1st Birthday in America and an update!

Last year, we sort of celebrated birthdays - about a month after they actually happened.  Neither girl seemed to mind or know that the date was off.  Birthdays are not a celebrated event for most orphans, and they had no expectations.  But THIS year is different.  I had a list of hoped for items - all small - but there was an expectation that someone cared.

Jenny has bloomed over the last year - become more confident, self controlled, and focused.  She has kept her joy and sweet character, and lost her insecurity and inability to take anything seriously.  She knows we love her and that she is valued by us - and valuable to God.  She shines Jesus daily, and is a good friend to her sisters.  She understands the importance of truth in relationships - all things that were foreign to her before.  We are grateful to God for this beautiful child.

Even she and Sarah have become close friends - after a very rough start in China!  Of course, we all understand that Sarah can be a little challenging to get along with...

But life wouldn't be nearly as fun without her!  Smarty pants Sarah just got "kicked out" of the Reading Recovery program at school - after scoring in the 86th percentile with less than a year home...This girl is going places - if we can just keep her focused.

Katie has taken up violin - she is perfect - and everyone else thinks so, too. :) She is quiet and helpful - and diligent in school.  She cooks, crotchets, and generally navigates life with ease.  (unless it involves moving vehicles and airplanes where she has terrible motion sickness.) :)

Rachel is barrels of fun.  She loves to laugh like me (and at me) and she is a great role model for her sisters.   She is participating in several piano competitions soon, and so the house is filled with music.  Her selflessness inspires me daily.

Every now and then I think what may have happened if I'd somehow "missed" these girls.  If Chris F. hadn't posted on the advocate group about Jenny, or we had been afraid to take a chance on Katie (complex CHD) or if I'd believed the report that Sarah "didn't want to be adopted."  Finally, what if we'd never sat down in the year 2000 and watched that Christian TV show about the orphan situation in China - and decided to pursue an adoption that morning?  It frightens me to think how invisible these girls were - but encourages me to see God's faithfulness in bringing them to light.

One year ago

Today

Thank you, God, for these blessings.  May others find treasures of their own.  

Blessings, Kim

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10