Favorite Photo Friday {speak up...the hard but beautiful}

Proverbs 31:8a "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves".


A friend of mine who recently brought home her sweet son from China said to me...when you are following what God calls you to do it is easier.


She said this while I was visiting her in the hospital after her son's palate repair...after weeks of many doctor's visits to determine how best to care for his needs and after leaving her two children at home for over 2 weeks while she and her husband traveled to China.


"Easier"...not by the world's standard but knowing that you are in the center of God's will.


"Easier" knowing that the hard moments are right where God has you for this season of your life.


This is where I find myself today.


The "easy" but hard journey of adoption. Our journey has exceeded my expectations in so many ways and I know without a doubt that we are right where God wants us to be but today was hard and long.



Today was Lily's third surgery in 14 months (not counting the surgery she had in China before we brought her home). She had her initial lip repair in China in November 2010, her palate repair in May 2011, a lip revision in September 2011 and today she had her columella lengthening and new tubes put in her ears.


Lily woke up this morning with a bright smile ready to "go"!



She found a Dora phone in the condo where we stay when we come for her surgeries and it was a great source of entertainment and distraction at the hospital prior to surgery.



In the car she humored us with her many faces...




She clung tight to her daddy as we were walking into the hospital...




Now that she is older, she is connecting the dots and as we we were waiting in the pre-op room she kept saying "go-car"...I think she realized what was coming her way.



We always love our visit from nurse Emily...she has the biggest heart and such genuine love for all of the children with cleft lip/palates :)



Normally the "goofy juice" they give her puts her at ease but it had the adverse reaction this time which was hard to watch. I think it was a combination of the medicine, being hungry and tired. Finding comfort in her daddy's arms helped ease her a bit...



Nurse Emily carried her back to surgery to help ease her tears...watching your child leave is the part of surgery that NEVER gets easier.


Thank goodness for my ROCK of a husband who never waivers and is always steady and true. Whenever I doubt, he is the one who reminds me that she is God's child...He is with her...and He is faithful.


Lily did great during surgery and was a little sleepy head for quite some time in recovery.



Normally she she doesn't mind her "no-no's" but now that she wants to do everything herself she was quite upset with them as she woke up.


Whenever I try to help her eat or drink she tells me "move mama"...humm...I wonder where she learned to be so independent?


She was quite irritable and agitated tonight and cried a lot when I laid her down to sleep. 


She can't sleep on her stomach for the next two weeks so we tuck her in like a little hot dog with rolled towels around her, a neck pillow and her arms in splints with a long sleeve shirt over top so she can't Houdini herself out and roll over on her stomach...no wonder she was agitated :)


Not sure if it is her age, having surgery later in the day, or the fact that she is much more aware of what is going on but this surgery was more difficult that I was expecting.


As I was running my hands through her hair tonight and singing to her I thought to myself...would I do it again? would I do it for another child if that is what God called us to do?


YES...yes...yes


The joys far outweigh the hard moments. We will continue to speak up for the orphan and advocate for those who have no voice.


Thank you all for your prayers and encouraging words...we felt every one.  


On a happy note...a HUGE plus to Lily's surgeries is being able to see my friend Katie when I am in Little Rock. She and her husband are so gracious to have us in their home and feed us every time we come to town. It is a little piece of home away from home and such a treat to visit with her and her beautiful girls.


I love the way her husband described them last night.  He said if he had to choose one word it would be...


"bright" for their oldest



"sweet" for their middle child



and "fun" for their youngest.




As you can see they radiate joy and beauty, inside and out.




Hoping to see more of these smiles from our Lils in the days ahead.