We have had such a blessed Christmas! Christmas Eve Service at Church with carols and the Bible reading of our Lord's Birth. Home last night and enjoying presents, cookies, cheese, crackers, eggnog, hot cocoa, music. We awoke this morning to gifts from Santa, yummy breakfast, more gifts, friends stopping by, delicious meal, playing with toys and watching movies.
What a festive time! What a wonderful family time!
But there is a bittersweet tug. You see, we have a daughter. But she is not here. Everyday, I have been able to keep going along and perform our daily responsibilities and enjoy our family, but last night, it really hit home. She is there. We are here. She is SO little and SO far away. What is she doing? Do they have any sort of a Christmas celebration at the orphanage? Is she safe? Warm? Did she get a hug yesterday? Today?
Many families mention how, when they bring their adopted child home and begin to bond, they begin to grieve the loss of that child's young childhood they've missed. I can see how that will be.
Praying for our little girl tonight. Our little Xi Hua. Katie Grace. God, keep her in Your arms. Keep her safe from harm. Keep her healthy. Calm her fears. Dry her tears. Attend to her needs. Put joy in her heart. Let someone be hugging her and giving her positive words. Prepare her heart, in a way that only You can, for us.
Amen
God is preparing her- and each one of you...that's why this is taking so long. But she will be in your arms soon! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI can feel your longing for her, and I hope she will be taken care off, and soon home!
ReplyDeleteAmen and amen! God is putting all of the pieces together...next Christmas you will all be together! (And so will we!)
ReplyDeleteYOu know I get it, its sooooo hard. Think of her other there and if you didn't have any kids at home, thats just painful. I still mourn for the times I didn't have with Maya, I suppose that will never go away. Can't wait to see the new pictures of Katie Grace!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBack to the babies born with drugs in their system or still adicted and going thru withdrawls, how else coudl they get the drugs in their systems? it seems it would be eaasy to prove. The only reason I can think of that they don't prosecute is that those women would not come to the hospital to give birth knowing their kids would test positive. Of course when I worked at the ped's office they still sent these babies home with the mother's that inflicted this upon them so really the system is just garbage I guess.
He will! He IS! Hang in there my friend!
ReplyDeleteBarb
I wish I could say something that would ease your heart. I missed two Christmases with each of my children. I hated it. I remember that feeling like it was yesterday. I will tell you that once your baby is home those wounds in your heart heal. Time passes and love takes over. Next Christmas you will be looking at all of your children together on Christmas and this tug will be a distant memory :) 2011 is going to be amazing for your family.
ReplyDeleteEvery day closer to her will get easier - she will never spend another Christmas without you!
ReplyDeleteYou put into words exactly what I feel. Our daughter spent her 7th birthday and Christmas without us. She is still waiting and it is so hard. We want to go get her now! Soon our journeys to get them will be over! Next Christmas, they will be home with us. That keeps me going!
ReplyDeleteI so get it!!! Ok...its next month...can you share yet??? I can't wait to see pictures of your precious girl!!!
ReplyDeleteYes I mourn the beautiful baby she must have been prior to the two year old we brought home. I pray that I live to see the gorgeous Asian grandbaby she may place in my arms some day. We got Jazzy's referral in March so we were past Christmas. Her birthday was in July and timelines supported that she would be home well before her birthday and then the earth quake in her province hit and she did not come home until September. The day of the China earth quake certainly brought me to my knees instantly in prayer for my tiny little girl who could have lost her precious life that day! Her birthday was July 1st and that day was so hard! I could not believe that it took 6 months to bring her home nor that she had to spend yet another birthday inside the walls of an orphanage. But I have to tell you now that she has been home nearly 2 1/2 years all of that time seems like a drop in the bucket. Once you're past the waiting it is such a small amount of time in comparison to a a life time with your Katie Grace!
ReplyDeleteHopefully she'll soon be home! Where are you in the tedious adoption process now? Hang in there!! :-)
ReplyDeleteAnnie- I can't wait to see pictures or your little one. Even more, I can't wait to see her brought home to you. Thanks for your support and encouragement- I hope to do the same for you soon!
ReplyDeleteHey Annie! I'm seriously behind in my blog hopping! I totally missed your referral! I am so happy for you! I can't wait to hear more detail! We seen Jia on RK and at the time, our agency was at a standstill with SN... so we switched agencies and had to redo our dossier and homestudy... everything but our I-600. It took so long! We found her in August and didn't travel until the next June. The hardest part was once all the paperwork was submitted and I had done all I could do, pestered everyone I could pester and I just had to sit and wait. It was in someone elses hands that didn't ache with longing to finish up. But we did make it and Jia was so worth it and one day you'll be saying the same to another waiting mom! Hang in there girl! Praying for you and your family AND YOUR DAUGHTER!! Joy
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