One Month Since Gotcha Day

Well it is hard to believe that one month ago today this precious boy came into our lives. It has been so amazing to see how he is changed since we first got him. When Jeremy was placed into our arms we noticed that his middle finger had no nail and it was all cracked, red and looked like it was infected. When we asked the nanny what had happened she said that he would bite his finger nail and he bit the nail off. Jeremy no longer puts his finger in his mouth and no longer bites on his nail. We also noticed when we were in China that Jeremy would cry and throw his body back and hit his head. Well he does not do that anymore either. He also would cry and scream when you had to change his diaper. Well he has gotten used to that too. Jeremy has had to get use to the car seat, stroller, a new room (without 30 other babies with him) and lots of new food. He loves all the new food and is a great eater and likes everything you give him, he loves being pushed in the stroller checking out all his new surroundings, and likes riding in the car seat next to his two big sisters that take such great care of him.

Jeremy has been showered with love from the four of us and we all feel so blessed and honored that the Lord has chosen him to be a part of our family. What an amazing boy he is. Nothing at all stops him. We are blown away everyday by his smile and by the things that he can do with his little arm. When I think back on all that it took for this very moment to arrive it is truly amazing. God has had his hand on this entire process from day one. We have walked by faith and not by sight from the very first application that we sent into America World. I remember Jim and I signing the application letter and praying "Lord we are going to trust You for the finances and every detail of this journey because we don't know how this is all going to happen but if this is Your will then You will make it happen. Not our will but Your will be done". Well the next day a check came in the mail for the exact amount that we needed to send our application to America World to start Our Journey of Love to Jeremy. I must say that God continued to supply the money when it was needed, helped with the months of paperwork and the timing of it all and gave us the strength and peace we needed as we waited for our time to travel.

The moment we walked into the Civil Affairs Office and saw Jeremy along with the other babies we saw the face of Jesus. It was a moment I will never forget. It brings tears to my eyes now as I type thinking how much the Lord LOVES each one us and how He has our lives in the palm of His hands. People would say "How do you love this child and you have never met him?" Yes, the Lord has knitted this bond of love for him in our hearts. We took him just as he was an orphan with the clothes on his back and a past that is unknown to be a part of our family. Now what is ours is his and he is no longer an orphan but is a son, a brother, a grandson, a cousin, a nephew, and a friend. Our prayer is that he truly knows the love of a family and the love of his heavenly Father. This same love is how the Lord loves us and the same way he takes us in and makes us a part of His family. He loves us just as we are and wants to shower us with His love and give us what is His and make it ours.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

This verse comes to mind as I am writing this: "I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you." John 14:18