Our Last Day

So, it’s just a few hours now until we leave China. While we are all SO ready to go home and get back to normal life, I am feeling a bit sad today as well. I don’t even know that I could put the reasons into words; but I suppose there is so much work needed to get to this point, and it’s such a huge relief to get to travel to China, then to get your child into your arms, and now…I don’t know, it’s so exciting that it’s sad when it’s over. Don’t get me wrong – I’m counting the minutes until we leave, but still I’m a little sad.

Yesterday we went to the US Consulate to have our final swearing oath appointment. We were called up to show our passports and sign one document and then waited for the entire large group (50 people or so) to do the same, then a lady came out to do our oath. We all stood together and swore that all the documentation we’ve provided is truthful, and then we were done – we’ll receive Aiden’s passport and US visa this afternoon. Then as soon as we step onto US soil in Los Angeles, Aiden will immediately be a US citizen. Oh the hoops we had to jump through to get sweet Aiden home, and now, finally it is done!!

I’ve had one vision go through my head numerous times today, and that is of Matt sitting on the couch doing his first research of cochlear implants and deafness. I had mentioned “Wu, Bing” to Matt numerous times in the months before, showing Matt how cute he was, how he had the same birthdate as Brooke, etc. and each time Matt would get this look on his face and say “don’t even think about it, Melissa”. Then, a few months later, shortly before Wu Bing’s file would be returned to China as “unadoptable”, Matt surprised the heck out of me when he started his first google research and later that night asked me to get the medical file from CCAI for Wu Bing. It’s amazing how God can change a person’s heart, and it has been remarkable to see how God has worked in all of our family getting us ready to adopt Wu Bing, now Aiden Bing Kramer.

I remember when doing our home study (before finding Aiden) how frightening the though of adopting a child who was 2 years old was to me. Tyler had been such a clingy baby at 16 months old that I remember saying I’d never want to adopt a child over 16 months. God probably laughed. Of course not knowing any sign language was scary as well, but at the very same time that we were choosing to adopt Aiden, a very good friend of mine received a job offer to do parent training for FSDB (Florida School for the Deaf and Blind) and she has been my personal tutor ever since then – and she’s a great teacher!! God has worked in our lives – our entire family’s lives – so much during this time that all I can do is stand in awe.

A child left behind in China with deafness, club foot (like Tyler), etc. has no opportunities, no family, no acceptance and no God; what an honor to be able to give all of our children all of these things and so much more!! And truthfully, selfishly, I will admit that my children give me SO MUCH MORE than I could ever give them – they are a gift like no other, one for which I am eternally grateful!

I cannot wait for each of you to meet sweet Aiden. I can’t wait to get him starting to sign (I sign to him, but he doesn’t respond or sign back yet), I can’t wait for him to walk, to go to school, to enjoy his new friends, to play with his big brother and sister, and to learn to love the Lord. God is so good, and we are so blessed…