As we are getting closer and closer to traveling to get our little girl, I thought I would blog about some things I have learned about life through our adoption journey.


1)  Things rarely ever go according to plan.  I have a great story about this.  Shortly after Randy and I got married, we decided to get baptized together.  I had this vision in my head of how it was going to go.  It was going to be quite spiritual.  Why I was even practically going to float down the steps into the baptismal.  Instead, I slipped and fell.  Right into the baptismal.  Yup..that's alot like this journey (and life). Things rarely (who am I kidding?  I should write never) go according to plan.

2)  God doesn't give everyone else your vision.  This is a tough one.  When God shows you something so amazing, you want people to see it and share in it.  Some people will get it.  Some people will want to be a part of it.  But some people won't.  You've got to learn to be ok with that. 

3) The people that God has called alongside you are precious.  Treat them like a treasure!  I am so thankful for the people who have loved us when we were unloveable, stood with us when we were unbearable, took us to lunch, dinner etc., prayed with us when we didn't know what to do and loved us through this journey.   You are precious!!

4)  Trust God to provide.  Truly this adoption has been funded in ways that I completely did not expect.  Just to add to this, we found out recently that we received another grant!  About 25% of our adoption expenses have been funded through grants.  We only have about 25% left.  Somedays I am happily oblivious to this amount that is still due.  Today was not one of those days.

5)  Sometimes it's ok to just put your arm around someone and say, "I'm sorry..that really sucks."  We don't always need big words and deep philosophical discussions. 

6)  We don't always understand what someone else is going through.  Be kind anyway.  No one needs to hear about Suzy's 36 hour labor or why Harry's adoption didn't work out.  Seriously...why does everyone want to share their worst case scenario?  Compassion goes a long way. 

7)  You won't always understand but be thankful anyway.  Don't overlook the things that appear to be small things.  That person that called you out of the blue to check on you...be thankful for that.  There are lots of little reminders of God's goodness throughout your days.  Try to find some.

8)  People really are not mind readers.  Sometimes they really don't know what you need until you ask.  Ask. Ask. Ask.  Why is it so hard to ask for help?

I know there is plenty more but these are the few that I had on my mind tonight.  Some of them are definitely not as easy as I am making them sound.  It's all still a work in progress for me.

I can't believe that we will be meeting our little girl for the first time in just a few weeks.  It's funny to think that the day we step foot into China, will be the exact same day 2 years later that we stepped into Bethany Christian Services for the first time.