Reflecting

Each of our trips to China is so very different.  All have the same paperwork and the same end result, a new child, but the experience is never the same.

This time I realized that I haven't even been able to take pictures, a few here or there but most of the time one of my hands has a child attached to it, and getting all those children together for one photo...in a busy city...can be tough.

We brought all of our kids along so they could experience China and see what this part of adoption looks like.  We want them to see other families doing what we are doing, we want them to see that adding a family member can be ugly and hard, but we're family and families are forever, so there is nothing too hard.  What I hope is that they also get to take in some of the sights and realize that different cultures and people are an amazing creation, and truly one of God's gifts.  Not only do we look different, but the way we live our lives is different. I do not want my kids to be scared of different.

It never fails, each time we are here, somewhere we hear the song "It's A Small World." I don't know if it's the equivalent of the Chinese showing a peace sign in a photo or what, be we always hear it.  Each time I just want to roll my eyes, because there are so many moments while we are here that it feels like such a BIG, BIG, world.  Once my sarcasm leaves I realize that, although not a spiritual song, it sure can have spiritual significance.  All of these people in this small world, have been created by the same BIG God and placed here for such a short time.  To say that doesn't really give it credit, but in moments when life seems too big to handle it can give perspective.

So, as we get closer to the end of our 3rd adoption journey to China I can't help but wonder what will be my take away this time?  More than ever before, it feels like all I want to do is get back home and sink back into my normal, Rockwall life.  But, Kevin and I have always known that is not what God wants for us, so I can hardly imagine He brought our entire family to China so we could run home and get as comfortable as possible.

Even though we may not have many pictures to look at, and we may have spent too much time seeking out American food, we pray that this trip teaches us much more.  We pray it's more than fun souvenirs and silly games we play to pass the time. We pray it's even more than new friendships and a new family member, because as significant as those things are there is so much more.  We are such a small part of God's GREAT BIG plan.