Working through the jet lag and transitions...

Well, I did get those Cheerios picked up and another load of laundry run after I blogged last night. Derek ended up getting up around 11:00 p.m. (due to being ill) and stayed up with me until 1:00 a.m., at which time we both went to bed.

Cherish and Andrew both suffered from bad dreams last night, so I had the privilege of being up with them multiple times between 1:00 and 5:00 a.m. By that time, I was awake for the day.

I feel honored to be able to get up with the little ones and to comfort them in their time of fear and pain. What a blessing to help even one child. How blessed we are to have two precious children to care for!

My heart sinks and is overwhelmed with grief as I think of the millions of orphans who are suffering in their cribs alone. with no one to love them. with no one to comfort them. with no one to hold them during their traumatic dreams or horrible pain.

Well, we had not planned on it, but by 6 a.m. everyone was feeling even better, so we got ready and went to worship with our church family. Even though we hadn’t “been to church” in weeks, it felt was if we hadn’t been away—even for a minute—as God was with us and in us every step of our journey. What a God!

He is the One True God.

The One Who hears and cares.

The powerful One Who can and does answer prayers.

We stand amazed at all He has done for us.

In addition to all the wonderful blessings He has bestowed on us, He has given us two tremendous children who both have sweet spirits. We. are. blessed!

This morning while we were getting ready to get out the door, Cherish taught Andrew how to blow into her recorder and make a sound. I could hear her two rooms away squealing: “Mom! Come listen to what your son can do!” (Yes, that is a quote!) Then he tried something else new shortly thereafter and I heard: “Mom! Come see what your son can do!” Usually she says, “Listen to/See what Andrew can do!” But not this morning. J

It is so precious to hear how constantly she is delighted in the accomplishments of her little brother. It does my heart so good to see how she is head-over-heels in love with Andrew.

As an example of how we can see her love for Andrew, Cherish has chosen to sleep in his room with him and even takes naps with him, just so she doesn’t have to leave his side. She wants to spend every waking moment with him.

Andrew still goes to bed without crying. It is very nice to put down a child for bed without a whimper, whine, or cry. Even after his nightmares and I hold him and rock him for about 5 minutes, I can still place Andrew back in the crib, and he will simply suck his finger and hold his blanket. That’s it. He is so quiet.

His personality has been coming alive. He initiates hugs and kisses—which melt our hearts! He smiles a lot, and seems very content with us.

He loves to look out our living room windows—stare, actually—and is awed by trees, and grass, and leaves. He never would have simply walked over to the windows at the orphanage and looked out—as the windows are higher off the ground, and with the province’s very thick smog, he wouldn’t have had windows open to let in “the fresh air”.

We are completely enjoying his “firsts” and laugh with delight when he expresses surprise and joy.

He smiles with his mouth wide open. It. is. so. cute!!

All right, enough words. Next post will be PICTURES J.