Two Years HOME

*click on any picture to enlarge

September 13, 2015 marked two years h-o-m-e and two years as an American citizen for Lucy Kim.  So very much has transpired since meeting our little girl for the very first time that hot September day in 2013.  The trauma, emotions, grief

and number of life changing transitions Lucy has experienced in her five years supercedes more than most of us will experience in a lifetime.

We just completed Lucy's two year post placement report for China.  When adopting from China, the Chinese government requires an annual post placement report of all children adopted from China.

 With each report, eight color photographs need to be included.  These reports and photos are required for five years following an adoption.  Did you read that last sentence?  It's not a typo, I will be sending a post placement report to China five years after Lucy's adoption.  I have rolled my eyes, sighed and mumbled as I worked through an eight page document reporting updates on various aspects of Lucy's mental, physical and social well being.  I question if anyone really reads these reports.  However, at the end of the day, if those of us who brought our children home from China do not fulfill our commitment, what will that mean for the thousands of other Lucys that are behind orphanage walls longing to be in their families' living rooms?

If we paused and looked only at the medical journey she has been on in the past two years, it would evoke a large and breathy sigh.  And the reality is the medical portion is one fraction of the changes she has experienced in her transition from orphanage to family.

Home three months and a fall down the staircase results in a fractured arm.(Dec. 2013)...

Finding out her spinal cord is tethered and a serious surgery is required.(April 2014).....

It's  hard to convey in words the privilege it has been to walk the emotional, hard, life changing journey with Qu Yan/Lucy Kim as her Mommy and Daddy!  Truly God does not call the equipped, He equips the called!

 "This is adoption. It is a bold love that is not scared of seeing hurt, touching hurt, or being hurt. There is truly transformative power in the pursuit of loving another hurting soul."                  Kylee Cragggett 

Castings and surgery to correct her vertical talus in her foot (Oct.2014 - Jan. 2015).....

Correction of leg contracture with external fixator (March -.June 2015)......

 Two years ago, we brought an adorable, bright and very scared toddler home from China, we blinked and now she's a bold, sassy, loveable, confidant kindergartner!  Many tears, much laughter, hundreds of appointments, lots of pain, tremendous growth, increasing trust, and ongoing transitions....Easy journey for her or us?  Nope.  Worth every step of the journey?  YUP!  (x 6 gazillion!)  

September 2013

nothin' better than n.o.o.d.l.e.s!

September 2013

       

Tah-Dah - Here's the School Girl

"Spirit Day" (less the cheery spirit) - go
red and black!

 Put your yes on the table to whatever God might have in store for you, step out in blind faith and believe He will walk every step ahead of you, beside you and behind you.