Remembering Referrals

It was one year ago today that we received a phone call from our adoption agency, leading us to open an email which contained three pictures: our first looks at the precious boys we now know as Andrew and Jadon. In one of my textbooks (on intimate relationships), I read this week: "Imagine that you are given a photograph of a stranger's face and, using only that information, you're asked to guess at the personality and prospects the person possesses." I laughed out loud, recalling how we studied each photo for clues into these little people who would be coming to join our family.

As a way to make this date especially meaningful, we have decided to celebrate Jadon's birthday on the referral-versary! Indeed, today was a great day for celebrating -- three-year-old-style!

When you think about the short life this little boy has lived, complete with incredible amounts of loss, change, and pain, it can be quite overwhelming.
In light of this, I marvel all the more at the joy the emanates from him! The shy and serious two-year-old boy we were referred one year ago hardly resembles this silly, snuggly, terrific three-year-old who squeezes my neck and giggles with glee! You might think that he got lucky, landing in our family. I can only say that it is our family that has been tremendously blessed. Frankly, as hard as I try to wrap my mind around it, I can't quite decipher exactly that balance of God's sovereignty and (hopefully) faithful human response that has been worked out through an international adoption process. Psalm 139 says it this way: "Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

As it was, today was a day of celebration!!! I tried to capture a few special moments.

Jadon licking the avocado (a definite favorite) off his fingers.

The serious "Do you know how grown-up I am?" look!

This is more typical--pure enthusiasm!

And he loves to make sure someone is paying attention!

Birthday supper consisted of chicken nuggets, chips, and sliced peppers.

Happy Birthday!!!