A Season of Change

So today is the day that I share with the rest of the world the changes going on in our family.

I know it may be hard for some to understand and not all will agree, but I know in my heart that we are doing what is right no matter how difficult it may be.

Anna Li will be leaving our home and joining her new family very soon.

It was a very difficult and agonizing decision for us

but it was a decision made with Anna Li and not for Anna Li.

We love Anna Li with all of our being,

and she loves us as well.

We have made lots of progress over the past year.

It seems as each day goes by we get closer and closer to each other.

With that said, there is still a huge emptiness in Anna Li's heart.

She misses her country, her culture, the food, and the people.

Living in small town America limits the opportunities we can give to Anna Li.

I choose not to talk about the difficulties we have faced

in our small town, but you should know that there have been many.

Through the adoption community, we have found a wonderful Christian family

for Anna Li.

We have been in contact with them for several months.

Anna Li talks to them on the phone almost daily (sometimes for hours!!).

She will have 6 brothers and sisters adopted from

China, Columbia, Vietnam, and Guatemala and

ranging ages from 3-13.

She will also have some older siblings that are now grown and have families of their own

(Big Family!!).

She will have a sister that is 4 months younger than Anna Li and from China as well.

They are both able to speak in Mandarin to each other.

She also has a sister named Molly that is 12 from Columbia.

I believe that these 3 girls have so much in common

and will be a great source of strength and support for each other.

I have never seen Anna Li happier.

She is going to live in a larger city with a huge Asian population.

She will be around children that are like her and understand what she has been through.

She is going to have a sister and a brother from China,

and she is so excited about that:)

Anna Li has been nothing but a blessing to us.

We have learned so much from each other.

We have laughed, we have loved, we have shared many tears.

We feel the Lord has placed Anna Li in our lives for a reason.

We have learned so much about ourselves and others.

We feel the Lord has put Anna Li in our lives for a season,

to prepare her for where she needs to be.

Anna Li has a fresh start at life now...

knowing English, knowing what a family is, knowing what love is.

We have no regrets

We love this child and want the best for her in life.

If I knew then what I know now would I still do it?

YES, YES, YES

The Lord has given us such a special gift.

He allowed us to be part of her life.

HE gave us the opportunity to share the Love of Christ with her.

He graciously used us as a vessel to get her where she needs to be.