Papa's Perspective

As our trip to China gets closer, my emotions change everyday.  This week, a friend who adopted a child from the same orphanage Mackenzie is in picked up their little girl.  She got to meet Mackenzie, see her nanny, and take pictures and videos of Mackenzie for us.  I spent a lot of time this week just staring at those photos.  Through the tears I prayed for her.  My mind can’t help but wonder constantly about what’s in store for her – and what’s in store for us.  And Lily – her pictures are on our fridge and on the wall in my office. The closer we get to bringing her home, the harder it is to concentrate on chores and responsibilities.  May can’t come quick enough.  

I don’t doubt for a moment that our heavenly Dad feels exactly the same way about all of his children who are still far from Him.  I bet he aches for them.  I bet he longs for the moment his children turn from their selfish ways and embrace the life He has for them.  Jesus told stories about how God is waiting to run towards his children who want to be restored to their heavenly Father.  He described parties that went on in Heaven when one lost child came home. The scriptures are clear that our “God wants all men to be saved and come to knowledge of their Father” (1^st Timothy 2:4).    

Thank you God – my Father, for making my adoption possible through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Peace and Goodwill,

Jacques

Mackenzie Ty & her Ayi (nanny)

Lily Grace

Only God...

The Shanghai orphanage has very strict visiting guidelines and policies.  When families ask to tour the orphanage sometimes they are told "yes" but often times they are told "no".  When a family is fortuitous enough to get a tour, the orphanage staff decides where the family goes, and what they get to see.  Typically the family is taken to their child's room, and then to a few other designated locations that show up in everyone's photos.  When my sweet friend Tricia offered to bring Mackenzie a gift from us we knew that only God could create the occasion for her to meet our daughter.  From one of our updates we found out that Mackenzie was living in a completely separate building from their daughter Pippa.  

Imagine my pure and utter delight to wake up this morning 

to an email bursting with photos 

of our sweet Mackenzie Ty.

Only God!

Oh how my heart is exploding with love for this precious little girl...

our daughter!

Within a few short weeks, a bedroom fit for a princess

will replace those metal bars.

And the person she will cling to...will be me!

Check out the baby chillin' in the crib next door...

this little one cracks me up!

Blowing kisses...

Perhaps the best gift of all for me lies within this video clip.

The tender, loving touch of a mommy...

Thank you Tricia!

"And my God will meet all your needs
according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

A Taggie Full of Love

One thing I never expected about being on our journey to bring our girls home, was the amazing adoption community of women I would meet.  These women have been such an absolute blessing and encouragement to me!  There have been days along the way when I felt like my heart might just explode from helplessness or sorrow.  Without fail, these women have rallied around me - covering my family and waiting daughters in prayer.  You know who you are, and I can never thank you all enough!

One of these women is traveling to Shanghai this weekend to bring home her sweet daughter Pippa!  When Tricia should be focused and concerned about her own preparations and her own busy agenda, she sent me a Facebook message with an offer to bring Mackenzie a gift from us.  I ran out to target, and purchased a pink Taggies blanket that says "Love, Hugs, Kisses".  How appropriate!  Last night I slept with that special gift in my hand, and this morning I spritzed it with my lemon scented perfume before heading to UPS to over-night the package to Tricia.  There is a whole lot of love wrapped up in that tiny 12" blanket!

There are no guarantees that Tricia will be allowed to bring this to Mackenzie or even see her, but I will be praying my heart out that our Little M gets a chance to meet my sweet friend.  Please Heavenly Father, move the heart of the orphanage director, and allow my sweet little girl to experience a mommy's love and tender touch while she waits for us to come!

"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19"

Update on Mackenzie Ty

Our Shanghai Sweetie

Mackenzie Ty!

Once you finish soaking up all that sweetness,

could you please do us a favor

and pray?

From a previous update we were told

that Mackenzie is

"the active one in her group".

There is no doubt that Soleil will have

a perfect partner in crime!

Take a look at Mackenzie's left ankle.

From conversations I have had with other parents

whose children were also adopted from Shanghai,

the string around her ankle

is more than likely to tie her to her crib.

Perhaps this is to keep the children safe from

falling out of their cribs, but the thought

of my daughter being tied up

breaks my heart.



1. Has Nian Shu had any illnesses lately?

She caught a cold a few days ago, runny nose. She gets cold easily. Usually when she has same layers of clothes with other children, other kids are fine, but she catches a cold. So usually nannies put more clothes on for her. But still she caught a cold.

2. What is the best way to comfort Nian Shu when she is upset?

Just give her some snacks and she will be fine.

3. What size clothing is Qiu Yan wearing now?

Because sizes are all different here, we don’t really look by sizes, we look her height. She is wearing clothes for 90cm.

4. Who are Nian Shu's friends?

Her closest friends are: Zheng Hui Jun, Xu Jia Li, Sun Ding Hong.

5. What types of food does Nian Shu like to eat?

She has good appetite. She especially likes some snacks that they usually don’t get, such as chocolate, crackers, etc.

6. What are Nian Shu¡¯s favorite activities to do throughout the day?

Time for free activities.

“Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds

 – his name is the LORD – and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless,

a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:4-6a).  

Reflections from Papa

As we get closer and closer to going to China, I spend more and more time each day wondering what our girls will be like.  I wonder what kind of things will make them laugh.  I wonder what their favorite American foods will be.  I wonder what they will think of Moose (I am sure they will be scared to death at first).  I wonder what it will feel like watching them play with Dryden and Soleil for the first time.  I wonder what it will feel like the first time I hear Lily or Mackenzie call me Papa!

Do you remember the first time you realized God was your father?  Do you remember the first time you called him “Dad”?  What would your life look like if He hadn’t adopted you?  I love what  Paul said about our adoption. “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:14-16).  Take some time today and wonder about what it will be like when you’re adopted Father brings you home forever – in paradise!

Peace and Goodwill,

Jacques

We will recklessly love them...even if we bleed.

Update on Lily Grace

This morning I opned my email to a wonderful surprise!

We received an update on our sweet Lily Grace...

our little princess is growing up!

1.       Is Qiu Yan potty trained?

She tells her nanny (Yao <sounds like “your”> Niao Niao) when she needs to go potty. She goes to bathroom and sits on the potty herself. She doesn’t wear diapers any more.

2. Did Director Zhang decide to send Qiu Yan to preschool?

She is not in preschool yet. She is not old enough to go preschool.

3. Has Qiu Yan had any illnesses recently?

She seldom has any illness since her surgery was done.  She catches a cold occasionally.

4. Does Qiu Yan drink out of a bottle?

No. She drinks water out of a cup, but she likes to drink water out of a bottle. She feeds herself with spoon.

5. What is the best way to comfort Qiu Yan when she is upset?

Take her outside makes her very happy. Or you can pick her up and talk with her. She really likes her nanny hold her. Or give her some snacks or toys she likes will also comfort her.

6. What types of toys does Qiu Yan like to play with?

Bright color toys, doll that makes noise, especially likes to put on and take off clothes for her doll.

7. What size clothing is Qiu Yan wearing now?

Underclothes: 60cm; Outfit: shirt 39cm, pants 50cm

8. It appears as if Qiu Yan has crossed eyes in some of her photos.  Does she have any issues with her eyes? 

Her eyes has no problem. Maybe it was because of the angle.

9. Could we please have some recent photos and possibly a video of Qiu Yan?

Yes, see attachment

10. Please tell Qiu Yan that her Mommy and Papa love her so very much, and cannot wait to hug her, cuddle her, and put beautiful bows in her hair!

Yes, we will. We request our staff tells her that her parents are coming to get her soon often. Her daddy and mommy misses Yan (Her nickname) very much. We also show her pictures and introduce family members to her to prepare the child, help the transition.

11. Her updated measurements:

Height: 96cm; Weight: 11kg; Foot: 16cm.

Probably the best surprise of all were 4 short video clips of Lily.

Here is one where she is looking at photos

of HER family!

You can hear her say Mama, Papa, and Jie Jie (big sister).

OH MY HEART!!!!