One Year....

As I type the words ONE YEAR.. it is incredible to think that Luke has been in our lives for a year. That this day one year ago Tom and I stood in the lobby of the hotel in Jinan China and waited for Luke to come in. We were scared ( I am not going to lie I felt like I was going to throw up!)  We were full of wonder and excitement and then that little fear that creeps in and screams "OH MY WORD! WHAT HAVE WE DONE!!!" (ok so the fear wasnt so little).  We were told Luke had language and education in our paperwork before we met him and then an update later told that he had none and then later we were told again... yes he had some. So we didnt know what to expect of this boy that was 9 when our journey towards him began and 10 and a half when we finally arrived in China to meet him. What to expect from this child that had to feel as much if not WAY more fear then we did.

HOW does a child handle that fear? (Especially when we found out Luke had no language and no education after meeting him.)
HOW in the world did he have any way to calm himself to go with these strangers, these "white folk" (of which he had never seen anyone other then someone that looked Chinese).
These people that had blond hair and blue eyes (our blue eyes scared him for sure),
These people that seem excited to see him, but scared too,
These people that now want me to follow them where?.........................................

Hmm he had no idea where, no idea why, no idea what for. Luke had NO IDEA he was being adopted!
 (yea just let that sink in for a moment!!!!!!!!)............................................................


That scares me now that I look back on it. How this boy held it together that day and the days to follow is BEYOND my comprehension. Luke amazes me! Within hours Luke would make eye contact with us and try and see what Tom and I were signing in ASL about... (one good thing is Luke is one of the most curious kids I have ever met.. that has served him well to date!).... Once Luke realized that Tom and I could communicate and that Tom couldnt hear and was Deaf just like him.. WOW he wanted to know everything. Luke started bringing us everything he could possibly pick up and bring to us and he would run over with pure excitement and make a face like saying  "WHAT IS THIS?" we would show him the ASL sign and he would copy it and then run and put it back and then he would find the next item and the next item and the next item. This went on for a few hours in our hotel room that first night, until Tom and I collapased on the bed and Luke ran out of objects that could be pointed out in a hotel room.. WHEW, that was one STARVED for language boy! Day 2 was much the same.. Luke was a little leary when we went somewhere but was ok once he would see what we were doing.  Luke was soaking up language like a sponge and his personality was blossoming right before our eyes. Luke was of all things FUNNY, and I mean funny. This boy had us in stitches. We would laugh for hours and just watch Luke learn and take things in and learn how things worked and why they worked. We had one smart cookie on our hands.

This last year with Luke has been one of pure joy and amazement, one of struggles, fears and tears (for all of us not just Luke).... One of Love, jealousy , and even fist fights,(yes I said fist fights) and learning how to be brothers and finally being friends and brothers for Luke and Tommy. One of a sister opening her heart to allow in one more boy in a house that already had enough boys in her eyes and learning that Luke was going to become one of her best pals..... one of Aaron learning to  become  an older brother to 3 siblings instead of 2 and doing an amazing job as a Christian role model for his brothers and sister and making life choices that they all see and respect and hopefully, God willing, will follow in his footsteps that way..  one of a husband and wife learning to let go of their fears and doubts and have FAITH in our Lord and Savior, so that when we hear the calling of God to adopt one of his children into our family we know that it is OK to step out in that HUGE leap (more of a Grand Canyon jump in my mind) of Faith and just do it! and one of 5 family members learning how to open their hearts, minds and HANDS to one of Gods precious children to make him one of our family.  Lord we Thank you for sending us on this journey and for blessing us so greatly along the way. We are excited to see what our future holds for Luke and our Family.

                                         Fu Xin Hai  Before knowing the Love of a family!     

  Luke XinHai  Scared and unsure and having no idea what was going on the day of meeting his family!

           Totally enjoying the Love of a mom and dad just a week and a half after meeting us!

                           Totally immersed and grated into the love of a family!

                     Luke XinHai Worrell  After knowing the Love of a family! (Thank you God!)

                   What a year it has been and I cant wait to see where we go from here!!!!!!!!!
We already know that the future for our family is that we are not going to be a family of 6 forever that a family of 7 is on its way this year! We already know that God has called us to adopt again and that Elias will be our new son, brother, family member.. we cant wait for this journey to unfold.....
www.growingourfamilyto7.blogspot.com