Saturday, March 31, 2012

Family Photos

Today we went to my mom's house to celebrate my sweet sister's 30th birthday. It was fun to spend time with extended family, sit outside, hunt eggs, eat cake and ice cream, and just take time to enjoy each other. My mom wanted some pictures of the grandkids together so she had bought them each an outfit to wear for an impromptu photo session. That got my wheels turning...

We are going to send a care package to Zoey next week and I want to send a photo of Gene, Eden and I in the package for her to have. I did this with Eden and had it laminated for her. When we walked in to meet Eden for the 1st time she was holding that photo. So, I dug around in our closet and got Gene and I some clothes fit for a photo and we had our "Zoey picture" taken today as well. Can't wait to send it to her!

So, thought I'd put some of my favorites from the day on the blog for you to see. Hope you all have a great week as we lead up to Easter. Love to all!

Our family photo for Zoey in China


Eden with her cousins, Camp and Ellie


And several of Eden...






My beautiful sister, Kelly, with her babies (Camp and Ellie Kate)

And some of the girls...from left: Julie (my niece), Eden, Kelly, Ellie Kate and Kendall (also my niece)





Tuesday, March 27, 2012

My Thoughts on Zoey

Look at that sweet smile! She lights up the world with that little smile. The little girl with a big smile. She is described by her caregivers as quiet and cooperative...are we sure she's a Mason? Ha, ha, ha! Maybe she'll balance us out :0)

It was a Thursday late morning. I was doing a math lesson with Eden up in the school room and Gene was working from home in his office downstairs. I heard the phone ring but didn't want to interrupt school to answer it. I heard Gene say, "Hello...hold on a minute, Keri will want to hear this." And he ran up the stairs and put the phone on speaker so I could hear. Then Amy from Lifeline said those words all adoptive moms dream of..."we have a file we'd like you to review." My stomach did flip-flops. Amy went on to describe the child to us, her age, where she lived, her special needs, etc. Then she told us she was e-mailing us the file and to let her know if we were interested after we reviewed it. Then the sweetest thing happened...Eden, who was sitting there listening to all of this, exclaimed, "We are already interested!" It was so sweet. I had planned to not share any info with Eden until we knew for sure the child we would adopt but that's just not how it went down.

So we ditched school and ran downstairs to the laptop...the email was there. My shaking hands clicked on the little paperclip and the attachment started to open. We were huddled around the screen as I began reading out loud..."Name, age, size, and then it came...the story of how she was found...I began to cry. I won't share details here...it is her story...but suffice to say it broke my heart.

The next few days were spent with lots of calls and emails to gather information about what exactly "developmental delays" might mean for a child that a) has spent 3 years in an orphanage, and 2) lives on the other side of the world. Honestly, I think we ended up with more questions, what if's, and maybe's...but we also ended up with peace that passes understanding. Gene and I just knew...despite all the unknowns and risks, we were to pursue this little girl as our own. One look at her and Gene said, "She looks like a Zoey." That was on the short list of names we liked. Zoey means "life."

I don't know what struggles lie ahead for my sweet one in that orphanage, or for my sweet one lying next to me. But I know those struggles don't change how precious her LIFE is, and how much she is wanted. Of course I am somewhat nervous. Eden was 19 months old...Zoey will be 3 1/2 when we adopt her. Eden was in a loving foster home...Zoey is in an orphanage setting. Eden's special need was physical in nature...Zoey's is more complicated. I feel completely unprepared in a lot of ways. I am thankful that the Lord has reminded me this past month of how He carried me, and led me, and prepared me to be a first-time mom to an adopted toddler before. And even though this situation is different, our family dynamic is different, Zoey is different, God is the same.

So, when I start to stress out (how am I going to homeschool with a little one, how is Eden going to adjust to another child, how are Gene and I going to prioritize our marriage, I wonder what kinds of doctors we are going to need, what if she has...) I am reminded of Whose child Zoey is first and foremost. I am comforted that God sees her and knows her and loves her. He knows the exact moment, day, month and year of her birth. He knows her DNA. He knows everything her birth mom did, or did not do, while pregnant. He knows her medical history, even though for the rest of her life we will put "unknown" on that part of medical forms. He knows what scares her, and what comforts her. He knows what is making her smile in these photos. He knows what she likes to eat.

I know NONE of this. But I know Him. I talk to Him and hear straight from Him in His Word. And He has raised up an army of people to pray for, love and support our family through this journey. He has given Zoey LIFE...and I trust His will and His ways for her. I know He hates injustice...but I also know He is sovereign over it and allows it for His glory. I wouldn't have chosen this beginning for her. It makes me sad that the first birthday I celebrate with her will be her fourth. She already walks, talks, and is potty trained. I've missed a lot of her little life. She has missed crucial steps in her emotional and developmental health. This will create issues...no question about it. But oh, how I long to bring her home and love her. She is so, so worth it...they all are.

Please pray for her. At 3 1/2 she will experience great loss when she is adopted. Yes, she is gaining so much, but that doesn't discount the last 3 years of her life. My heart is so burdened for her transition. I have no doubt it is right and best...but I hurt for her loss that is to come.

Love you all...and thank you!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Meet Our Daughter!

Our Pre-approval letter arrived in my in-box last night! So, without further delay I would like to introduce you to our daughter

Mao, Zhonglun
(Soon to be Zoey Faith Mason)


She turned 3 at the end of February. Her special needs are developmental delays, and we won't be quite sure what all that entails until she arrives home. We have spoken to a doctor from the International Adoption Clinic who got to meet and examine her personally last year. This was such a blessing! She was able to share her concerns with us and give us at least some ideas of the challenges we might face in the future. Whatever they are, this little girl is so worth it to us. We have confidence and hope in our Lord and His great love, mercy and grace to carry us through. We are humbled that He would entrust us with another treasure from China.

Next week we will be sending her a care package with photos of us and some treats for her to enjoy. The next several months will no doubt be the hardest part of this journey as we wait to travel. But, we wait with hope and eager anticipation. Please continue to pray for her and for us as we await God's provision financially. He is so faithful!

Love to you all!



Monday, March 19, 2012

Did You Hear It?

My squeal of delight, that is. My phone rang late this morning and it was Amy from Lifeline telling me we received our LID (Log-In Date). Our dossier was officially logged in on March 15th, and Lily submitted our LOI (Letter of Intent) Monday morning China time. Next up, pre-approval from China followed IMMEDIATELY by pictures of our sweet one.

Just wanted to update...hope you all have a great week. We get to celebrate my sweet husband tomorrow. Happy Birthday, baby! He will be home from work so Eden and I will rise early and make him feel special ALL DAY LONG. He is such a wonderful husband and father and I am grateful he is mine :0)

Keep checking back - I promise to keep updating the blog regularly. Happy first day of Spring this week!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Waiting...An Exercise of Hope

As I sit in bed this morning drinking coffee (thanks to my sweet husband), my mind keeps drifting to an orphanage in China where our little one is probably sleeping right now. We are waiting to receive our Log-In Date and were told yesterday that the CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs) is moving offices so they are a little slower than usual. We hope to receive this confirmation soon. Then we will submit our Letter Of Intent to adopt this specific child (that can't be done until we have a LID). When they receive our letter, they will send a Pre-Approval and at that time, I can finally post pictures of this little treasure! I'm hoping we are a week or so away!

But, waiting is awful...it just stinks. There is no spiritual piety here...I hate this. I count the hours, the days, the weeks, the months. Every time I open e-mail I get a flutter in my stomach hoping I see "LID" in the subject line. Waiting is hard.

Waiting is, however, an exercise of hope. It is not meant to be a passive endeavor. It is a verb...an action word. The Lord has been so faithful to encourage my heart during this time when fear seems to so easily creep in to my thoughts. I would be lying if I didn't admit that I have thoughts like, "Are we doing the right thing? What if we don't raise all the money we need to travel? What if the special needs of this child are worse than we know?" Fear, doubt, insecurity...they all pound on waiting's door.

But God is bigger. He is able. He is faithful. His provision through those who have given to our grant is mind-blowing. And fear flees. Doubts are erased. Our Shepherd leads us beside the still waters of waiting. In other words, He's got this. No worries. If you are reading this and you have donated to our matching grant fund with Lifesong for Orphans, there are no words to express my gratitude. Thank you seems so inadequate. Please know you have been used by the Father to confirm His calling on our lives. You have given more than just money. You have given an answer I desperately needed to hear again and again. You have been His voice. And you have given one in China a voice.

So, what have we done while we wait? Well, we've prayed, of course. We've been gathering items to send in a care package...which included a trip to Build-A-Bear for family night. We celebrated a 3rd birthday of one not yet home with Panda cupcakes, candles and presents. We have consulted with doctors via phone already to begin to prepare for the medical challenges ahead. We officially decided on a name. And I (mom) have already begun to prepare to step away from many commitments outside my home to prepare to hunker down at home when we become a family of four.

We wait with hope and with faith. We wait with joy. And we wait with gratitude for each of you who walk this journey with us. Pictures coming soon...I hope :0)