Just a few fun photos

Sorry this blog has gotten kind of heavy the past few entries. If you know our journey or can imagine it, I'm sure you understand that it is filled with ups and downs. I've always struggled with how "real" to be on this blog. I don't want to scare anyone away from international adoption, especially of children with cleft lip and palate. But I also don't want to be guilty of portraying our life through rose-colored glasses. It's not easy, but having Matthew in our lives is a blessing and a gift that I celebrate each day.

And especially these days, as we are nearing the one-year anniversary of our trip to China. It's still a month and a half away, but I vividly remember all the waiting last year, the anxiety, the wondering, and the longing for Matthew. Every time I remember those emotions, I feel a rush of gratitude that he is here with us, and that no matter what we face, it's good just to be with him in person. The waiting, knowing he was in an orphanage halfway around the world, was dreadful. It's good to have him home.

Here are a few fun photos of our boy. I am so happy with how his lip is healing. I've read a couple places that it takes over a year for the scars to stop being so bright red, and even now, depending on the day, they are pretty mellow and not overwhelmingly noticeable on his face. Honestly I don't even think about it much anymore, but I am reminded about his lip repair by others in public sometimes. It's not usually anything unkind--just curious people wondering about it. I'm learning to answer kindly and graciously, seeing myself as an educator and a representative of cleft.

Thanks, readers near and far, for following our journey. I'm still amazed by how many people read our blog on a daily or weekly basis . . . it's a reminder of the way our stories can reach out of our own lives and weave themselves into the lives of others, even those we haven't met. Please feel welcome to leave a comment anytime--we love knowing who is reading our posts!

Here is Matthew on the ferry to San Juan Island. That's my mom (Marmie) with him. He loved the window.

Pressing his cheek against the cool glass.

The kids in the car, waiting to come home to Anacortes.

That boy loves the velcro on his shoes.

Getting some Daddy tickles