Beginnings and Endings

Beginnings. Adoption news...
Last August we shared how we started the process of adopting our third child. We felt deeply that God placed an older child in our hearts though a domestic adoption, so we headed in that direction. (Even though at times it seemed easier and more comfortable to stick with international adoption or even pursue pregnancy, but it was clear we were in the right spot!)
At first we thought maybe 5-6 years old, but then felt we should open our homestudy to children age 5-18 and opening our home to only children and sibling groups.
We waited each month to be matched with children and in March we attended an adoption party and visited with many children available for adoption. After much prayer and waiting, we have been matched with a child who was at the party and had our first visit... yesterday! Surprise!

We met one another half way, which happened to be in OKC. We went to the zoo and had a wonderful day. Our sweet "K" just turned 12 years old this month. She is an only child. She is half African American, half Native American and very beautiful. She has been in foster care for about 4 years and is very ready for a forever family. The kids all enjoyed one another too, holding hands and playing through out the day.
We have our first overnight visit next week (2 nights during the week). The plans after that will hopefully look something like this: An extended weekend visit (Friday-Monday). Then a full week. Then move in for 6 months. Then adoption. This is a typical smooth plan and we are praying this is indeed the child in our heart and that we are the perfect family for her as well. We hope to share many pictures of our time together, but for now we are showing them cautiously.

During this process we have been swimming up-stream, so to speak, with our decision to go out of birth order and to adopt an older child, but even after much negative feed-back, our hearts were still open to building our family through an older adoption.
Things were said like, "Why would you do that to your perfect little family?" Cause you know, adding children will ruin your life. Or "It is so awesome that you are saving a child like that." Yes, oh yeah, that's right, all parents look into their children's eyes and think they have saved them! I think every parent knows that the child is the best blessing in their lives, not the other way around. Or "OH, I didn't know you were adopting a child that old, that will be hard."
Hard for you maybe, because you haven't been prepared for that. But we have. It's rather like being called to live in Africa, that would be hard for most, yet God calls people to do that too! (One of my bestie friends ever. Read up on that blog. Washing clothes in the tub and hanging them to dry. Loving on the lost Kenyans. Serving wholeheartedly through tears, homesickness and yet having a deeper joy and peace unmatched at any other time in your life. That obedience is beautiful.)

The good of the situation is that as we slowly share the news of meeting her to a very selected few, we have received blessings unmatched from those who get it. I had one friend mail me a check so that we could go splurge as a new family and do something wildly fun without thought of expense.
Another friend preciously said, "My 80 year old grandma just said that God is still working on her. We know He is working on you and me. I know He can do a mighty work in her. Do not anyone tell you its too late because she is 12." Ahhh, honest, encouragement, making the elephant in the room a non-issue. And our community group at church said they want to throw her an adoption party when the time comes. Oh the blessings!
We do not know at this point how all this will play out, but we are excited for this ride and are thrilled to be adding to our family. (And note to my hubby, please say we are not done yet!) We do thank you for your love and support and will continue to keep you updated!

For "K"... (pics to come...)
"I will come to you and fulfill My gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. " Jeremiah 29

Endings:
We had our last Vietnamese lesson last Sunday and they had a huge celebration for all the children. Avi Joy had her first cotton candy and snowcone. They played so many games for the first time, like the ring toss, balloon darts and ping pong ball toss into vases. They had face painting, a dunk tank, a gift shop, Jupiter jump, bingo, ball toss and TONS of Vietnamese foods and sweets. We had pork, noodles, egg rolls, Pho, rice and fruit. It was weird that the rice tasted like I was in Vietnam. How exactly do they do that??

Avi Joy had her last day of dance and then had her recital this weekend. She was a bumble bee and did SO great up on stage! We were proud. She has come a looong way from just standing and observing her class dance.
Held at the new BAPAC.
The final bow of the whole dance company.
Running backstage to her grandparents. Both of our families were able to come watch her performance- thank you so much!
Curtsy!
The last day of school! There was an award ceremony and I explained that she would be given an award for some type of character. I told her something like, most patient, best listener (which is what she got last year) or most friendly. She told me her award would be for "being the cutest." I told her that was not quite an award. Even though each child received an award, mostly based on character qualities, what did Avi Joy get?? Best Dressed. Basically, she was right.
Her "graduating" class. That just cracks me up.
Creative dancing. No skirt around?? Well, use a dish towel. Tuck it in and spin!
God has made everything beautiful in its own time. There is a time for everything. Ecclesiastes 3

Thoughts on food over on internationalblend!

The Perryman's