The Time Draws Near

Running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

Making a beeline.

On a dead run.

These days, I'm either one of the above or....

Dead in the water. With absolutely no idea what to do next!

Have you ever wondered why all these sayings are so incredibly morbid?

No? I do. I actually think about these things. 

In all my spare time. 

Ha. 

It's pretty busy around here since a few of us are winging our way to China soon.

Like this Saturday. 

Exactly one year and five days after we returned with Joshua.

He wasn't terribly impressed with his first stop on US soil. Mostly because he did not sleep one wink on the entire 15 hour flight from Hong Kong to Detroit.

When we finally arrived home, we were greeted by some monkeys. What do you suppose he was thinking? 

Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about our upcoming adoption:

1) Who is going and when? Bob and I will leave for China on 9/8 and return 9/20. 

2) Are the kids going? No. Short of drawing straws, we could never decide who to take and who to leave. Let's face it. When you have nine siblings at home, a little one on one time with Mom and Dad for a few weeks is a good plan.

3) Is Joshua going? Unfortunately we cannot take Joshua back to China. Because of his health, he is not able to fly or be that far from his doctors. He is having a hard time and has made a nighttime appearance in our room every night for weeks. I think he is worried about a whole lot of things.

4) Where are you going? We are traveling directly to Guangzhou which is the capital city of Joy's province. (That is where you meet your child.)  She will travel about five hours from her orphanage to Guangzhou. It also happens to be the same city where the US consulate is located. We will stay in the same hotel for our entire stay in China.

5) Who will (is crazy enough to) stay with the kids? Jennifer's parents are willing to once again come and stay with the fam. They are great sports and consider it part of their mission work. It's a win-win as Grandma and Grandpa build wonderful relationships with their grandchildren and definitely vice versa. Others from church will pinch hit and lend support as needed. Uncle Marc has committed to helping out as much as possible. 

Aren't we blessed?

6) You must be so excited? Yes, we are! Hovering between excitement and exhaustion trying to get our ducks in a row to be able to leave for two weeks. Schedules, prescriptions filled, school books and classes, hug a kid, clean the house because my mommy's coming, hug a kid, make doctor appointments for a kid you don't even know, hug another kid, eight haircuts, more hugs, groceries, packing, late night talks, sending one to college this week, more and more hugs. All good.

We daily pray that God is going before us to prepare Joy's heart for the upcoming days. When her whole world will change. In an instant.  

For the better.

Because God sets the lonely in families.

Psalm 68:6