Fathers Day

It's fathers day.   It's my 13th fathers day as a father.  I can't think of anything more rewarding than spending time with my kids,  and seeing them all grow and learn and mature.

Kerri's Dad came out and spent a couple of days with us earlier this week.  He was able to meet Michael for the first time.  Happy father's day Brett!

My folks are in Norway on vacation right now, but we had a chance to facetime with them on our way home from Church.  Nice father's day treat for my Dad.  Isn't technology cool?  Happy Father's Dad Pops!

Michael has an amazing bond with Kerri.  She provides him more comfort than anybody hands down.  But more and more,  he has been reaching for me,  he is attempting to say "Dada"  (sounds more like "RaRa") and he is comforted by me ( especially when Kerri isn't in the room :) ).   Baby steps,  but very promising progress.

On Mother's Day,  we reflected on the appreciation we have for Michael's birth mother who made the decision to place Michael in a conspicuous place (the steps of the orphanage) wrapped in a blanket.  We truly believe she cared about Michael and wanted to give him a better chance for a normal life that she would have been able to provide.   

Today on fathers day,  we can only wonder if the biological father was around,  if he was a part of the decision, or maybe even was the one to actually place him on those steps.   We will never know...   Some of the cases are cases of shame, babies born out of wedlock etc.  But many of the special needs kids are abandoned due to lack of resources to access appropriate medical care.   In Chinese culture, it's a big deal to have a son.  If dad was there, giving him up had to be a heart wrenching decision for him too.  Michael is an amazing boy, and I couldn't be more proud to call him my son. 

Kerri and the kids surprised me by going out and getting a bunch of professional pictures taken of the 4 kids.  I'll leave you with a sample of a couple of them.

 

-Adam

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Once there were two women who never knew each other,

One - you do not remember, the other you call mother.

Two different lives shaped to make yours,

One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.

The first gave you life, and the second taught you to live in it.

The first gave you a need for love and the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality; the other gave you a name.

One gave you the seed of talent; the other gave you an aim.

One gave you emotions; the other calmed your fears.

One saw your first sweet smile; the other dried your tears.

One gave you up - that's all she could do.

The other prayed for a child and God led her straight to you.

Now you ask through all your tears the age-old question through the years;

Heredity or environment - which are you a product of?

Neither, my darling - neither - just two different kinds of love.

 Author Unknown

Adoption Rocks

Yes, it may sound cliché, but I truly cannot believe we have been home with this blessing for four months now.   Time is flying and I have to force myself to slow down.  I desperately don't want to miss a moment of his life.  I've missed too much already. However, I'm so thankful for the woman halfway around the world, choosing life for my son.   As I sit and rock him before bed every night, I literally marvel at his perfect eyes and think of the gift that is "Michael."   I find myself hoping that somehow, someway, she will know he is ok.  He is loved. 

A lot can happen in four months, and it has!  In the last four months, Big Mike has accomplished many things.  Most recently,

Palate repair (that surgery is no joke)

Dedication-God is so good

First swim

Other recent pictures

First churro from Costco ;)

A huge change from the day we first held him in our arms

He has started speech therapy.  He is communicating quite a bit.  Everyday, he seems to learn a new word or work on a new sound.  He is babbling and making us constantly laugh with his ever changing expressions.   He absolutely loves music and has some stellar dance moves.  He's opinionated, passionate, and hysterically funny.  He makes the sweetest "owie" face when he sees somebody is hurt and flashes a pretty awesome "I love you" sign on a regular basis.   He's a peanut at 20 lbs,  yet he's discovered he's not too small to open the pantry to help himself to a lollipop.   Just four months ago, a scared, expressionless baby boy was handed to us.  What has occurred in the last four months is enough to bring me to my knees, and it does regularly.  Adoption has it's challenges, adoption is a long road that we have just started travelling, but can I just say, Adoption Rocks.   

Although our hands and hearts are full, I cannot stop thinking about the other children needing a family.  My heart is broken for each and every one of them.   Although we do not plan on adding more to our family, I vow to continually advocate for these children.  Please pray for these kiddos.   The need is great, but God is big and I know not one of these children will go unnoticed to Him.