5/11 Flying away

When we first began to learn about our daughter's orphanage in mid 2007, we thought we were the only family adopting an older child from Zhuhai. If you have followed our story, you may remember that in time we learned that 10 other girls around Jen's age were also in the process of being adopted. It took a long time to meet the parents over the Internet and find out who was going where and when. The first girl from the group left in late 2007 and then Jen was next to fly away at Christmas.

When we visited her orphanage, we were so anxious to see the other children who were waiting with Jen. However, that was not to be and we only saw their pictures on a bulletin board. So it has been very exciting to follow the news as each family traveled to meet their child and visited Zhuhai and sent back pictures and news of the children they met who were still waiting.

It has taken many months but today the last child in that group of 11 will meet her mother and father for the first time. We learned about this little girl almost a year ago and she has been on our heart ever since. We are celebrating that she will be joined together with her family in just a few hours. Months ago, we prayed that God would put us in touch with her family and He did. We look forward to the days ahead when Jen can reconnect with a sweet child who she thinks of so fondly.

It seems fitting to us that all of this has happened as Jen had her first experience with a catepillar and a butterfly. Just a little while ago, the tiny monarch catepillar in our backyard became Jen's first science experiment. She watched as he grew and she helped feed it with leaves from the butterfly bush.

Jen's first biology experiment







Through the "miracle" of metamorphosis, that catepillar has become a butterfly. It flapped its wings and was off to find its way in this world -- having fallen asleep as a catepillar and awoken as a butterfly.

On the playground at Zhuhai, 11 girls sat together in 2007 waiting for their adoption day. By the mercy and providence of God, each child eventually met their Momma and Daddy



And now, for a brief moment, that same playground sits empty -- that moment in time when 11 girls gathered is now past. That playground will be full once again and we pray that in God's time, many others will find their forever families.


Adoption...as many have said...is at the heart of God.

We celebrate with the 11 who have flown away and for all who will one day fly to a new life.

May God's tender care be with all those who are still in Zhuhai