"Why do you wish to adopt"

The Civil Affairs officer asked us why we wish to adopt when we have children of our own?  I gave an answer that has become a part of who we are as a family – “because we have room at our table.”  There is that and it is true but there is something more.  Isaac has been ours for only about 18 hours legally and yet already I can’t imagine him anywhere else.  It doesn’t seem that he has a “past” that does not include us.  I pray that God will cleanse his heart of any fears that remain from his early days and build upon the joys that Isaac has had. We can tell that the doctor and nannies from the orphanage really do love Isaac.  It has to be hard for them to let him go but they cared for him with the hope that one day he would have his own family. And now he does.  I pray Father that you will bless them and bring them great understanding of your peace and providence. Why have we adopted Isaac?  Because he is ours and we are his and it is as God has planned that it should be.

            Even now, Isaac Kehau is asleep for his afternoon nap.  He has been to the Civil Affairs office, the Notary office, Wal Mart, lunch at a Chinese Restaurant and a walk around the lake.  The food in Beijing was not that great but here it is awesome.  Isaac loves it and so do we all!  This afternoon we will go for a walk down the street and see what happens.  Everyone we have met in Fuzhou has been so kind. On Monday, as we waited in the Beijing airport for our flight to Fuzhou, we sat with several Chinese also going to Fuzhou.  Nathan is finishing up Mandarin 2 at Marvin Ridge High School and was able to put it to use.  The grandmothers and grandfathers wanted to play with Abby and even bought her some candy.  They carried on a conversation with Nathan about what we are doing.  Then a couple of teenage girls got into the conversation and either they were practicing their English or Nathan was practicing his Mandarin or perhaps some of both. 

            We will remain in Fuzhou until Friday afternoon for the paperwork to be completed.  That does leave us two free days.  Free in that no legal meetings are planned…  We will likely visit the Panda Zoo Wednesday and perhaps Putian on Thursday.  Putian is 2 hours away and is Isaac’s home town.  We will not be able to visit the orphanage because of the swine flu mess but could visit the area.

            In my time in the Word today, I read in Psalm 67 – “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth and your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you O God, May all the peoples praise you.”  His way is the way of a selfless love and gracious adoption…I am not worthy of the privilege of being adopted by God nor of the privilege of being Isaac’s father.  Why would he adopt me when he has so many other children?  Why add one that will only bring him more trouble?  And yet he did adopt me as his own and he claims me in the heavens.  Why would I adopt Isaac?  Because I am adopted…I am a son and have a Heavenly Father… because Isaac deserves to be a son – he was created to be a son – just as I was created to be a son and a father… Isaac’s father. 

            My bride and my son are sleeping still.  Afternoon naps are wonderful.  I think I will give it a try!

Laughter

Isaac means "laughter" and Harrison felt this was what God wanted us to name our son.  The info about KeHua said he likes to laugh.  Well, there has been a lot of laughter in our hotel room yesterday afternoon and this morning.

Yesterday Isaac was very peaceful as he was put in my lap by the nanny.  She cried a bit, and he did too.  It was obvious he is very loved and well cared for.  The transition to me was miraculous.  The many prayers that have been lifted up were answered.  Thank you.  After brief sorrow, he looked at me expectantly then leaned against my chest.  When the meeting was over and everyone from the orphanage left, he began to cry.  I did too.  But we quickly got him distracted and came to our room.  He quietly observed his surroundings then began to play.

He is a very good tempered sweetie.  And a chunk!  They weren't exaggerating about 30 lbs!  He is solid.  Sweet expressive eyes and a ready grin or laugh.  Yesterday when we got back to the hotel room his siblings started doing handstands and tumbling for him and he cackled!  He began gently tackling Abby and laughing, playing catch with all of us.  He seems very content and delighted.  He has a beautiful laugh.  His voice is a little raspy which i'm not sure if from a cold or from the cleft palate.  But he is very expressive.

I've been giving the siblings "Isaac time" with one on one play time with him.  But mostly it's mommy day!  Time to go!
Blessings,
Sandy

Sweet Sleeper!

Isaac slept all night long!  He is loving his mommy and daddy and brothers and Abby!  He loves to wrestle and laugh and play "back and forth" with a ball.  Yes, he is walking and running!!!  We just realized our house is not nearly baby-proof enough!  He still takes a bottle, which Sandy is enjoying very much1
We are off to the Civil-Affairs office to receive our certificate of adoption!  There is so much to tell - we will get it all down this afternoon...

Is This REAL or Just A Dream?

That was Abby's question as we prepared to pick up Isaac Kehua.  It this real or just a dream?  It is real!  Our son is now sleeping contented in his mommy's arms.  Wow. We received Isaac Monday afternoon, May 3rd, did a little paperwork and took him to our room at the Lakeside Hotel in Fuzhou. He cried for a few seconds but that was it. He, as Jonathan put it, "is the baby BOSS."  WE took him to the restaurant and he ate noodles, and bananas and cheerios and anything else he could reach!  Isaac can stack the stacking cups upside down, he has a strong throwing arm, can kick the ball and he can laugh really well.

Sandy just lay him in his bed and he kept on sleeping.  It does seem like a dream but it is so very real.  Isaac has a forever family, a daddy and a mommy and sisters and brothers, and a home with a table that has more than enough room for him.

Pictures will come later.  Thank you all for praying.  The fervent prayers of a righteous one are very powerful and effective.
Grace,

Gottcha!!!

Today is Gottcha Day!  We have a 2 1/2 hour flight at 11:30 that will take us to our son's province, Fujian.  Shortly afterwards, they will put him in our arms.  Yippee!  We will be the only family from our group going to this location but we will have an English speaking guide.

We have be on the go since we got here.  There are 19 families in our group adopting children with all kinds of special needs from limb differences, heart issues, cleft lip/cleft palate, and older children.  We have really bonded with these other families, three of which have also brought their children along making 11 children in our group.

This weekend has been Labor Day and Oh My Goodness!!  Everyone is on holiday with a long weekend vacation from their work.  Going to Tianemen Square, The Forbidden City, The Summer Palace and then The Great Wall with a million people has been quite an experience.  When we came here in December 05 it was so cold we were freezing.  This time it has been beautiful, breezy and 80 degrees, but so crowded that it has been a bit warmer.  We did eat some ice cream at the Great Wall, Sarah!  :)  And Rebekah, Abby kept encouraging Daddy to keep going to the top of the Wall.  So the boys, Harrison and Abby, walked very far to the 3rd guard tower on the Wall. I made it a little past the 2nd one and then the heat, smell and crowd got to me.  I still had an amazing view.  While I was waiting for the others to come down, several people asked to take their picture with me.  There is a little blonde haired girl in our group and she has had people stand in a line to get a photo with her!  Amazing.

Everyone has been so kind to us.  Abby has gotten special attention everywhere she goes.  She has been such an amazing trooper enduring long bus rides, crowds and non stop schedule.  She finally bought a fan which she has wanted for years!  She is ecstatic about meeting Isaac today too and often sings little songs like "we are coming to get you, my little baby brother".  Very sweet.  This trip seems to have given her so much confidence.  I am delighted.  The boys are enjoying it too and Nathan has gotten to use a little Mandarin.

We'll send photos of our Gottcha day!
Much Love,
Sandy

We made it!

Wow...  We are checked into our hotel in Beijing a full 24 hours after we woke up yesterday.  It's Friday evening here and we are not sure whether to eat breakfast or supper.  Or sleeeeep!
Tomorrow will be spent observing some of the Chinese culture and getting our bodies adjusted to the 12 hour time difference.

VISA is in flight

VISA approved! America World Adoption picked it up at the airport in DC, took it straight to the Chinese Embassy and took it back to the airport where it was buckled into a seat bound for Charlotte! Praise God! China here we come!