Anyway, a helpful little bird reminded me that I never did finish my story the other day. I was talking about how hard it was to wait so long, and believe we would get that child God had intended for us. I told you about how God continued to give us confirmation and peace that our match with Bri was not by chance, His plan was not deterred by us dragging our feet, and that it was all done in His timing (see this post for a refresher on Part I, and this one for Part II, if you didn't catch it). I said I'd tell you later about the other neat little hints God gave us.
Then I forgot... Hey-Whaddaya want from me? I'm 40. I have a gazillion kids. I forget things. Sorry.
One of many special details I love to remember about our Gotcha Day happened after we were loaded back onto the bus with Bri to go back to the hotel. I was holding my beautiful, brand new daughter on my lap, snuggled close to my chest. As the sunlight was streaming in through the bus window, I noticed one bright red hair, standing out amongst all the shiny black ones, on top of her little head.
For one thing, it reminded me of the Chinese Legend of the Red Thread (at the bottom of this page, if you've never heard it) which, even by itself, was special. But that wasn't the only thing that stood out to me about the red hair. If you know our family, you might understand where I'm going with this. Red hair tends to run on my husband's side. Three of our children are strawberry blondes and one had gorgeous, dark auburn hair growing up. To me, it was as if God was pointing out that familiar-colored hair to say, "See? She really is yours." It was a neat way for Him to "link" us together. At least I choose to look at it that way...
Another really fun "proof" God has given that this child was meant for us is something she started doing as a toddler and still does today. 
This is odd, but she likes to take the sticker off the bunch of bananas when I bring them home from the store, and put it right smack in the middle of her forehead. She'd leave it there all day if we'd let her.
This is odd, but she likes to take the sticker off the bunch of bananas when I bring them home from the store, and put it right smack in the middle of her forehead. She'd leave it there all day if we'd let her. What makes this really weird is that I did the same exact thing when I was little! I can almost hear God saying, "That kid is definitely YOURS. She's way too weird to be anyone else's!"
In fact, Brianna and I share more in common with each other than with anyone else in the house. Our passion for Del Monte stickers is only the beginning. There are so many ways we're alike, it's freakish. Two oddballs on opposite sides of the planet, brought together as mother and daughter, by the loving hand of God.
And there have been so many other ways God has shown us how perfect His plan was in making her a part of our family, and even in letting us wait 23 months to have her. I didn't like that part while we were going through it, but I'm so thankful for it now. She was meant to be ours. And she was so worth the wait.
I know some of you are waiting and wondering when this will end. Will there even be an end? Will it end well? So many little things with international adoption can go wrong. As we wait, we hear all the horror stories of yet another failed adoption, eagerly shared by someone who knows someone who heard something. And most of the time, we hear nothing at all. It's the worst kind of limbo, isn't it? My heart goes out to you and I know how hard this is. I know some of you are Believers, too, and started this whole process because you felt that same tugging from the Lord that this is what He wanted you to do. If that's the case, then don't give up! You're own precious little oddball, hand-picked just for you by God Himself, is waiting for you.
"The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
Your day is coming. Your child is out there. Get some Del Monte stickers ready, just in case.
4 comments:
that is so cool! I would really like to read about the red thread thingy but I didn't find a link to it. I know I am probably blind and it was right in front of me but I didn't see it.
The "red thread thingy" is an old Chinese proverb. I have it at the bottom of the page, under the cube of family pictures. Scroll all the way down to the very end of the page and you'll see it. I don't know anything about the origins/history of the proverb. Does anyone else?
I know someone who was adopted domestically as an infant. For some reason she and her mother did some kind of personality inventory/psychological test thing--get this--they answered every question exactly the same...the psychologist was just shocked! He said that never ever happens. Just reminded me of the banana sticker thing!
That is so cool! I love your blog, especially love the fridge art.
We have had similar Delmonte moments, but nothing so visible - mostly my birth kids and adopted kids are all LOUD. I would rather they all put Delmonte stickers on their foreheads - or maybe their mouths, lol.
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