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Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Tenderhearted!! Tom’s tenderness towards Zach, Bailey and Zoe is enough to melt my heart. It is one of his character traits that made me fall in love with him and I have seen it throughout this entire trip! I want to tell you about this little girl we met at the orphanage that just broke my heart. She was about 14, paralyzed from the waist down, an orphan herself and she never got a family to love her. Her job at the orphanage was to make bracelets out of red string and jade. She scooted around the room on a wooden stool and despite her disability she had a sparkle in her eyes. I asked her how much for 3 bracelets and she said whatever you want to give. So my tenderhearted husband with big alligator tears in his eyes said “give her all of our money!” When I handed her the money she did not feel worthy of taking it and tried to give me everything she had made. This little girl made me think of the verse that says “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Phil 4:11-13 She will always be etched in my mind and a good reminder for me to be content in every situation.

Today we accomplished great things! Praise God! We started out with a 2 hour breakfast (just think of how many coffees I got to drink!) because it takes Zoe about 1 hour to decide it is ok to touch the food we put on her plate. This should not surprise you but Tom and I sat with tears in our eyes watching her stare at her food but scared to death to touch it and would not let either one of us feed her. Knowing that she had to be starving we decided to sit until she ate something. After 1 hour of staring at the food she started to reach for her toast then quickly pull her hand back and she continued to do this each time getting closer to picking up the toast. Finally it happened she ate her toast and a banana the entire time looking down!

After breakfast we headed up to the room to pack up and just let Zoe roam the room. She actually moved around the bed and put down her phone (her security blanket). Within an hour she started chattering to herself and it is so cute to hear her speak in her little tiny voice. Also we saw her staring at our faces in the mirrors in the room and when we would catch her she would not look away!!! She was probably thinking oh, no what have I gotten my self into!?

After check out we had 3 hours to kill before we left to pick up her passport and head to the airport. We decided to try to take her to buy a pair of tennis shoes at the market. As soon as she caught a glimpse of the marry-go- round she got all excited and started jabbering up a storm. Throughout the ride she kept pointing at different things and talking and laughing! One of the things she noticed was a toy (junk) store and she couldn’t walk there fast enough. Once inside she started pushing all the buttons on everything and I think we had at least 20 different songs going at the same time! She also spotted a baby walker like they had at the orphanage and she was dying to take it for a spin. Well, Dad in all his wisdom said “I don’t think that is a good idea-we’ll never get her out of there.” So we bypassed it somehow.

After a nap on the couch in the hotel lobby we headed out for the airport. I was really sad leaving Hangzhou just thinking of Zoe’s birthmother and her courage to give up her sweet baby not because she didn’t want her but because she knew that she could not provide for her! She wrote in her letter that she and her husband did not have the money to care for Zoe and she wished that she would be adopted to kind people that will take care of her and love her. She also wrote Zoe’s birthdate down and that her birth name was Sui LinLin. I wish I could tell her face to face we promise to love her and take good care of her because I am sure there isn’t a day that goes by with out her thinking of Zoe and wondering how she is doing!

ONE OF HER NANNIES

ONE WEEK OLD FOUND TWO DAYS AGO

GIFTED CARETAKER

SPOT ZOE WAS FOUND

ONE OF THE MANY FEEDINGS

14 YEAR OLD JEWELRY ARTIST

In the airport we had a little hang up with Tom’s suitcase! We bought a couple of knives for Zach and security wasn’t too happy with that, even though they were in our check in baggage. So they made Tom open his entire suitcase and show the knives and somehow the knives are still in the suitcase (I think he must have flashed his dimples.) Anyway once on the flight we were expecting Zoe to freak out a little, but to our great surprise she was a happy 2 year old! She was playing with me, letting us tickle her and smiling and giggling and talking to everyone around us! It was the weirdest thing, as soon as the tires of the airplane left Hangzhou this shy sad little girl became a totally different girl!! Watch out cause when dinner came around she snatched up the spoon and started grubbin’! She ate an entire meal—head up and laughing to boot! Praise God!

Well, we are tired and have to be at Zoe’s health exam at 7:45 am. Thank you all for yours prayers and your encouraging words to us! Sorry we did not take a lot of pictures today so we wanted to post more from the orphanage.

Zach and Bay-we are so exited to get home and squeeze your guts out! Only 3 days and we will be home!!!! We miss you and love you both. Have fun with your friends at your house and fun skipping school!! Angels!

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