Last fall Michaela and Benjamin started going to a local Tae Kwon Do class. They have enjoyed it, and a couple of weeks ago they each earned their yellow belt. The class is at a local church and as part of the belt requirements they have to memorize scripture. It’s been a good experience and they’re trying to talk Dad into joining them. 
Way to go Michaela and Benjamin!
We are celebrating that another Elijah has a forever family! This wonderful family, the Bourkes, is in China right now. We became connected with them because our Elijah and their Philip both lived at Shepherd’s Field before their adoptions. We got to meet them in person last summer when we attended the Philip Hayden Foundation reunion.
The incredible thing that I wanted to share is that the Bourkes were empty-nesters. Twenty-two years after the birth of their first son and only child, they were in China adopting their second son, and this week they are adopting their third son. How neat is that?! If you’ve ever thought that you were too old to adopt, please, please think again.
We were also travel mates in 2006 with another incredible couple that had three grown sons and despite being empty-nesters they were in China to adopt Jaden and also returned last year to adopt another daughter.
I am so thankful for the examples of these two couples that went against what our culture said they should be doing as they neared retirement age. Rather than preparing to kick back and collect shells on the beach, they followed God’s heart and have now given homes and hope to four more children. God is good! We love and admire you Bourkes and Murrays!
Johanna can always bring a smile to my face. This morning she came upstairs ready for breakfast all decked out in matching clothes with her American Girl doll. Hope this brings a smile to your face, too!
Today was a special day as we celebrated Elijah’s 11th birthday. It also seemed like a celebration of his being home with us for one year. We arrived home just a week before his birthday last year and it’s amazing to think back to our relationship and how we communicated at that time as compared to now.
Elijah requested donuts for breakfast, noodles and apples for lunch, then chicken drumsticks, mac ‘n cheese and corn-on-the-cob for supper with chocolate cake to top it all off. Last year we didn’t know what to feed the kid so we took him out for Chinese food and got him an ice-cream cake since he didn’t like sweet cake. So much has changed!
Birthday wake-up call
We are so blessed to have Elijah in our family. His cheerfulness and resiliency humbles me. I can only hope to learn from his spirit. We honestly don’t know his “real” birthday. Shortly after being abandoned he was taken by a helpful policeman to the local orphanage. The day he arrived was February 1, thus that was the date chosen to be put in his records as his birthday. The date itself isn’t important though. What matters most is that Elijah’s heavenly Father knows the very hairs on his head and knows him by name. And as far as earthly parents go, we will do our very best to reflect our Father’s love and make Elijah feel ever-loved and cared for. Happy birthday, son. We love you so very much!