Memorial Box Monday ~ Red Threads

RED THREADS~~~~~~~~~~

You want to know another thing I love about adoption ~ the people! We've made lifelong friends that we never would have met but for the miracle of adoption.

Some folks we've never actually met, except on line; some we've met on the OU Campus; some at adoption workshops; some we've traveled with; some we've gotten to spend time with in their homes; some on the phone; and some we've been friends with for a long time and have recently had the privilege of watching them step out into the journey of adoption.

This week a couple of really awesome things have happened to remind me that God is intentional about placing people in our lives.

A couple years ago our friends, Brad and Kim, brought their beautiful 8 year old daughter home from China, and as fate (NOT!) would have it, they met a young Chinese man, who happens to be a believer, and he was interested in helping them communicate with their newest daughter. Needless to say, they have built quite a relationship with this young man and are very close to he and his wife to this day.

Fast forward a couple years to this slightly aging and weary couple in small town Oklahoma who have been blessed to add a 13 year old son to their Khaotic family. Communication between these parents and their new son is largely through a series of signs, gestures, laughter, tears and misspoken words.

Every week the parents we desperately seek out another Chinese-speaking individual to relay some important messages to our son. But everyone we know, or hope to know, is so busy we are left to deal with communication issues on our own with the help of the Lord.

Through trial and error (mostly error), we have learned to use humor and various other means to communicate the really important stuff to our now 14-year-old son. But then we make the decision to home school him, which he initially is not happy about, we desperately want to communicate that it's not a punishment, but rather a matter of his best interest, and once again, there is no one to effectively translate this message.

Now, it should be noted here that we have been in constant contact with Brad and Kim in regard to adoption and home school issues, but only after having been home two and a half months do I recall they know a young man who has been such a blessing to them. We are immediately in contact with him but decide to wait until things level off a bit before he speaks to Kooper.

Fast forward a week, four amazing days of home school behind us, rebuilding family trust, and this young man calls to tell us he's been praying for us! Before we know it he's been on the phone with Kooper 15 minutes, and Mr. Talks-A-Lot Kooper has said very little other than, "M-hm, okay, yes...." In a short time this incredible young man has explained the importance of the love of the Father, family, faith, education, integrity and trust. And Kooper can't wait till the next time they talk! Now that's a red thread, woven by the hand of the Father!

From Kim's comment below:

Just to add a little note to Connie's post... the miracle of the young man mentioned is that he was granted a visa and traveled to America, meeting our daughter on her first days at home. He shared with us that only God could have granted that Visa as everyone else that day had been refused a Visa. He was questioned at length and then surprise,they granted his. He and his wife are two of the most precious people ...they want to do mission work. We told him that we think his mission work is helping the children and parents of older child adoption... God is truly amazing!!

And then there's another thread! On February 1, 2007, after waiting nearly two years, we received the referral of our fourth child, Kambry Hope. She was residing in the Welfare Institute of Xiushan in China. Two months later we traveled to her and got to meet her ayi.

Fast forward two and a half years, July 2009, when our friends David and April received the referral of their precious daughter, Emily. Guess where she's from?!? The Welfare Institute of Xiushan! Of all the orphanages in China, of all the families in the world! Call it fate ~ NOT!

I quickly put together a photo album of "Kambry" shots to send with David and April in hopes someone would remember who she was. Imagine my sweet surprise to see that Emily had the same ayi as Kambry!

A red thread, woven by the hand of the Father!

Kambry, in 2007 with her ayi, parents and one brother. You'll just have to check out David and April's site to see Emily with her ayi.