James and Mom walking out of the orphanage lobby.
James with his new family, he is not sure what is going on.
James just after he was brought in the waiting room.A year ago a reluctant little boy followed us out of the home he had known for the past three and a half years. We signed countless papers and jumped through all the hoops and began our journey. Our lives were changed forever on that day and we are so thankful for God's direction, guidance, and provision through it all. How many times a week, sometimes in a day, do I look at this little boy and say "is this real, did this really happen?" I looked at James last night when he was going to sleep and time just stopped and I could not believe it had been a year. The beautiful way he has adapted, his contagious laugh, the way he throws himself around and the way he joins in with us and talks at the dinner table. I think some of my favorite times are at the dinner table listening to him interact with his family. You can just see the love he has and wow the countless times a day he tells each of us that he loves us. It melts my heart. I overflow with joy as I watch the beautiful relationships that James is sharing with each of us. Seeing the relationship with dad and his son-whether its watching football, wrestling, reading, going to the store or just hanging out-it is precious!
This is how God has worked and before we even knew it would be James, God knew. God enabled us to love James through the years of prayer as we prepared for our adoption. He prepared our hearts, opened our arms and blessed us in ways we can't begin to count. I know one day James will understand God's love for him. James has asked us from time to time why we love him, why God loves him, and in time he will get it. At times we cannot comprehend how blessed we are and marvel at how much joy God has poured into our house with James. He has entrusted us with one of His children and we are forever thankful. We dedicate James to God and I really cannot wait to see what God does in his life and the plans He has for little James. This is the boy God chose for our family and He has plans for James just as He does for all of our children. We will be forever thankful God gave us the opportunity to be blessed in this way.
We love our little muffin as we like to call him!
My heart still aches and I cry right now as I think of the many orphans who do not know what it is like to be a part of a family, who don't know the love of a mom and dad, the laughter and love of a sibling, and may never learn of God's love. I do not know what our role is in this, but I feel as God continues to stir our hearts, He will give us direction. At times it feels like there is little we can do to help in this monumental problem. It seems too big, but I know God is bigger than all the mountains that need to be moved for these kids. I remember being amazed when I heard a story of some of the nannies in James' orphanage that were Christians. God watches over all of His children.
We celebrate this time and remember without God none of it would be possible.
