September 20th - Truly Blessed

All adoptive families have there last stop in China in Guangzhou (the US Consulate is located here) and many of those families stay at the White Swan Hotel. Now, while in Zhengzhou, we could walk a mile in any direction and pass thousands of people and never see another Westerner (Zhengzhou has over 2 million people in the city limits). People would stop and stare at us until we literally passed out of their line of sight. Here in Guangzhou it is a different story, we have over 50 other families staying at this hotel that are also adopting. There is a form of a bond with these families and you get many of the same conversations: "Where are you from," "Where is your child from," "How many children have you adopted," etc. Each of these families story is unique and each adoptive child is unique and beautiful in there own way. Laikyn is one of the very few children that has stands out from the others due to her open cleft (many children have already had the cleft repaired). But, as I have stated in some other blogs, she stands out in a lot of other ways as well. It seems like everyone we pass or talk to comments about her smiling, giggling or her overall joyful disposition. We thank God that He has brought us to Laikyn and we thank Him for everything that makes her unique and beautiful and that includes her cleft. Yes, she will some day soon have that cleft repaired (God willing), but without that cleft, we probably would have not had the opportunity to ever meet her, let alone take her home as a member of our family. And, along with the cleft, we get to see all of those unique things on the inside...her overflowing curiosity, abundance of joy, how she is so quick with a smile or laugh and, yes, we would have to throw in a little bit of orneriness (she has to have a little bit to keep up with her brothers). Also, after today with her mommy, I would say she may also have some form of an inner desire to shop. I am only kidding, however, Molly has been spending time with Laikyn every day and telling her what a blessing she is to us and she has also been reading her Psalm 139. We know that God did knit her together in her mother's womb. She has been fearfully and wonderfully made and we get to see His handiwork every day as we interact with her. We have been truly blessed.