Friday, December 6, 2013

Reflections--Friday, Dec. 6, 2013

Well, we have returned home for two days.  All the kids did great on the trip home.  It took a total of 27 hours traveling and the kids did actually sleep some on the long flight!  It was so fun to see and hear Olivia’s excited squeals when she had the window seat on one of the flights!  Bryce, Elise and Benjamin have returned to school and they are actually ahead of their class because they did all of the work that the teachers sent them in China.  This is a blessing so they can be with Olivia when they return home from school and not have to do homework!

Olivia has had some regression since we returned home, which was expected.  This is yet another change for her.  She may have thought that the hotel in China was our home and now we are in a new place.  In summary of our experience, she progressed so much in China.  She went from kicking and screaming to no tears the last 2 days in China!  She has such a sweet spirit and a fun personality.  I know that she will be fine in a few weeks!  On Thursday morning when the other kids went to school, she cried some soft silent tears because it was the first time our family has not been all together and it may have been the first time she was alone.  Guess mom is not as much fun!! =) She did perk up after lunch and saw some smiles and laughter!  She was so excited when the kids returned from school!  It warms my heart to see her so happy!

With this to say, we had a very LONG night last night.  She was awake from about 12-4 am crying hard off and on.  The positive thing is that she clung to me and allowed me to comfort her some….  While we were pacing the room, I had some reflections and some silent tears as well.  It is heart wrenching to see her hurting so badly.  It is not supposed to be this way.  She should NOT be having to experience this.  She should be with her biological parents.  God’s original plan did not intend for there to be orphans…for kids to be abandoned!  It is because of sin, our sweet Olivia is hurting so badly right now.  We are so excited and blessed to have her in our family and God ordained her life to be with us, but when God created the world, there was no sin, there were no orphans.  This situation so closely resembles our relationship with God.  When He created the world, it was perfect and we were in one relationship with the Lord. (Gen 1:31) It was because of sin, that relationship was broken.  Without Christ, we are all orphans!  Sin separates us from our Heavenly Father. Praise the Lord that HE has conquered sin and restored our relationship with Himself through Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection.  His death has covered our sins and restored and reunited our relationship w/ our Heavenly Father!  (Rom 5: 8-11)  We are all His adopted children (John 14: 18-21) when we have this relationship with Christ.  (Rom 8: 15-17)  Just as our relationship with God was broken, Olivia’s relationship was broken from her bio parents, but she now has been restored to a family with loving parents.  I am so thankful that we have a loving God that restores relationships with Himself as well as for the adopted child.  Please pray for God to heal Olivia’s heart and give her peace and comfort during these next few days/ weeks.  We love her so much, and God is the ultimate comforter and healer!



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