Hope for Tomorrow

We made it through day two with John Asher. I can say with all honesty that he cried a little less and smiled a little bit more, but still wants absolutely nothing to do with me! He is strictly attached to Jeremiah! Most of you know that Jeremiah loves babies, and before we left he said over and over again that he couldn’t wait to get his hands on John Asher. Well he has had plenty of opportunity to hold him! He wanted to get a shower this morning and I told him “You can’t” and he said, “It seems I’ve lost all my privileges” and I said “welcome to motherhood”! He also said he now knows why moms have post partum depression – all the crying and holding and trying without much reward or feedback. But we have seen some bright spots. He laughs and giggles with the girls and every now and then I can get a smile. He does not want me to feed him or hold him. However, Gracie won him over with potato chips! I’m thinking about locating some ice cream tomorrow and seeing if I can win him over that way!

We think he is a cutie though. We’ve decided with his current haircut he reminds us of a cross between Elvis and a sumo wrestler! J He also fits perfectly into the 12 month clothes I brought for him. No scar on his chest so he hasn’t had surgery. He will most definitely need it soon after we arrive home. His little fingers and lips turn blue when he gets upset. It scares me just a little, but I know he’s lived with this for the past twelve months. I’m just glad I already have a cardiologist appointment for when we get home. I am also holding out hope that some of his fussiness may subside once he feels better and has recovered from surgery.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I can’t say that enough. We need them so much right now. Thank you for asking your Sunday School Classes to pray for us and others that don’t even know us. Here are some specific prayer requests:

We have a big decision to make in the next 12 hours: does Jeremiah leave with his father and drive to visit John Asher’s village in northern Henan? He would have an opportunity to visit the orphanage, his finding spot and take photos of his hometown. However, Jeremiah is the ONLY one John Asher is attached too and we don’t want to have taken three steps forward only to take four steps back. It is our only opportunity and he really wants to go. But we also know we are here for John Asher and want to make the best decision for him. Please just be in prayer about this today as we are also praying about it through the night. If he deicides to go please pray for their safety and protection and also for me and John Asher, that it will be a time of bonding!

Madi Beth: the two things she needs most are food and sleep and those seem to be the two most difficult things for her here in China. She had a very difficult day today and is having the hardest time understanding John Asher’s grieving. She just wants to play with him, after all that is her love language.

Gracie and Eli are actually doing pretty well. They are just going with the flow of things!

Jeremiah: that he continues to have patience with John Asher and the adjustment/attachment process

John Asher: for the bonding with the entire family to continue, that he will trust and love us more each day and grieve less.

John Asher’s foster mom: my heart breaks to think if John Asher is this sad, the emotions she must be dealing with. They were obviously very close! Pray for healing for her heart as well.

Me: that my heart will understand what my mind knows, that I won’t be afraid to try to facilitate the bonding with him, even through the rejection, that I will get some sleep – I am just like Madilyn, I need sleep and good food!

This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Love you all!

**It may be later today (my tom. morning) before I post pictures. They take forever to load and I am exhausted.