One Year Ago...

7/23/11: Chris left for China. 6 days earlier than planned. Surprise! Solo. Mmmm but I'm still having warm-fuzzy-like fond memories of Kore@n Air...  (where's the "love" button?)

7/25/11: Chris takes a solo walk in Beijing. Totally blended in. Not! Got lost. Found my way back to the hotel. Praised God.

7/26/11: Chris went to the Great Wall.

7/27/11: The authentic Chinese experience begins --- with a train ride from Beijing to Taiyuan. Beggars in the sardine can train station broke my heart. My first squatty potty was on a moving train. Because you all needed to know that too  ;-)

then... later that afternoon...

(insert drum roll, please..........................)

GOTCHA, DAVID!!!!!!!

When I think back to David's Gotcha Day, it sure feels like a looooooong time ago. It is hard to believe it has just been a year. It has been a hard year, but an amazing year of stretching and growing. We never would have been able to do this without God in our lives. Never-ever.

There has been a lot of leaning on our Lord, the One who gives us strength when we have nothing more to give. He always forgives us for our sins. Aren't we blessed to be able to wake up and start fresh each day? And our God always shows us grace and love even though we don't deserve it. He is always guiding us, teaching us, loving us. Our family is all still in the process of bonding, but we know that God is still at work weaving our family together. Every day is a little better, and we can't ask for more.

Happy first year with your family, buddy. We love you, David!

(((hugs))),
mama


Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
            James 1:27