that we simply must let go and follow Him into the realm of faith...the absence of fear.

Tomorrow, more adventures and challenges await us.  Tonight, resting in His arms of love.

Life gets in the way...

...of writing this blog...

Wow, the first two days of school are done and our new life together is in full-swing.  For those in this family who like to have gradual change..they're out of luck.  Even for even those who are highly flexible, the current pace is mind-bending!

At any rate, sorry for those who have been waiting to hear how the first two days went...

I would say, generally, surprisingly good.  Things could have been a great deal worse, without a doubt.  So, the fact that we've arrived at Saturday, April 7 and we've had the boys for one full week, AND that they've met their teachers and fellow students...we've had a productive week.  I even capped off the week with our four hour monthly shopping trip to the huge "costco-ish" store far away from here last night!    Can anyone say adrenaline?

Mr. N enjoyed going to his first two days of school.  Warmly greeting everyone on the walk to school with "good morning!"  And he even shook hands with some of the teachers and the guards at the gates of the school!  He listened well to his teachers and (overall) and showed everyone how bright he is!  Controlling his behavior remains the biggest issue with him.  He really struggles with impulse control.  But, he is improving each day, at that is quite amazing.  I saw his a few times during the day and he would wave and smile warmly at me!  When his Daddy came to his classroom, he was greeted to a "running approach" hug!  Each day he shows us more personality.  I took him to the big shopping trip last night.  He and The Bruiser rode in the cart through the first part of the store.  But, when Beiber's "Baby, Baby, Baby" song started to play loudly, they both got up and started shaking their bodies!  In fact, two or three times, I saw Mr. N standing there listening to whatever music...dancing!  This was a something mentioned about him in his file written so long ago by the orphanage...that he loved to go outside with the groups of people who gather each evening to dance together all over the city.  (This is one of my favorite things about our host culture!)  At 5, he doesn't yet mind when I start shaking what my Momma gave me, alongside him in store!  ;)

Mr. E has enjoyed some shining moments of independence!  We have been given the use of his current wheelchair from a wonderful family who runs a foster home in BJ.  Mr. E is CRAZY for the independence of the chair and he is very skilled at moving it where he wants it to go.  He has some tearful/fitful experiences in his first two days.  But generally, they're not crying fits...but anger at not getting his way.  I think it would be safe to say that in the wonderful care he received at the private run orphanage over the past four years, that his baby-hood has been protracted!  ;)  He's used to being a little prince I think, with lots of adoring fans who catered to his wishes...the adjustment of "time to grow up" and "you can't always get what you want, WHEN you want it"...is probably the toughest so far for him.  In Mr. E's favor is his disposition (when not throwing a fit!)  He is warm, smiley, and quite gentle.  So he wins everyone over in a minute.  Unfortunately, for that same reason, everyone has a hard time saying "no" to him!   This week he started drinking from a cup!  He carried his own tray at lunchtime.  He went to school for two full days.  And he charmed dozens of new friends to round out his week!

Now for some photos before I must got and teach the boys about Easter egg coloring, the hunt tomorrow, and of course,   for at least one of them...share for the first time why this is the greatest holiday of the year for our family!

Your note and emails of encouragement to us this past week have meant more than we could ever say!  THANKS!

Below:  The first day of school for these 9 H Family Students (in order of age)

Below:  Mr. N is proud to be ready to go to his new school.

Below:  The scene the night before...three boys lounging...one Daddy trying to get some SLEEP (at any time available)

Below: The buddy system at work...on the walk to school.

Below:  Magpie and The Bruiser

Below:  Brownie and Mr. N

Below:  The Bug and The Singer

Below:  Mr. E pretty jazzed about his school day, too.

Below:  Mr. E feeding himself his lunch in his classroom.

Below:  So proud to be carrying his own tray from the lunch line to the table!!

We'll post Easter pictures soon.  We pray that you savor and celebrate the victory over fear and death that we are heirs to this weekend, and every day of the rest of our lives!  No matter what life brings our way, because of Easter we have confidence that we will not be overcome!  

He is risen!  He is risen, indeed!

My teachers

One of the great things about raising children is that you are continually reminded that they are often the better teachers than we.  Like some months ago, when I told Bub that he needed to hurry and be more independent when it came to dressing in our many winter layers.  I was frustrated and felt grouchy about fighting to keep him focused in the tight time constraints we have each morning.

I snarkily said to Bub, "Look at The Singer, he is two years older than you and he is getting himself dressed all alone!  You can do that too!"

Bub considered the facts for the moment with his fifth shirt over his head, but arms dangling lifelessly uninhabited.  He tilted his head, looked at his little brother (the one I had just compared him to, in a maternally unwise fashion), then he smiled broadly at The Singer, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Good Job brother, you're doing a good job all alone, without any help!"  It was so genuine and beautiful.  I sat there shocked at his lesson of grace and generosity.  I want to be so much more like my son, Bub.

Today, as the Tomb Sweeping holiday continues, we enjoyed more projects and various activities in our new family-way.  I took Ezra out with all his siblings, to the playground, where we met with his new teaching aide. She will be hired by our family to go to school with him, to help him engage in all areas of the classroom possible, and to tend to any special issues he might have.  

Ezra wheeled out, still a bit shyly, but with a cautious smile as he met his new aide, and the head teacher for his kindergarten room, my friend, Joanna.  After awhile, a crowd of local village kids and other parents of small children came to the playground.  They all wanted to see Ezra.  At first I worried that he would be a bit of a side-show, but in fact, he sat up proudly in his wheelchair meeting new person after new person.  Each one of them becoming charmed by his smile and gentle personality.  After some thirty minutes I saw how many of the most rough and tumble kids, were eagerly engaging with Ezra. Some of the older ones stroking his face or playing peek-a-boo.  Mothers of babies and hosts of others came and smiles and shook his hand, or greeted him warmly.

I had a deep sense of knowing today that we will all learn a great deal from Ezra.  He will be a great teacher not only for us, but for this whole community.

Below:  Daddy measures Ezra for the custom sleds he's making for Ezra to use at school and at home...of course Brownie is there to help, too.

Below:  Ezra is smitten with his Daddy.

Above:  Ezra needed a haircut desperately, so we were so pleased when one of our teammates, Mrs. S came over to give him a haircut...he is still happy in the above shot.

Below:  Ezra is fascinated with Brownie's glasses.

Below:  The last of the happy moments of the haircut...I now know WHY his hair was so long!  He HATES haircuts!  ;)

Below:  shots of the wedding, Brownie and Bub, the Bride and Groom

Below:  The Bride at the reception!  What a party!!!

Below:  One of the reception musicians...he as also a groomsman.

Below:  Other members of the wedding party.

Below:  Nehemiah shows us that he TRULY loves to dance.  He was keeping time with the music as he danced with his sister.  Absolutely darling as he spun her around the room.

Below:  The Groom (Bub) and one of the bridesmaids (Bug) cut a rug, too.

Nehemiah is transforming.  He so desires to do what we ask of him.  When we sat down at the table for breakfast this morning, he told all the siblings loudly that they must fold their hands because we had to do some "talking with our eyes closed" before we could eat!  Then he told them that no one could leave the table until everyone was finished eating.  He looked at me and smiled warmly to show that he was doing what we'd asked of him.  I thought about him in that moment, how he has experienced a total change in his life in just these past five days, and yet he is really trying to do what he can to adapt.  It would be natural for him to resist, to fight, to complain for sometime all the changes that are being required of him.  But he is not.  Instead, he is trying his best to engage with us, and to do what he must to become a family member.

I'm learning a great deal about my own adaptability and attitudes by watching Nehemiah.  How I fight circumstances that make me change my behaviors, customs, and attitudes!  Too often I drag my feet and protest the necessary adaptations to "blend in."  I want to be more like my son Nehemiah.  He is resilient, he is brave, and he has a willing attitude.  What a man he will grow up to be with those qualities!

Tomorrow we're off to sweep the tombs with our local Chinese family.  I promise photos from this most authentic cultural experience!

Grace and Peace to you who are following along.