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...
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