Let Me See...

SJ had a pretty good night

considering what she went through yesterday.

I probably got up with her about 10 times~

only needed a pat or kiss or to be covered up.

This morning she woke up kind of fretful...

not like herself at all and after a few questions,

realized she probably had a sore throat from the breathing tube

and her mouth just plain ached.

After some TLC and medicine,

she got to feeling a little better.

We didn't really ask to see SJ's teeth much yesterday

but today, EK was certainly curious.

Actually it was SJ that asked her sister to see her teeth first.

and then EK wanted to see SJ's...

to which EK says...

"WOW mom, Jing is SO lucky.

She has WAY more silver teeth than I do!"

I had a big chuckle. :)

Yeah, SJ is SO lucky...

And then...

I read this post Uncomfortable.

I began to think about ALL SJ has been through since being home.

Some might think...

How awful that she had heart surgery just 3 days after getting home...

ME: SO thankful she was home when she had the TET spell

and not still in China or on the plane.

How awful that she has had SO many doctors appointments

and then a heart cath

only to find nothing really wrong.

ME: SO thankful to have a wonderful cardiologist

that is on top of SJ's heart care~

even sending us for a heart cath that showed...

NOTHING!!!

How awful that she had to have a three hour dental surgery

and now enduring some pain and discomfort.

ME: SO thankful we were able to have the surgery

so she could have a healthier life and heart...

not to mention mouth!!!

You may be wondering what this all has to do with the Uncomfortable post...

WHAT IF...

I had chosen not to listen to God and Savannah

back in 2005 when we were called to adopt EK?

She would still be one of over 150 babies

spending nights tied to a crib bundled in snow clothes

because there was no heat in her orphanage

or

left in a walker all day with no one to pick her up

and hold her for just a few minutes.

WHAT IF...

we had thought SJ's heart defect was too serious?

She would not have survived without heart surgery

and her teeth would have rotted right in her mouth.

Looking back on all these photos

makes me VERY uncomfortable (especially gotcha day ones!)

and I really don't want

to see and remember their life before they came home...

but I agree with Amy when she wrote...

"When I stop those feelings, is when I am forgetting.

Forgetting means orphans do not exist."

Orphans DO exist

and if you let this all make you uncomfortable,

you may just receive one of the biggest gifts you could ever imagine...

a gorgeous daughter inside and out

full of life and energy...

OR

a beautiful baby sleeping soundly on the sofa

recuperating after major surgery

in her forever home safe and sound...

OR

the thrill to be waiting to travel for a beautiful baby boy!

I pray I am never comfortable as long as orphans

still need a forever family.

Please pray and see just where God leads you...

You WILL be blessed!!!

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:

to look after orphans and widows in their distress

and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Francis Chan~ Crazy Love

"Having faith often means doing what others see as crazy.

Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers."