An Update

Well we have been home 7 weeks now - and what an amazing time it has been. Of course life has been filled with a million small and sometimes tedious details. School, homework, Dr. appointments, 3 rounds of sickness, laundry, laundry, and more laundry !:)

Chloe is doing well - she is learning new things all the time. She is pulling up to stand in the playpen, the crib, on the furniture - and even beginning to cruise! Amazing accomplishments in such a short time. She still isn't sure about the kissing thing - but is starting to hug and snuggle much more. She is full of smiles and is so interested in everything and everyone around her. When I think back to our visit to her orphanage - literally a world away - I am so thankful that she is here and that everyday we can hug her and love her.

As I am putting her to bed at night - or sometimes again in the middle of the night :) - it often strikes me what a miracle it is that she is here and is part of our family. Tony Brewer, the Executive Director of A Helping Hand - our adoption agency, recently described God's love and His intentions toward the needy and the orphans in the world like Chloe was. "They may be abandoned in an orphanage, but they have not escaped the reach of His Love. If they are street children, they may be covered in layers of dirt, but they appear bright, shiny, and clean to Him. His love animates our parents, our domestic staff, and our foreign staff. It propels us forward. His love is always reaching out, searching, and seeking for those little ones who He loves so much."

How our story testifies to the truth of this! Even as Chloe was born and then left on that bridge in Shao Guan - God was propelling us forward. We had already made the decision to follow God and adopt a little and we were in the process of filling out our application for A Helping Hand. It truly shows just how deep and wide God's love is - He saw Chloe's need. He knew her story even before it happened and because He deeply cares for her He made a way for her - and gave her a family. He connected the thoughts, the convictions, the paperwork and the hearts from opposite sides of the planet. Only a huge and loving God can do something like that. It gives me comfort when I am holding Chloe and thinking about how unlikely, how strange and even how impossible it is that she is here and a part of us - GOD DID THAT! He is filled with love for even the smallest and most alone little people on this planet - and He is doing something about it! He is working! What a comfort when it is hard to understand so many of the unfair and evil things that we see around us.

For me Chloe's story will always be living proof that God does care and that He is always at work on our behalf. I hope that our story is an encouragement to you - we would love to hear from anyone who wants more information on adoption or who wants to get to know this great and wonderful God better! Post a comment - we would love to talk with you! Blessings - Angie