But, no, I never learned to juggle. Kinda the opposite, really. My family growing up was very calm and planned out. Very safe and practical. Now believe me, I had a wonderful childhood and family life. I felt confident in myself that I could do whatever I put my mind to. On the whole, my parents liked to plan out things and not do too much at once. We weren't one of those crazy busy families with multiple activities, last minute decision-making, and risk-taking adventures.
Keep that in mind... now let me share with you our past month or so in the Dri Family...
4 kids in school with all the activities and projects that go along with that, Fred's work is good and busy and has him travel fairly often for short trips, I work 3 half days at the preschool, we are in the middle of a medically expedited adoption for a 5 year old boy from China who speaks no English and has lived in an orphanage since he was an infant, he will also need to see a specialist for his Thalassemia soon after we come home and will have multiple appointments thereafter, things are moving along very quickly in the adoption process and we are probably a little over a month away from travel, we have to apply for and send off for the girls' visas and finish the rest of our travel documents and approvals, we want to travel by train in country so we have to figure out all the details for that, we decided to put our house on the market since the selling is good and try to get a bigger floor plan, house went under contract pretty quickly (but has a contingency that another house sells), we do not know where we are moving to but have been looking diligently, the kids are wondering where they will go to school next year and we can't tell them, we have a big extended family beach trip planned for mid June, we could be closing before our beach trip and leaving for China when we return from the beach, or we could not close before the beach leaving us little to no time to get closed and moved out before Fred, I, and the girls leave for China, we may find a resale that we want to buy or we may have to wait for a house to be completed...
Yes, that's JUST what I look like... what?
Lots and lots of balls in the air. I'm pretty sure we will drop a few of them, but as long as we catch the important ones, all is good. Strangely, I do not feel panic about the situation. I feel a peace that it will all work out some way. Which is true, it may work out the way I'd like, but most likely it won't. Most likely we will have some difficulty along the way. Some of those balls in the air will drop to the ground and mess up our flow. But what do you do when that happens? You take a breath, say a prayer, refocus and on the goal, and pick up that ball and keep going. Good jugglers probably don't even feel like they are exerting any effort when they juggle, even if they have many balls up in the air. They are used to the motion and it just feels natural.
What's the goal? Love others the way the God loves us. That's a pretty lofty goal, but I think it's what many of us strive for. And I think it's what God wants us to strive for. To love our spouse like that, our children like that, our friends and neighbors like that...
I'm sure I fall short of reaching this goal, on a daily basis, but I'm trying. I would love others to know the peace of God's love. Even though it's beyond our comprehension, I know that God has given me the strength to follow Him, even when life gets busy. Obviously we have chosen to make multiple major life decisions at once. That's how we roll, I guess. Or sometimes it's just how life pans out.
I really love this verse. You see, you can't explain God's love. It's beyond words. We can't know God's plan, it's beyond us. But you can feel His love and it is peace. I want my children to know and feel this verse. We are so blessed that we get to be the parents to Sam and Joshua. We are not their first parents, not their only parents, but we are the ones that will influence them the most and teach them and guide them... geesh, we better not screw it up!
Today is the day before Mother's Day. I learned today that is a special day in the adoption community... it's Birth Mother Day. I sometimes look at Sam and try to picture him with his Chinese family. Because they are out there, somewhere. It's weird to think about. I wonder how often his birth mom thinks of him... everyday? I am so thankful that she chose life for him. The choices that people in China have are much more limited than here in the U.S. He was born with a sick heart, his heart required surgery, she couldn't afford that surgery, she couldn't care for a sick baby. She chose to give him up so that he could live. This wasn't a selfish act. It was selfless.
Same with Joshua, and maybe even more so, I believe his parents knew his condition was chronic and life-threatening. Joshua was close to a year old when he was found by authorities. About the age that some issues would have become evident. Blood transfusions are not something a typical family in China can afford on a regular basis. Plus, he most likely wouldn't have gotten the iron chelation medication he needed if he lived in China and this would have resulted in a build up of iron in his organs leading to an early death. Adoption out of country is the best medical option for these kids. But as beautiful and joyful as adoption has been for us, we have to remember that it started with a broken family, an unimaginable act, a painful memory. We will always honor and hold in our hearts Sam's and Joshua's birth mother and father. We are not to judge others, we are to show them love and compassion.
Speaking of adoption, I'm very behind in my updates here. Well, I've been busy, okay (see above.)
So here we go: we got our Letter of Acceptance in record time! one week!!! Yay for the Chinese govt. expediting this! (This took 79 days with Sam.)
Now we are waiting for one last approval from the U.S. govt to adopt Joshua specifically. Then things get put in motion to send our paperwork to the U.S. consulate in Guangzhou, China to obtain a visa for Joshua to leave China with us. Then once that is issued they send the paperwork over to the Chinese govt again so they can issue travel approval and then we get a consulate appointment and then we know exactly when we can leave. Here is a simple diagram to help (we are waiting on #10)...
Since we have medical expedite letters, we think we will be able to leave in late June, after we get home from our beach trip. It will all be here before we know it!
Joshua knows we are coming (but not exactly when). I plan on using a service to send him a cake with a little note telling him about when we may be there. I think they are preparing him some for the adoption process, but I really don't know.
I can't wait to get this boy home! Your days without a mama and baba are almost over, my Joshua.
I think about him everyday. I often think that we may bring him home and not have a house for him! Minor detail.
I know it is very unlikely that he will transition as easily and quickly as Sam. He's older and knows more. He will have many more memories and will be set in his ways more. He is not used to having a family. It's going to be scary for him to come to a different country, not understand anything that is being said around him, and be surrounded by unfamiliar people and places.
I'm being cautiously optimistic and also trying to be realistic... things could get quite messy around here for a bit.
Whatever happens, however the balls drops or not, we will be okay. Better than okay. We will have each other and God will lead us if we seek Him. God's love and power is immeasurable.
"You call me out upon the waters. The great unknown, where feet may fail.
And there I find You in the mystery. In oceans deep, my faith will stand.
I will call upon Your Name.
And keep my eyes above the waves. When oceans rise.
My soul will rest in Your embrace.
For I am Yours and You are mine.
Your grace abounds in deepest waters. Your sovereign hand will be my guide.
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me.
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now.
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.
Let me walk upon the waters. Wherever You would call me.
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander.
And my faith will be made stronger. In the presence of my Savior."
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Hillsong United
