I NOW HAVE 12 SIBLINGS!!!

Wow... I have not blogged for one month! It seems like it was months and months ago that I was sitting at my desk reminiscing about rain and friends because so much has happened. Just days after writing that post, my family heard about a little girl, Ai-Lin, who was in need of an adoptive home. Originally from Taiwan, she was residing in Hawaii (where my grandparents live), and my parents (not to mention the rest of us!) were eager to welcome her into our family! Hence the last month has been an insane flurry as we have done homestudies, social worker visits, paperwork, rearranging of rooms, etc. in hopes of getting Ai-Lin here as soon as possible. In my mom's blog post announcing Ai-Lin's arrival she described the adoption process as, "exhausting and at times excruciating, but all is worth it the moment the dream of welcoming a precious child into our home becomes a reality." There couldn't be a better way of describing it! The last 30 days have been full of near-sleepless nights and heavy-hearted prayers, but she is finally here and we have been so blessed by her!
She came home to us Sunday morning and it has gone wonderfully so far. Adoptive educators often talk of a "honeymoon period" when the child is happy, the family is happy, and all is bliss. We are certainly having a good "honeymoon." She is absolutely precious! Her favorite things are food, piggy back rides, and Daddy's beard ;-) She has melted right into the family and gets along great with everyone. Her tender heart has even recognized the need to be extra kind to Isaac (our brother who is deaf and has Cerebral Palsy.) She will pat him, smile, and say kind things to him all the time. I am so thankful to God for bringing her into this family, and making me the oldest of THIRTEEN children!
I am also praising God that, in His wisdom, he guided me and my parents to keep me home from school this semester. As my time at home progresses I am beginning to think that my commitment to staying home will last much longer than a semester or two. As the oldest child, I feel a burden for my parents ministry to, "rescue orphans in their distress," and hope to bless them and work with them to care for the beautiful children God brings into our family! Who knows how long it will be before another blessing makes his or her way into our arms?!