Over a year ago, Annika had to say goodbye to a little boy whom she loved like a brother as he walked out of the orphanage to his new life with his new family. I have often wondered what Annika thought during that time, what she felt when he left.... knowing she'd never see him again, feeling loss once again as one of her friends left, and wondering if she too would ever be adopted. I remember when Jack's family went to China to adopt him and bring him home to the USA... I was so happy for him and happy for us, for I knew Annika would get to see her Jack again because of technology and using FaceTime.... but at the same time, my heart grieved for my little girl on the other side of the world as I knew she was losing a piece of her world when Jack left that orphanage. Someday, Annika will have the words to tell me about all she went through.
I will never forget the day we got Annika and how scared and terrified she was... to the point of hysteria. We needed a picture taken of Jay and I with her, yet she was too hysterical and scared to cooperate. I will never forget that moment that I pulled out that little pink photo album and opened it to the back to specific pages as I handed it to our guide to show Annika. I'll never forget how Annika stopped in disbelief as she jerked the album from our guide's hands and stared through tears streaming and cries still wailing from her at picture of faces she knew so well yet they were smiling and happy with new faces surrounding them. Esther....Alex....Enora... and Jack. Annika knew them by their Chinese names and called them by such. It was then and in that moment that hope once again must have renewed in Annika's heart that she would see them again. I will never forget that moment. And someday, I know she'll be able to tell me about it through her eyes.
In the last 5 months, Annika and Jack have often Facetimed or sent videos to each other. And there have been many times when Annika, feeling too vulnerable and shy to see him on FaceTime, yet needing to see and feel close to Jack, would ask me to open up the app so she could see "Hong Fu Jack" and she would literally scroll through Jack's mom's Facebook pictures and videos for a long time, looking for her Jack. In 4 short days, Jack and his momma, Rainer, are hopping on a plane from Tennessee and coming to Texas. For the first time in 13 months, Jack and Annika are going to be face to face for a whole weekend. Annika has been nervous, a bit tinker, yet excited as everyday, she goes to her calendar to cross off another day in our countdown.
It's going to be a big weekend. Will you pray for Annika and Jack as they reunite? Will you pray for our two families, strangers just a little over a year ago, now connected together by the bond of adoption and the love of two precious children. The Lord is still writing these two little ones' stories. And I am SO thankful their friendship didn't end 13 months ago. Because of it, our family has grown to include Jack and his family. 💗 And that makes this momma's heart and eyes overflow with gratitude of the Lord's goodness.
We are also celebrating Annika's and Jadyn's "half birthdays" on Friday evening since we didn't get to 6 months ago. The girls are beyond excited and we've invited a lot of friends and family to join us at a nearby park to celebrate! Annika's first birthday party since coming home....her first since becoming forever a part of our family... 😍💗
A reunion AND a birthday party happening this weekend for Annika??? We can hardly wait. 😊
