Short On Time…But So Are They

My kids are back in school.

Life should be settling into a routine soon.

I should have more time to write about all "my kids"!

BUT…

Two days filled with doctor's appointments and lots of unexpected twists and turns haven't yet allowed me tons of computer time.  Unless you count hours spent sorting through the reams of paperwork from every teacher, class, sport, school, and extra-curricular activity that I'm still trying to get on the family calendar.  Plus today, in the heat, I need to fire up the ovens to bake some cookies for the high school Cross Country team!  The Team has made their request known, and I just have a soft spot in my heart for boys…even stinky, sweaty, teenage boys with giant appetites.

However, "my China kids" are always on my mind, in my heart, my thoughts and my prayers…

So here's a quickie blog post!

First of all, remember that our ACT Mission Team to China represented America World Adoption Association (www.awaa.org) when we visited one of their partner orphanages.  If you are interested in any information about these kiddos, PLEASE contact AWAA!!!

These three boys are currently on AWAA's Waiting Child Photo Listing with their files available to any family with a LID -

"GABE"

The Baby Rooms

a.k.a. "The Little Emperor" because the nannies said he was notorious for stealing all the toys from the other babies

"HENRY"

had his first corrective surgery while we were in China

"JAMES"

"James"

love, Love, LOVE this sweetheart!

The next group of kiddos are listed on AWAA's Photo Listing as Special Focus files.  Gotta tell ya…they are all very SPECIAL kiddos!!!  Some of the older boys are on the shared listing.

"CALEB"

Beautiful Boy

a.k.a. Beautiful Boy because the nannies say he is the most handsome boy

"CHARLIE"

"Charlie"

infectious smile

"IZZIE"

"Izzie"

precious sweetheart

"JOY"

"Seen By The Unseen One"

LOVE this princess!  Her smile and laughter are priceless!

"LOGAN"

Beautiful Boy and "Logan"

a.k.a. "The Thinker" because he was always studying and pondering our team before warming up to us and sharing his smiles

"PRISCILLA"

"Priscilla"

this princess is truly royalty 

My heart is breaking every day for the children I met in China.  Every day is one more they spend waiting for their forever families to bring them home.  The staff at the orphanage work so hard to meet their needs and provide each child with quality care, but even they recognize that every child in their care would benefit from the love and nurture of a family.  

When you look into their eyes, do you see your son or daughter?

"IZZIE"

(Okay, this is really one of the nicknames given to a child that just does NOT fit!  Yuck!)

Monday morning after finishing a brief (way too brief because I could have stayed in any room with kiddos for HOURS) tour of the several rooms in the Children's Welfare House, we were taken outside to the playground to meet more kids!  Music was playing, and I couldn't help but start dancing as we walked out to join the older children's morning exercises.

After organized aerobics (which I failed at just as horribly in Chinese as I do in English), FREE PLAY TIME!!!  So much fun just beginning to get to know all these larger than life personalities!  With my camera ready, I snapped pictures in between all the fun and activity.

One of my first photos was of little "Izzie"

The Assistant Director came over to share with me more about "Izzie" because she was one of the children on my list from AWAA.  Visibly you can tell by her facial features that she is blessed with an extra chromosome, Down's Syndrome.  She also had a heart condition, not uncommon for children with Down's Syndrome, but it has already been repaired with surgery, Mrs. G. assured me.  Though Mrs. G. shared that she is not yet talking, "She is very smart!  She listens and understands everything.  She is a good girl.  Would make a very good daughter."

 

After our after lunch rest time, we returned to watch the children entertain their guests by singing and dancing and even a martial arts presentation.  Little "Izzie" danced in two numbers.  

LOVE that big bow on this sweet princess!

She was so intense and focused.  She watched the nannies who sat up front to help lead the little ones.  

This is some serious bell ringing!

 

 

("Izzie" is downstage on the far right of the video)

We loved every minute we got to spend with "Izzie" throughout our week at the orphanage.  She was always timid and shy around these strangers, but we witnessed her close relationships with her nannies and caretakers.  

In the Angel Room, she played happily with her friends as one of the "big kids" with the mobility and dexterity to play all around the room while tiny ones received muscle exercising therapy from nannies and nurses on staff.

Mrs. G. is so right! 

 "Izzie" is a beautiful daughter who is just waiting for her family to come bring her home!

At lunch one day, I shared a video clip of my own daughter's softball league from a local news report.  

Mrs. G. had expressed concern about what life would be like for these "disabled" children from the orphanage who are adopted by American families.   She wanted to know how our "government' would take care of them when they reached adulthood.  As she shared about the hopeless state of so many children we never met who are bedridden, in wheelchairs, and unable to care for themselves, my heart broke.  Children without hope filling Chinese orphanages can live such fully lives surrounded by the love of family and friends here in the U.S.!  Special Olympics programs, schooling, therapy, and medical interventions throw open a world of possibilities!  

According the AWWA's most current information about "Izzie" - "She is designated by the CCCWA as a special focus file and is from one of our agency’s orphanage partnerships. She has a very detailed file and a family at any stage of the process is eligible to review her file."

Time for "Rosemary"

Since my teammate Gretchen wrote such a wonderful blog post to advocate for "Rosemary" (Meet Rosemary) I have written one myself yet.

Now, however, we are both rejoicing knowing that a family is reviewing her file now! (Under Review)

I just can't resist writing more about this little princess and the miraculous work God has done and is doing through the tiny team He put together to go to an orphanage in China!

"Rosemary" is as cute as a button!!!!

We met her on our tour the very first morning at the orphanage.  Then saw her all decked out with a bow on top for the performance the kids put on to entertain their guests.  

Initially, our team may have been shocked by her face.  I remember questions about her birthmark.  But as the team leader, I had already been given some very basic information about children AWAA had referral file information for or knew that it was coming.

"Rosemary" was on my list!

I don't know exactly what my own daughter's response was when she first saw "Rosemary" but Jason and Gretchen definitely had questions.

Me?

Well, here's where you start seeing God's BIG master plan…

Many years ago, a young couple joined our Sunday School class at church.  Newlyweds.  We watched their first baby born.  A beautiful baby girl.  We were grouped together for in a quad of couples for dinner parties to build relationships within our large class.  Twelve years ago, their son was born…with the same type of birthmark on his face that "Rosemary" has!  For twelve years I've watched how this family.  They choose to have numerous surgical procedures to remove almost all of the birthmark by now.  (Gretchen found the blog of a family that chose not to have their daughter's removed.  See her post above for the link.)

12 YEARS!!!

God had been preparing me and Miranda for this trip for 12 YEARS!  From that very first day, I calmly explained to our team, our guide, and the assistant director about the child I knew well and how his family dealt with such a birthmark.

Then we got to spend the rest of our week really getting to know "Rosemary."  

OH MY!  Talk about the sweetest little thing!  

Don't you just love that little tongue sticking out?  Too cute!!!

The more time we spent with this princess the less we began to even see her birthmark.  It became a part of her beauty.  

Trust me, we weren't the only ones charmed by this little enchantress!  On her ankle, "Rosemary" wears a jade pendant on a red anklet.  A gift from one of the nannies who simply adores this baby girl.

Our team continues to pray for "Rosemary" and for her forever family to bring her home soon.  We are praying for the family reviewing her file.  Are they the one?  How soon will she be home?

Just like "Rosemary's" story, I have been amazed as I have reflected on all the children we met, all the varied special needs.  God has been preparing me for this trip and these children for decades!  Cerebral palsy?  I graduated college with a young man who inspired me from the first day we met during our freshmen orientation.  Down's Syndrome?  A good friend's child was born unexpectedly with Down's just a few years ago.  Christopher grew up with a younger cousin also with this challenge.  Blood disorders I knew about from following adoption stories of families I've never met face to face.   So many children I've worked with over the years, so many friends, even my own kids and their challenges!  Peiwu has brought us into the world of Special Olympics.  

What a privilege it was to be able to share with the concerned staff my first hand knowledge and experiences of the hope, promise, and future so many of the children we met could have with a family in the U.S. compared to the imprisoned life of an institution if no one steps forward to bring these precious kids home!

So far, our team has only been able to share with you only a handful of the kids we fell in love with in China.  There are many more stories we long to tell, many more children to meet.  

Stay tuned...

"Priscilla"

Throughout our time at the orphanage, we were given the freedom to take pictures and video of the children with only one restriction...

NO pictures of the Baby Rooms

Though the reason behind this was never explained to our team, I could understand the need to protect the children and staff from exploitation.  A tub filled with dirty diapers without the context of having just changed multiple bottoms or right before being taken away for washing could be misinterpreted or used to portray neglectful conditions.

However, nothing could have been farther from the truth as we enjoyed feeding the children each day in the Baby Rooms.  Maybe you could threaten older kids to have them put on a show for the foreigners, but in the Baby Room?  Here we witnessed the real care and concern of the nannies for the little ones under their watchful eyes.

Monday, Miranda and I teamed up for Baby Feeding in a third floor room while Jason and Gretchen tackled the challenges of the second floor sweethearts.  Babies were seated in strollers, lined up and waiting before a row of tiny chairs.  Yes, we were expected to sit on toddler-sized chairs and then handed a large bowl filled with rice porridge and a spoon. 

Let the shoveling begin!

These little experts taught us how to quickly fill their tummies with rapid-fire spoons filled with warm porridge!  No time for dawdling!  These babies were HUNGRY!  Their nanny stood close by to instruct and assist or hand sloppy feeders a washcloth to clean up our messes.

A great challenge soon presented itself because several of the children who had referral files at AWAA surrounded us in the Baby Rooms where we were not permitted to photograph.  With my camera tucked away in my backpack, the Assistant Director gave me permission to photograph only these children with my phone's camera.

So hard to feed these sweet babies every day, yet only have a couple poor photos of their sweet faces!

"Priscilla" sat in a stroller away from the little ones Miranda and I were feeding that first day.  Worry and concern were etched on her little face.  Glancing in her direction between spoons of porridge, I hoped to catch her eye and win a little smile. 

Oh!  So WRONG!

 

I did catch "Priscilla's" gaze...and then she burst into terrified TEARS!

One of the older boys who was helping with the babies turned her stroller away from us and comforted "Priscilla."  Still she would check over her shoulder frequently at these intruders into her peaceful and protected realm.

Then, I learned that she was one of the little ones we had hoped to meet on our journey.

 

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, these two definitely communicate how much "Priscilla" wanted me to take her picture!

 

Now if you are not an adoptive parent and/or are not familiar with attachment issues, this might appear absolutely horrible.  A little girl frightened and crying instead of smiling and playing with us.  However, from an attachment perspective, this response is GREAT!

 

What "Priscilla" showed us with her timidity and tears was her strong attachment to her caregivers.  Though our team came to help the staff and children at the orphanage, we were strangers to this two-year-old sweetheart.  We had established no trusting and safe relationship with her.

 

The great part of her response and attachment to her nannies is that she can form a strong attachment.  When her family comes to bring her home some day, they will probably experience difficult days of adjustment, but since "Priscilla" has already established strong, secure attachments she can more easily develop a strong attachment with her loving family.

 

Each day we returned to "Priscilla's" Baby Room to help feed her friends, she quietly watched us from the safety of her own stroller. 

 

Day Two, she didn't cry just because we were in the room. 

 

After feeding the babies on Wednesday, their nanny placed a mat on the floor with toys and allowed us to play with the children.  "Priscilla" allowed herself to be placed on the floor near us.  She did not smile.  She did not laugh.  But she did tolerate us in her space and allowed Miranda to hand her a toy.  I asked if I could take another picture of Princess "Priscilla" while she was not crying. 

 

Staring at me with her somber eyes, she studied me as much as I studied her.  A little bump on her noggin made me almost regret that this would be the "best" photo I would have of her.  As a worried mama, I also wondered at how she bumped her head since I had last seen her on Tuesday. 

On Friday, as we feed our sweet little ones for the last time, "Priscilla" had a ball in her hand as she watched us from the safety of her stroller.  After Miranda finished feeding another princess, "Priscilla" tossed her ball down to the floor.  Miranda quickly picked it up and returned it to her. 

Game On!

The "I Drop It - You Pick It Up" game commenced with gusto.  Miranda split her time between play with one girl and pick up with another.

All week, I longed to see her smile and hear her laughter, but our limited time with the babies over just five days did not earn us the luxury of such trust.  However, we were privileged to witness "Priscilla's" baby steps toward strangers within the security of her nanny's presence.

"Priscilla" is paper ready and waiting!  According to AWAA, "Priscilla is designated by the CCCWA as a special focus file and is from one of our agency’s orphanage partnerships. A family at any stage of the process is eligible to review this file."

This beautiful little girl is waiting for the loving and nurturing embrace of a family!  In the safety and security of her mama and baba's arms, she will grow and blossom! 

Oh, how I still long to see her tiny little rosebud mouth burst forth in endless girl giggles!

"CHARLIE"

Monday morning, our first day at the orphanage, we met the orphanage's van/converted ambulance to dive into the unknown. Today we would meet the children.  Today we would start doing what we came to China. 

 

Anxious thoughts filled my mind while butterflies wrestled in my stomach.  Though other mission teams had visited before our group and these leaders had shared with me how this orphanage's staff organized and scheduled our time each day throughout the week, doubts and fears raced through my mind.  Talking about what it will be like and trying to prepare yourself and your team to step into a world of unknowns seemed so inadequate just moments before we walked through the doors, following the Assistant Director and our Guide.

 

First on the agenda...

 

GUIDED TOUR

through several rooms with children

 

Stepping into the first therapy room, the faces of little children seated abandoned the toys they had been playing with to explore the faces of these strange, long-nosed, foreigners.  Smiles and dancing eyes greeted us and welcomed us in.  Hesitant and not wanting to offend or cross any boundary, we asked permission to interact with the children.

 

"Yes!"

 

That's all we needed to hear before our team dropped to our knees and crouched down to meet these sweet faces eye-to-eye. 

 

I shared a list with the Assistant Director of children who had referral files with America World or who were already matched with an AWAA family waiting to bring them home.  She was so thrilled and excited when she learned for the first time that one of the little girls in this very room had a family! 

 

"Charlie"

in the yellow and blue shirt

 

"Charlie" was one of the boys in that first room.  He was seated right next to the precious Princess with a family waiting.  I settled in between the two for the few brief minutes we had before being directed to continue on our tour.  Miranda had been recruited to a game of "Clear the Table."  The smiling Princess placed toy after toy into Miranda's outstretched arms to the giggles and smiles of her friends.  "Charlie" watched and assisted in Operation Overload.

 

Leaving each room of children we visited was so hard even on this very first morning!  We just wanted to stay!  Playing, laughing, giggling, and drinking in the joy and beauty of them all!

 

Wednesday morning, we were invited to divide into teams of two to work again in separate therapy room.  Stepping through the door, Gretchen and I both leaped at the chance to work with these children again.

 

 

We sat behind each child and assisted them as they followed the directions of the nanny.  Counting, singing, exercising and stretching their muscles as we played and worked together.  I choose to sit at the end to work with the Princess and "Charlie."

 

Is it possible to smile too much?

 

 

I was struggling to stay focused and keep the kids focused (and all of us out of trouble) because they both kept turning about to just smile at me with their dancing eyes. 

 

 

The children in this group were all four to seven years old.  Each one faces the challenge of cerebral palsy or some other type of muscular condition.  The youngest little one could walk well and reportedly now only stumbles occasionally, but when she was transferred to this orphanage she couldn't even stand.  Some of the children could take a few steps and used a walker for more mobility. 

 

"Charlie's" tight muscles required that he be carried or use a wheelchair for more mobility.  However, his sweet spirit soared far beyond any physical limitations.  He worked so hard during the therapy time with his smile never fading.  During less structured playtime on floor mats with the children, he joined in with a friend to help me to build a tower of Duplo-type blocks.

 

"Charlie" is paper ready and waiting for a family to bring him home! 

According to the most recent information from AWAA, "He is designated by the CCCWA as a special focus file and is from one of our agency’s orphanage partnerships. A family at any stage of the process is eligible to review this file."

In China, cerebral palsy is a disability that defines, confines, and restricts the potential life of this sweet little boy.  At home with a family, "Charlie's" life will be filled with promise, hope and a future, limitless possibilities.  He is receiving the best care and therapy the orphanage staff and nannies can provide, but they all know that he could receive much better care once he is home within the loving arms of his mama and baba.

 

"JAMES"

(Disclaimer - Using AWAA nicknames for children with files or some of my own created nicknames for other children protects the child's privacy.  However, after spending a week with some of these precious kiddos, some of these names just don't fit and sound so weird!!!)

Introducing…

"James"

The first picture I took of my Little Man shows a grumpy tired boy who did not want to play outside with all these strangers.

Grumpiness turned to tears not much later as he toddled around the playground.  

This Mama's heart still can't endure a baby's cry for long.  

Though it was just our first morning at the orphanage, I scooped my Little Man up in my arms and began the "Mama Dance."  Bouncing, rocking, swaying to an unwritten melody, unique to each child.  Dancing with so many babies through my years of mothering, it only takes holding a child in my arms to begin the soothing movement and motion.  Finding "James" rhythm, he quickly quieted.  Snuggled up close and secure on my hip, together we wandered the playground as I snapped quick photos of other kids with my free hand and enjoyed all the laughter and fun.  

With his sweet face, deep dark eyes, and plump little cheeks, Miranda couldn't resist the temptation to cuddle my Little Man and begged me to allow her to hold him.

Those long lashes blinked and blinked until he could no longer hold his eyes open.  Cradled in Miranda's arms, "James" drifted off to sleep.  One of the nannies soon whisked him back inside to rest as we were summoned to feed babies.

Our team enjoyed more treasured moments with this sweet boy throughout our week at the orphanage.  

I learned that Jason was assigned feeding duty for "James."  Unfortunately for them both, Jason's baby feeding skills were horribly inadequate for this masterful eater who wanted his meals spooned quickly.

We soon asked the Assistant Director about what special need this little charmer could possibly have because we saw nothing obvious from our interactions with him on the playground or during his loud protests for a better feeding partner.  It was explained to us that he had a heart condition that had been repaired with surgery.  

After another somber day on the playground with my Little Man as my buddy, thoughts of concern for his health pierced my heart.

Then Miranda and Gretchen got to spend an afternoon playing in the Angel Room while I went shopping with the Assistant Director for new air conditioners to replace some broken units at the orphanage.  My sweet Little Man came to life indoors when he was well rested after a full tummy!

Trying to catch his laughter and smiles with her camera proved to be quite challenging because "James" was all BOY and non-stop motion!

Got one!

Such a sweetheart!

Playing with Miranda

All smiles and giggles!

Now, I must admit, I was a little jealous.  Not only did they get more playtime, but they got to see my Little Man smile, laugh, and play.  :(

I was thrilled the next day when we all got to spend more time playing in the Angel Room with some of the little ones!  

"James" was everywhere!  Into everything!  King of the Hill!  Lapping little ones on the floor with nannies exercising their tiny muscles.  

I didn't see a weak heart baby.  

I saw a playful, happy, little boy.

Late in the night I awoke…unable to sleep…my dreams echoed the thoughts that had me tossing a turning on my plywood stiff mattress…the sun would rise to Friday morning…our last day with these children.

I flipped on my computer screen and searched for the AWAA Waiting Child Photo Listing.  I had received the password in my emails while I slept and was anxious to see the files of children added during the day with whom we had spent our week.  

There he was!  

My Sweet Little Man!  

"James"!!!  

Photos of a younger baby boy.  Words describing developmental milestones, diagnosis, personality, temperament, therapy, surgery, etc.  All fell so flat.  Two-dimensional images flickering on my computer screen failed.

So I ask you to please be introduced to my Little Man, "James"…

…a delightful little imp…a heartbreaker…an enchanted prince…all boy…full of life…loves balls…makes boy sounds…playful…a smile that will melt your heart…deep dark eyes that swallow you up…giggles and laughter…

…but still an orphan…in need of a family to love him…to fall in love with him and bring him home!

Homesick

Family Vacation!

Woo-Hoo!

After several years of NOT getting away together as a family – Boy Scout camps, youth camps, sports camps, summer school, business trips, etc. filling our scattered summer days - we scheduled a week’s vacation for our family.  Not too far from home.  Within driving distance.  Renting a condo from a friend. 

Our family NEEDED this break!  Needed to make time to be together, to relax, to refresh, and to make memories.

So just a week after Miranda and I returned from the ACT Mission Trip to China, we packed our bags again…

Branson, Missouri or Bust!

Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede!

Silver Dollar City!

Swimming!

Titanic Museum!

Go Karts!

Riding a Duck on Table Rock Lake!

fun!  Fun!!  FUN!!!

I don’t know when I thought we’d rest and relax because we stayed pretty busy having fun? 

We did sleep in late several days.  Late enough that most days we just ate a late breakfast and then dinner.  Oh!  But we did eat some good food!  I did my research well.  I found some of the best diners, dives, and hole-in-the-wall restaurants.  Most days, my hubby was ready to walk out the door before we pulled into the parking lot.  Once the family tasted the food…I earned Mom of the Year praises repeatedly!

On our last full day in Branson, we planned NOT to do a full day at Silver Dollar City.  Instead our plan was to keep the day fairly low key so that packing up would not be too difficult the next morning.  I did, however, order tickets for an afternoon show that I thought the family would all enjoy…

The Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai!!!

Amazing 

Astounding

Enchanting

Amusing

Skilled

Twisted

Electrifying

Fabulous

Incredible

Epic

Elegant

Humorous

Unbelievable

Awesome

Beautiful

The little girls each got to have the cast of performers sign a Chinese parasol after the show.

How do you follow up a show like this?

Chinese buffet for dinner!

So, why am I writing about this family trip on my China trip blog?   Especially when I haven’t even had time to write and post all I want and need to about our trip?

Walking into the theater, it felt so good and familiar to see all the Chinese trinkets in the gift shop.  Miranda and I giggled at key chains of bowls filled meatball soup or bamboo steamers loaded with steamed buns.  Seeing Chinese faces serving popcorn and cotton candy from the concession stand and hearing them speak to each other with the melodious sounds of Mandarin filled me with a contented feeling of peace.

Before the show began, a pre-show tourism video of Shanghai filled screens in the theater.  I scanned the images looking for any footage that might have included other cities I’m familiar.  I laughed and whispered to Miranda during traffic footage that reminded me of video Jason may have captured with his camera on the top of our driver’s van.  But when the images showed homes, and schools, and shops, and foods, and families…

…I silently began to weep

…tears rolling down my cheeks.

Though I have traveled to China three times before this trip, this journey planted my heart deeper into the soil, the history, and the people of China. 

Eating meals at the orphanage with some of the staff, our conversations shifted from awkwardness of strangers to the intimacy of close friends and family.  Swapping recipes and sharing family stories from childhood memories. 

The children of the Welfare House are no longer nameless, faceless statistics.  They are no longer defined by a disease or diagnosis.  Boys and girls, babies and toddlers, school-aged, tweens and teens…their laughter and smiles fill my memories.  Piercing deep eyes filled with stories untold, longing to be loved by a family of their own.  The aroma of these children still fills my senses.  My arms ache to hold them again. 

I wiped my eyes, enjoyed the show, and tried to dull the ache in my heart. 

Dinner, however, proved to have been too much too soon. 

My son Elijah immediately noticed that his sister Miranda used her chopsticks differently when she ate.  After days of amusing the staff and our guide with our rudimentary use of chopsticks, we had both attempted to improve our dining skills.  Miranda was far more successful than I, but still I found this whole trip difficult.  NO CHOPSTICKS!  Until that final dinner.  Eating a whole dinner at the Dixie Stampede without any utensils?!?  Seemed so barbaric!  Touching food with my hands has become rather repulsive.

Though the restaurant I had selected was well reviewed, nothing tasted right to me.  Americanized Chinese food left my stomach reeling.  Though I returned home craving fresh fruits and salads, ice and the freedom to drink tap water, my taste buds now hunger for fare I can not find here at home. 

Never before have I traveled anywhere in the world without longing to return home and feeling at peace once I returned.

Home Sweet Home

There’s no place like home!

Mantras I live by as a diehard homebody!  I hate traveling!  I hate packing and living out of a suitcase!  I can’t stand flying and especially despise the 11-14 hour flight to China!  (During the flight home from our first adoption trip, I made a pact with God that I would NEVER EVER fly to China again…unless it was His will.)

But now…

I don’t know if I have ever been this homesick before in my life!

Before my feet landed on US soil, I began making plans to return next summer.  My whole family desires to go back with Miranda and I to meet our China family and serve the kids at the orphanage.  Even my boys are already planning what they can take and pack to share with the boys on the playground.  Wade World is planning what they can do during the children’s performance time…little girls Chinese dancing, magic tricks, more choreographed songs with Miranda?

Hardest of all for me…

…the children we left behind.

Leaving ripped my heart out!  My precious boys waited at the windows of their room, watching for our departure.  Their hands waved to us through the window as they called out their good-byes…continuing until we could no longer see them.

Knowing that some of the children will be home soon with families anxiously awaiting any news we brought back to share with them about their princes or princesses eases the pain of leaving that small handful. 

The burden and agony of all the other overwhelms me.  I daily check the AWAA waiting child list, looking to see if a child’s file is “Under Review” while waiting for the magical moment to happen when they appear as “Matched.” 

Home less than two weeks, I am bewildered at the number of children who have not yet even had anyone look at their file!  I want to shout from rooftops about each and every one of the precious treasures!  I can’t imagine why no families are rushing forward to snatch them up and take them home! 

I have more to write…more pictures…more stories to share…

...most of all…

BRING THEM HOME!