Love, Loss and Legacy

Love--  Our sweetness turned 4 years old!  A simple act of love two years ago made this happen.  She was a sickly little girl, with no hope, in an orphanage without anyone to fight for her.  One woman refused to turn her back on her.  She fought for her heart surgery and we would later be blessed to have Huahua as our daughter.  We, along with Aunt Katie, celebrated her fourth birthday this past weekend.  Praise God for miracles and those willing to follow the call to fight for those who have no voice!

                                One of last family photos of our family of 6 (plus dog)

Loss-  Asher, a little heart warrior, went home to be with the Lord in Heaven on Feb 26.  24 days he fought hard and touched so many lives in such a short time all around the world.   His presence here on earth brought many people closer to the Lord.   As we ache for him, but we know his body no longer hurts and now is completely healed.  We love you sweet boy.  Please pray for his family and other families with little ones with heart conditions, as we come to terms with his loss and this fight against congenital heart disease.

Legacy-- Our article 5 was received this morning in Guangzhou and will move into awaiting out travel approval (TA).  Then we book flights and pick up our children!  TA can arrive anywhere from 1-2 weeks now and we will leave immediately! (Well within a few reasonable days)   When we think about how adoption affects our family, adoption creates not just a legacy for Ryan and I, and our immediate children.  But the legacy of this one act of adoption will affect generations to come!  Our biological children, their children and grandchildren  Our adoptive children's children, grandchildren. You get the point.  This act does not end with us.  God is working through us at this point but it's not the end.  His message will be received by many to come by our acts of faith, not fear.  

While at McDonald's tonight I had noticed this older gentleman watching the kids and I enjoy our "birthday dinner for Huahua.  I know, we went way out!  Ryan had a meeting and that's what the kids wanted!  Anyway, as we were leaving, he asked if the children were ALL mine?  I proudly said yes, even after he asked the third and fourth time.   Then I explained as a pregnant mama would I have two more on the way!!!!   He gasped and then the kids and I struck up a conversation up the two older couples about our family, showed the boys pictures, and why we adopted, and chose China and the process etc.  I don't mind sharing our story and I actually love to tell others why we are pursuing our children from the other side of the world....God called us to!  All lives are valuable.  All children are worthy of a mother and father!  All lives are created with a purpose and we are so fortunate to be living in obedience to HIM! As daunting as it is may seem to think about parenting six children, four children with medical special needs,  I thank God all my strength, power and endurance comes from HIM!

If you still want to contribute to our adoption fund, there is still a time left.  Please consider doing it soon.  Easiest way is one this website on the home page!   When TA arrives, funds will be needed to pay remaining expenses,  i.e.  travel, in-country expenses, and orphanages fees.  Thank you  for following our journey.  We are so close to the sweet reward of holding our boys!

                                                               Feng Nianjie   --recent picture!

                                                                Feng Yu ---most recent pic!

Heavy Hearts....

In the midst of this adoption process, I write with a heavy heart.  February is HEART Month.  Oh how our hearts ache.  I never thought I would be so entangled with congenital heart disease.  We rejoice for the medical miracles God has given us and ache for the grieving losses in life.  Why do some little ones win the battle and other fight so hard and lose.  Some are given second chances and others are not.   Just this week, a little one had a heart transplant in Boston. Praise!  And the other side of reality is another child had to lose their life for this child to live.  We will face that reality one day with our Huahua and I can't even stomach that thought.  Another little girl, Scarlett, had amazing cath results and can have the fontan surgery next week! A sweet little boy, Asher, was taken off the transplant list because his organs are shutting down.   We prayed for this little one to make it to full term and he did! and now he fights for his life at just 19 days old.  I just scream at the face of congenital heart disease.  You SUCK!!!   Birth "defects" suck!  But it was Jackson's short little leg (his birth defect) that led us to adoption.  We will never understand how God works!  Adoption changed our hearts in some amazing ways and I am so thankful for the path the Lord has put us on.  We have learned to love in ways we never thought possible, we take chances and love recklessly knowing we will probably be hurt.  We can do move forward with confidence because God loved us first.  But in truth I am scared at the same time for the journey that lies ahead.   We are about to fly across the world and bring into our family two more children with medical special needs.  One with severe orthopedic needs and one with a complex heart condition we don't even know the exact details.  My trust has to be in the One True Provider--- I can only fall back on the truths that we know.  God is good.  He is faithful.  Never changing.  Always loving, all knowing, always in control.  And he wants what is best for me, even if I don't understand the path he gives for me to walk.  I will never walk it alone.

Huahua taking her first walk after her open heart surgery.  So glad she had her mama to walk with her this time!

 For some reason it helps to look back and see how far we have come.  I have posted some pictures from the past few years.  Some highs and some lows. When we thought God was really far away, He truly was really close carrying us to a new journey only He could truly understand.

 What I have learned is that through our struggles, particularly the medical, our children have learned to care and love each other.  Not just our family but others with medical needs.

 Huahua home only a few weeks, learning to love this sister of hers!  Jordan falling in love with her forever sister!

               Celebrating one month home!  Tender caring for one another.  She wanted him to feed her :)

                                 True laughter a few weeks before her Fontan surgery.

                                        Sisterhood.  One of my favorite pictures ever!

                                  Celebrating 6 months home with ice cream.

                                                          Waterpark fun!!!!

 Pure Joy!














Last birthday as an orphan!  Jackson and Feng Nianjie celebrating their birthdays a world apart--Next year together forever.  Only God can create this love in Jackson's heart before he even meets his brother!

    Celebrating one year with her forever family!  Praise God for him watching over her!

These are the days in 2012 that started it all.  Jackson post op with his femur lengthening fixator.  Jordan, his little nurse and care taker.  We were thankful for the mild winter that allowed Jackson to get outside, even if it was in a wheelchair to get some fresh air!

This is a x ray from end of February 2012.  The femur is pulled apart about 2 inches (over the course of about 10-12 weeks) and then the bone is left to consolidate.  You can clearly see where the bone is pulled apart.  If you look closely you can see new bone matter is formed, just not solid yet.  Absolutely amazing!

The care and love was given both ways during this process.

                                            Jackson getting around outside--on a skateboard.

 These were the hard days of physical therapy that he worked so, so hard.  Only to be taken back with one fall, one break, six months later.  We started all over again.  But in the end This young man said God had a purpose in all of this and now we see what God was preparing our lives for.....

ONE..................

               
                                             TWO...................

.
                  THREE  Less ORPHANS in this WORLD.......        


We are  close to leaving.  Our last piece of paperwork will be on the doorstep of the Ch*nese government when they open after the new year on Monday.  Within two weeks we should get our last response (Article 5) and then travel approval.  Then we will be booking our plane tickets.  We should travel by end of March!!!!!    Please pray for these two boys hearts as they prepare to join our family.

800 Approval

                                                One Handsome Boy

 We have our 800 approval as of today!  With a few glitches, it will be processed and onto the National Visa Center where we await the famous GUZ #.  This number will attach to the next document which will be the boy's immigrant visas which are processed at the US consulate in Chxna!  We are getting so close!  From there only one more paper from the Chxnese government and travel approval!!!!!!  Still praying for MARCH travel!!!!

   All these photos were taken on Feb 4 when another family so graciously hand delivered a package to our son, Feng Nianjie.  Our agency is not just a adoption agency, it's an extended family.  We love on each other's children before their mama's and daddies can hold them!  Thank you Krista!  Here on of the nannies is looking over the photo album we sent with and awaiting the days till they can see their sweet princess Huahua again.  They specifically asked for her to return with us when we pick up her brother.

 Michael, in the blue coat, was our guide/interpreter last time.  He loves the children and truly cares for them as they unite with their forever families.

 Some of his favorite things were the bubble gum and chocolate.  I sure hope he shared with his friends, because we sent a lot for him!

This is him chewing his gum and coloring at the same time.  Notice the lips!!!

Now, Most families come down to crunch time with finances.  We have blessed by many donations.  First the boys closets are almost complete ALL WITH DONATIONS!  Praise God!!! We had given all the older boys clothes away years ago, not knowing God would have us Adopting TWO boys, but he is faithful to provide for our family!  I love to see how the body of Christ comes together to bring our sons home.  On the financial front we have only $13,000 to close the gap for our travel expenses.  Our in country Travel time may be up to three weeks, as we will be in each boy's province to "meet them and adopt" for up to a week.  Then unto the Guangzhou for the consulate and medical appointments.  I look back to Huahua's gotcha day just a year ago and wow, what an incredible joy and blessing we are allowed to be called these two boys' parents!    Please pray how you might walk along side us as we close the remaining financial need.

Two ways to donate financially:

1. On the home page of this website.

2. Checks to “Lifesong for Orphans"

 (Oehlhof #4819) to assure it goes to the correct account.

         Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans

         PO Box 40

         Gridley, IL 61744.

And there are T-shirts still available too!

BECOME A PIECE OF OUR PUZZLE with ANY DONATION!