It is so worth the wait!

We have been a family of three for just over six months.  The wait to bring Brooke home seemed like it would never end as we waited on two governments to process through stacks of paper but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Just recently I have heard Brooke say with enthusiasm as I held her - "I have a Mommy!" or when Dennis was holding her "I have a Daddy!" Ah, the wait was so worth it.  Tonight she goes to bed knowing we are her family.

How many more kids go to bed tonight hoping someday to have a Mommy and Daddy?  How many of us could fill that longing in their heart?  Is it easy - not always.  Is it expensive - often it is.  Is the process overwhelming - yep it sure it.  Is it God's call to those of us who follow Him - it is indeed.  Are you called to adopt - maybe or maybe to help in other ways.  Here are some ways to do that:

• Honestly ask God what your roll is in caring for the orphans around the world.
• Adopt if you feel God is leading even if it seem overwhelming and scary.
• Pray for people you know who are in the process of adopting.
• Ask specifically how you can pray at any given time for adopting families.  Even after they have their child they still need prayers.  Sometimes settling in is the hardest time in an adoptive families  journey.
• Give - adoption is expensive.  Can you help a family?  Even a small donation means a lot.
• Throw an adoption shower.  Even if the new child is not a baby, your help in celebrating this addition to the family will be a blessing.
• Adopting children who have been raised without the normal love of a family can be very hard and requires unique parenting skills.  Don't criticize how adoptive parents are parenting.  Most likely they have had a lot of experts help them with the skills they will need that are unique to these kids.
• Bring a meal when the family gets home.  
• Sponsor a child.  There are many great agencies who work with orphans providing love and medical care.  

Is there a role God has for you in the life of an orphan?

Appearing Before the Judge

Today Dennis and I went before a judge to re-adopt Brooke.  This is basically a formality that will make Brooke's life easier in the future as she is already legally our daughter but at this point, her birth certificate is in Chinese.  In order to prove who she is in the future she would have to have her Chinese birth certificate, the English translation and her US Certificate of Citizenship.  Today the judge reviewed these documents and she will now have a birth certificate from our state like every other child born here.  The really great part is that it is very inexpensive in our state to do this.  After all the expenses of the adoption, it was nice to have something that was not expensive.

The last thing we will need to do is apply for a US passport for her.  Currently she has a Chinese one in her Chinese name.  We have no plans to use it anytime soon but want to get this done too so all of the paperwork is done.

 

Vacation

We decided that while Dennis was between treatments we would take a family vacation.  We had a great time.  We went to Door County, Wisconsin.  Our trip started at the Packer Pro Shop.  We went to Washington Island, did ceramic painting on a rainy day, stayed in a cabin for three days and camped one night, went fishing...  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  We took it easy and Dennis got to rest when he got tired.  It was a very special trip for all of us.

Six Months a Family

Six months ago today, Brooke entered our lives.  We can hardly even remember what life was like without her.  She has so fit into our family.  Here she is when we first met her at the orphanage.

A lot has happened in those six months and certainly not what we thought these months would hold.  We were well prepared by our agency for the difficulties that are often faced by families adopting older children but Brooke adjusted so easily.  She has gained language so quickly and is  doing very well in school.  Of course, we never would have thought that Dennis would be diagnosed with brain cancer just three months after we adopted Brooke.  She has been a bright spot in a very difficult time for us.

We decided to get away for a few days while Dennis is between treatments so we headed to Door County but decided we had to help Brooke become a true Wisconsin citizen so we stopped at Lambeau Field.  (For those of you who aren't from Wisconsin, that is the home of the Green Bay Packers.)  Brooke now has Packer socks and a Packer sweatshirt - just in time for the football season.

A Cheesehead is Born!

So we will spend a few days in a cabin by the lake celebrating and relaxing.