almost time

Our beautiful Lucy Mei is in transit at this very moment. She has no idea why or what is about to happen. We are going to rock her world!

She (and her little buddy, Warren) are being escorted by an orphanage director and enduring a 2 1/2 hour drive to the Registration Office in Zhengzhou, Henan.

People often ask, "Does Lucy know about you?". Folks, even if she were told, she would not understand. Lucy doesn't know parents or families or siblings exist. Her world has been solely institutional. Sadly, it's all she knows.

My heart truly breaks for her. She will grieve and be overwhelmed with sadness, confusion, fear and over stimulation. At the same time, my heart is overflowing with joy and love and unbridled excitement. Knowing this beautiful, sweet girl will be loved unconditionally, extraordinarily adored and cherished, forever - in a family, melts my heart.

As you likely know, Lucy Mei will be our 5th child and our 5th adoption.

The anticipation, excitement, nervousness and overwhelming love does not lessen with each adoption or child. If anything, the emotions intensify because the fear lessens. Heck, we got this adoption/parenting gig kicked!

Riiiigght. Maybe it's the jet lag?!!

So, how does one begin to prepare for this moment? The moment you are about to meet your child.

It's very surreal, stomach in knots, butterflies....yet strangely peaceful. 

We will leave in exactly 1 hour for the Registration Office where we will meet our sweet Lucy Mei.

We will likely begin completing paperwork. Soon after, the children meeting their forever families begin to arrive. There are 9 families in our group - adopting 10 kiddos. Oh the joy!!!! The children will have journeyed from destinations all over the Henan province. We will anxiously await Lucy Mei's arrival - perhaps looking out the window as the vans arrive. She will enter the room and we will be handed our daughter. Chills. 

Think for a moment, as parents, how much love, affection, physical contact, encouragement, guidance, attention, adoration, nurturing, comfort, discipline, experiences, routines are showered on your newborn to toddler age child.

Imagine instead, if your child were raised in an orphanage through 2 1/2 years of age. An environment comparable or worse than most poorly-average run daycare facilities....24 x 7, their entire life. Rotating caregivers, rotating children. Very few, if any, life experiences. Very little variation in food/diet. Very little love.    

These children are in survival mode. They bring with them  many coping mechanisms and institutional behaviors. Some intensely cry or melt down (think Ben Ben :) or some withdraw and must learn to cry because their cries have always gone unanswered.

Love changes lives. We cannot wait.

Ellie asked me last week, "Mommy, why didn't you just adopt a girl with Benny so you wouldn't have to travel again?".

I said, "Because, Lucy wasn't available to be adopted then". She smiled. :) 

Please pray that Lucy Mei will open her heart to us, welcome our love and.....smile. Beyond anything else, I look forward to seeing our precious girl smile. Oh, what joy awaits us.

Last post as a family of 6!!!