One Year ago TODAY, I had decided to pursue the calling God placed on my heart to open MY first DANCE studio!!! We were already 9 mos. into our "adoption pregnancy" with paperwork, payments, homestudies, etc...and yet, the burden on my heart was so great to listen to God's direction for what is now called: Encore Centre for DANCE!!!! Amazing to see God at work in bringing the DANCERS to our studio especially as we celebrate our FIRST Student Concert this weekend!!! Wow...
It was also One Year ago TODAY, that our daughter's Birthmother decided to take her to the orphanage to "let her go." I'm sure the decision to offer her a better life was not overnight nor light-hearted. Oh how my heart aches for Ms. Nguyen today, especially knowing that my daughter was taken one day before she turned 18 mos. old. What were the events that led her to the final decision THAT day? How long had she been struggling to keep her baby alive and could barely do it? What did her family think - did they play a role in her decision? Will Maile's birthmother ever know in her heart that "Thuy Trang" is OK now and safely HOME forever!?? My heart is so sad for Maile's birthmother, yet overjoyed for us to have her with us...It's a bittersweet day, full of emotions and questions that will never get answers...
Maile has come such a long way since meeting her just 3 mos. ago tomorrow (June 13.) She has really settled into our household and grateful each day she is more and more comfortable with our "crazy crew." She now says in English (& sign language at times) - "EAT", "more please," "Thank you" & "I lub you" (with her littl' pinky up to say "I love you.") She is so sweet and amazing....and so sassy too!!! She continues to grunt, yell, slap & stare to communicate her true feelings. She is much better with "Ba" & loves Joseph, still getting aquainted with Samuel and "Grandma Lizzy" (my mom.) Thankfully, she still prefers ME :) and loves for me to nap with her, put her to bed and RUNS to me when I come home from DANCE and exclaims, "Mommy!!!" I am STILL in awe and almost in denial at times to realize SHE IS REALLY OURS!!!??? How can it be true, after 2 years of waiting, praying and paperwork, that we have the littl' girl in the pictures we stared at for EVERYDAY for 5 mos. before getting her!???
I pray her birthmother knows, truly in her heart, that Maile Noel (Thuy Trang) is OK and so well loved and cared for. Thankfully, His mercies are new every morning and we will celebrate tomorrow, JUNE 13, Maile's "half birthday" - now turning 2.5 years old!!!! She doesn't know it yet, but we'll have some of her Princess Cake at the DANCE studio to celebrate her littl' life! I cannot wait until this weekend's concert to honor Maile's arrival and all those who have been touched by the gift of ADOPTION. It truly is a gift and story of re-birth!!!
Thank you Grandma for adopting my mom, Thank you mom for adopting me...now here's to Maile, the 3rd generation of God's gift of love & faithfulness through ADOPTION.
Forever humbled, forever changed...Ms. Saigon
You're right Michelle - from His words: "For I know the plans I have for you...to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE..." Jer. 29:11
2 comments:
Thanks for this today, Kim! I've been teaching VBS this week, and we were talking about the story of Baby Moses & how hard it must have been for Moses' mother to put that basket in that river - and she had a strong faith in God. I've been praying that my future child's birthmother would is some way come to know God more through this situation. It's unlikely in Vietnam, I know, but nothing is impossible with God! I'll be praying for Maile's birthmother today too!
Kim-Lan...What a beautiful post and what a beautiful family. Thanks for sharing all of this.
Blessings to all of you.
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