Day 12, we're home from the beach (sigh). More importantly, Mr. China is homeward bound too.

In between laundry, making beds, cleaning the house, and mowing the lawn, we've had our eyes on him all day.

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. (Eph 3:8-9)

This is what it's all been about. Proclaiming the boundless riches we have through Christ and making plain to everyone--even those who speak a different first language--the administration of this mystery, who God is and how He works.

Knowing that, remembering that, makes all the difference.

Knowing that makes Day 10 here have meaning too.

Do you remember Bo?



I introduced him here on December 15th last year. And, I advocated for him again on January 7th with new pictures and more information about him.

I was sure his family would find him--particularly after the January post and the adorable new pictures of him. I contacted the United States' leading specialist in his joint condition to have him review his file. I contacted families with children with the same diagnosis, asking them to tell me more about what day-to-day life is like parenting a child with this need, asking if they'd be willing to talk to families considering adopting him. I posted the links everywhere I could. Friends joined me and posted about him on their blogs.

And, I waited. He waited.

I got some emails about him, but none were from his family.

I kept his picture on my sidebar; but, to be honest, I had sort of lost hope.

Less than a month ago, I got an email out of the blue with the subject line "About a boy..."

Dear Kelly,
I rejoice!! We have the same heart. Passionate for Jesus, in love with the orphans and dying to do MORE.

God has been hard at work in my heart for special needs adoption! I tumbled across your blog from some links from other blogs...and I saw dear Bo.

My birthday is August 13th. This year I will turn 40. I am so excited! I love all God has done in my life and I cannot wait for all He has next. Obviously, with your son and dear Bo sharing this date, I cannot help but inquire about him.

If Bo is still waiting, would you send me information about him? I will pray first, "Lord, us??" and if it is a no, I will pray "Lord, find his loving family!"
Blessings!
Amy

And so, I forwarded her everything I had--all the pictures, the update, the review from the specialist--as I had done a handful of times before. And, honestly, I didn't think all that much about it after I hit send,

until a flurry of emails ensued.

PRAYING!!!! He seems so perfect! NO ONE WANTS HIM!?!?!??!?!

She asked me to pray with her; she was going to talk to her husband about him in a few days. Another email came; she decided not to wait; she'd talk to him that night.

Wow. I realized this time, things were a little different.

And, the emails didn't stop.

Only a few days later, nearly 5 months after I introduced Bo here, I got this --

Oh dear Kelly!!!
I am shaking with excitement!!! God has spoken to us and we are going to MOVE FORWARD ON BO!!!!!!!!!!!!

And so some serious hoop jumping began in order to get some papers in and lock his file and claim him.

Amazingly, they got the job done.

And, yesterday, that door they pushed open with a feather, just swung open wide. China said yes.

So, it is with great great pleasure, that I introduce you to Toby BaoKun Shaw who is about to become a beloved brother and son.

Happy happy day.

A Facebook friend just commented that she's on day 292 without her husband with no end in sight.

My single digit days are nothing. I'm pretty pathetic.

Today has been perfect, and tomorrow should be as well. We're kicking back, making sandcastles, dipping our toes in the surf.

And I'm hitting refresh on my phone, hoping for a message from Mark.

Kids have been great. And we've had a lot of fun actually being together. But, as of Day 9, I'm really missing my husband not because I need his help with the kids but because I simply need him.

He and the rest of the team leave the university where they've been all week in a few hours. Their "closing ceremony" starts in about 30 minutes. So much pomp and circumstance! The goodbyes will likely be hard for many students who have latched on to the team strongly. Clearly, the need for relationship is so strong.

So much will be happening again while we sleep. (Drew announced today that Daddy is nocturnal)

A few more days for their purposeful trip. And a few more days of ours.

and there lies Day 9.

As Mark is teaching right now, I'm relaxing on a king-sized bed listening to frogs croaking outside and the sound of a water fountain...and the kids in the other room intermittently giggling and arguing about whom is keeping whom up.

We left town.

Though I'm not in China with my better half where I'd love to be right now, I am somewhere really nice.

And in Evan's words, "I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be great."

No matter where we were, skipping a day of school always feels sorta great.

Add in sun, sand, and swimming...

Day 8 is ready for a great Day 9.

I've been, oh, just a tad bit busy this week with Mark being a rock star on the other side of the world. But, I haven't forgotten about Building the Nest this month.

I've received some fun packages in the mail this week with a few things I ordered--Ashlyn is super in love with her flip flop ribbon belt from Chesapeake Ribbons and her ponytail holders from Between the Buttons. My cards from Red Letter Ink are here, and I can't wait to use them for some special families. And, I'm eagerly anticipating a fun package from Red Pajamas which will include that awesome tie for my homeboy Drew-man.

Many of the partners this May have a connection to adoption. And, some of them sell adoption related products or photograph adoptive families in particular. Since many of you reading these words are sorta into adoption too, I thought I'd share some of my favorites I've found as I've surfed through our partners' sites.


Maybe you saw that I included this book, A Family for Eve,  in my reviews of adoption related children's books. Since then, I actually got to meet Kristan the author who just exudes a big big heart. Love that. Go check out her book.



Jillian is fundraising for their Russian adoption with t-shirt sales in addition to her jewelry sales at Embody Jewelry. It Takes a Village is so cute. And, for Russian adoptive families, this Russian love shirt is a must have.

This time will not last forever. Give yourself permission to get through it without doing everything perfectly. Allow yourself grace and give the same to your spouse.

Word. You can download it for only $5.99 from Amazon or download the pdf here for the same price. Sharla is giving 50% of all sales this month to The Sparrow Fund.


Julie from Lifeverse has a great store with images so uniquely her own. Her huge heart for adoption led her to create some pretty special art for adoptive families or people who have a passion for orphan care, and they are selling like hotcakes.

My man.

The one who would tell you he's quiet and shy, prefers a few rather than many.

I found this in my inbox today from Frank who works with my parents and is our godson's father.

Really fun night. Everything went really well. . . . They were so quiet and listened to everything. One girl came up front and wrote down every word from the power point and asked me all kinds of questions.

Love you so much and wish you were here to share all this. You would love being with the kids as well. They would love you so much. 

He's killing me.