Summer Vacation: Part 1

Our big week of summer vacation was split into two & a half parts. One of which had been planned for nearly 9months...the gathering of many of the Bamboo Project families in one place to meet face to face and to glory in God's amazing works. You can imagine the looks I got when I told people I'm spending part of my vacation with a group of strangers I met on the Internet! (There was a small part of me that worried too). But it was awesome. I mean, truly awesome. When God puts community together under the common banner of His calling, it just works.

 

Day 1:

Isaac and I flew out of Seattle with eight days of luggage, including car seat and stroller. I seriously looked like a pack-mule, ultimately trudging through three airports before our trip was done. But we did it! I may have looked like a fool, but hopefully I'm teaching my boy that he can do absolutely anything he wants or needs to...including schlepping 150lbs of luggage & a preschooler through a few of our nation's finest airports. :)

 

 

He is seriously such a good flyer!

Mountain majesty: Mts Rainier, Adams, Hood and St. Helens.

Once in Chicago, we got to spend the evening and following morning with an adoption family we met in China while bringing home their 7 year old daughter.  They opened up their home and excitedly welcomed Isaac into a new environment. We sat at the table and talked late, sharing goofy stories from China and our heart joys & struggles through adoption.  It was an absolute pleasure to see them and their lovely daughter again. There are just 6 other families on this Earth that share the experience of receiving our children on that excruciatingly hot day in China in August 2012; that is a particularly sweet & sweaty bond. :)

 

What a precious welcome!

Adoption Cousins, three years later

Day 2:

We drove about an hour north of Chicago to meet up with six of the Bamboo Project families and their children at a water park resort. We came from seven states and represented 12 of the original 14 Bamboo Project children who are already with their families. Praise the Lord!!

A few of the families had traveled together in China, but the rest of us had never met face to face. We had walked along side each other for the last two years online, sharing struggles and victories, asking for prayer and encouraging each other on the Bamboo Road. I tell you, when we all met in the hotel lobby, it was like meeting up with old friends from camp!  "He has gotten taller!", "Oh, you cut your hair!", "How is the new job going?", "How's your heart feeling about that decision you were praying about?"  "Is there anything I can do to help?"

We swam, played, prayed, ate, giggled, stayed up too late, chased kids, fed kids, changed kids, passed kids around. The siblings took the hand of any Bamboo friend that was nearest and helped them with whatever they needed.  (It was so heartwarming to see that! We are raising our children into a new normal--full of grace and compassion for their siblings and friends that may need a bit of extra help. I'm so excited to see how the Lord uses their especially soft hearts as these siblings grow!)

Isaac LOVED the lazy river!
He tucked himself up onto me and we floated for more than an hour...Isaac sing "Jesus Loves Me" the whole time. <3

 

 

Our little friend fell fast asleep on his mamma's lap!

Isn't she an absolute doll?!

Bamboo cousins having fun together!

Day 3:
We start our day with a time of prayer & devotion, led by one of our Bamboo Dads; conscientious to give thanks to the Father who brought our families together. That we ALL love our Papa God and have trusted Him in His calling binds us closely.  Where two or three are gathered together, God is there!

A photographer-friend (from middle/high school youth group, of all places!), offered her time & skills to capture our crazy crew on film. "Herding cats" doesn't shine the smallest light on what it was to get all our children facing the same direction!  God bless you, Julie and your patient heart. <3

Bamboo Cousin Reunion 2015

The Mammas

The Daddies

"For there is HOPE for bamboo, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that it's shoots will not cease!" Job 14:7

Day 4:
Our entire group of 32 drove another hour north in Milwaukee, WI to visit GiGi's Playhouse, a Down syndrome achievement center. The site director is a passionate friend of the Bamboo Project and opened up the Playhouse for our group to tour and participate in some structured play with a volunteer pediatric physical therapist. Isaac was particularly fascinated with the parachute play (who didn't love parachute day in gym class??).

 

It was such a lovely way to spend our final afternoon together. Just look at these faces. These are the faces that were once on a flyer. Faces that were lonely and alone and without a hope for a future. Now look at them!  There is LIFE and LOVE and HOPE in each of their sweet faces.  These children are loved and wanted and are thriving in their families. They are the picture of men & women stepping out in faith, believing that God's plan is bigger and better than our own, and loving beyond what their humanness can offer. They are MIRACULOUS.

 

TO BE CONTINUED...