We stood today where she stood...

There are so many newsy things that I can report about today...but the heart of what I want to share has to do with our connection today with one woman whom we will likely never meet...who loved our boy...her boy...and gave him a chance at a different future...

We started the day with a 5 hour bus ride to Yichang...the city where Isaiah has lived for the past 19 months. We marveled at the countryside as it passed by outside the windows. The girls slept for most of the trip and we had some very meaningful discussions with our dear friend here who is guiding/escorting/hanging out with us...this was an answer to prayer! We hope to continue with much more discussion in the weeks to come!

China is changing so rapidly. Even for the Chinese people, they are happy about what the change is bringing to their lives for the most part, however, they have NO IDEA what China will be like in 5,10, 20 years. The Chinese people in general are very warm, relational and genuine people. They love their children and they are very proud of China's history.

We've also begun to understand how very industrious they are. I mentioned the foot massage workers in my last post...but school kids once they reach the High School level are in school 6 days a week for 12 hours a day studying.

Passing by the countryside today we were amazed not only of the beauty...but the stewardship of the land. Every inch of it is used for growing, harvesting, fish farming or for living. Every field well manicured and hundreds of people out working in those fields for 12 hours a day. We find this to be most admirable.

But, the incredible reality of this trip is striking both Daddy and I...we are getting to see China in a way few other adoption families will...we feel privileged and at a loss for words to describe our appreciation for the experience and our respect for the Chinese people.

After arriving in Yichang today we set out to locate Isaiah's finding place. For those of you who don't speak "adoption-ese", this location is the place where our son was found by the authorities after his mother/father/grandparents left him there. (I must take a moment and speak to the misplaced horror and judgment we place on these Chinese families who make this choice to "abandon" their children.) In America, if a mother feels that she cannot parent a child, for any reason at all, she can put that child up for adoption. It is a wonderful thing.

However, in China, you cannot surrender your child for adoption as it is against the law. The economics to raise a child, pay not only for food, medical care and clothing the child...and in China...you are now responsible to PAY handsomely for your child's education. For the average Chinese family...it is a significant struggle to raise one child...it is almost inconceivable to consider raising 2. When that child has a medical need, as Isaiah does...the pressure is immense on these families who often are struggling to feed and house their family.

International adoption is reasonably well known about in China...and I believe that many mothers/fathers make the VERY BEST decision that they can for the child in a situation where they cannot afford to raise the child...they leave the baby, wrapped warmly, in front of a busy place, risking detection of their offense, and walk away. They must be praying on that day and in the years to come for a bright future for the child they couldn't raise.

So today...we found the spot...we visited the location where Isaiah was left to be found. And I cannot express in words what that experience was like...

We stood today where she (his birth mother) stood just a little over a year ago right before she kissed him good-bye.

As we approached the building my heart was beating uncontrollably...and I felt that I might faint.

When I walked up the stairs where his report says he was found, in front of a busy government building...I was overwhelmed with ache, sadness, a grieving for his birth mother.

My grief for her and him was mixed with gratitude for her and for the Lord above that we will have the privilege of parenting this precious blessing from God!

It is likely that today is the closest we'll ever come to her...

All day Daddy kept saying..."any one of these faces could be his mother or father..."

The impact of the day escapes my ability to communicate.

Then, this evening, after walking through the children's park, dancing on the sidewalk and doing a tiny bit of shopping....we had a most satisfactory meeting...another opportunity to marvel at God's plan and how He goes before us to make the way "exceedingly, abundantly more that we can ask or imagine" Ephesians 3:20

Tomorrow we're off to see the "mother river" to our children and we will sail on the Yangtze...it is running by just outside my hotel room now...

Then an evening bus will get us home very late to Wuhan where the final wait to hold our darling boy in our arms forever will begin, we should receive him on Monday, Sept 10...with ears that look like Busy Bee's, hands that look like Potato's, strong in build, big for his age and a smile that can melt a Momma & Daddy's heart...

More from Wuhan tomorrow night!