Junhan gives his new family a thumbs up! (Really he liked the food my Chinese friend made him). It is honestly hard to remember the papers and the LOOOOOONG process it took to get here. Seriously. Feels like a lifetime ago that we were in China. Every day I live in the moment. I am very present in my life (haven't always been). I am very thankful for the flexibility of summer. God's timing was perfect at every turn for our family with this adoption. Every day he trusts us more. He is super affectionate! He lights up when he sees us and is only looking to us for attention. As far as adoptions go, I feel like we have a lot of positive ingredients. I attribute most of his adaptation and connection to us to his loving foster family (and your countless prayers). He has spoken to them 3 times since being home. They are incredible mature and supportive of this adoption. It reminds me of the story in the Bible where 2 women claim that the baby is theirs. The judge orders the baby to be cut in half and the biological mom surrenders her rights to the baby and says, "give him to her!" to preserve the baby's life. I feel like Fu Mama did that. She loves him enough to know this is best for him. She can't keep him. In fact, the government required him to return to the orphanage these past 2 years for school. She actually has more contact with him now. She is very respectful and lets us contact her. She knows he has a future with us.
My brother and wife gave our other kids some money to spend on experiences with their new brother. They each chipped in some and bought an Children's Museum membership. Although we had previously aged out of this, they experienced new delight in watching their brother experience it anew. His delighted squeals when the apples came down the chutes, his bouncing up the tree house, him enjoying the ambulance..... 2 of them also used their money to buy him a toy from the gift shop (hope he doesn't think I buy stuff wherever we go).
He has had some periods of grief. Crying without being able to express why. But even in the grief he burrows into us. I am sure there are hard times to come, but I am thankful for today! Thankful for my church friends, my school friends, my pool friends, my long time friends, and my family who have supported and blessed us on this adventure! Perry and I realized, we REALLY DO LOVE THIS KID! An answer to prayer for sure. We delight in him as we do our others! Praising God for how He is knitting us together.
