What it's all about!

This week I have a rare treat for you - pictures and words that are guaranteed to make you smile. If you are feeling down, jaded or just in need of that extra something to start the week then you owe it to yourself to read this week’s post about Yang Yang and Kathy.

Why am I so upbeat? Well, last week I had the rare pleasure of escaping my office to farewell little Yang Yang - a toddler from the Xining Children’s Home. Yang Yang has just been adopted by Kathy Goedeken, who is from the United States, and when I saw him he was loving life so much that I just couldn’t stop grinning! The most exciting part for you is that Kathy has chronicled her journey of the whole adoption process in her blog. Her posts are funny, touching and inspiring and are well worth the read.

Here are a few snippets for you:

July 14, 2009
“..I hope that the cutest little boy in Xining is having a fun second birthday. I wonder what he’s doing right now?..”

July 27
...“It's 5:30 am, and I've been awake for over an hour. My mind is racing, so I know I won't fall back asleep. . I decided to get up and tell you more about our Gotcha Day….”

“...As we walked up the stairs to the room, my heart started racing. I didn't know whether he would already be in the room when we got there or not. It was such a rush of emotions…….We waited for 5 minutes or so, and then we heard the quick pat, pat, pat of little footsteps coming towards us in the hallway. That's when my heart started racing again and in came Fu Yang.”

“As I type this post, there is a sweet little boy sound asleep in the bed next to me hugging his stuffed cat. What an incredible day! It was better than I ever could have dreamed. I am mama to the cutest, funniest, happiest, smartest boy in all of China!”

Doesn’t that just grab you? This is what it’s all about! I was also encouraged to read Kathy’s observations about Christian Action:

July 29
“….Other families who have adopted children from this orphanage told me glowing compliments about the care that their children received here. After visiting the Xining Children's Home, I know that it is true.

The Xining Children's Home is connected to a Rehabilitation Center that was built by Christian Action in 2007. Children with severe special needs like cerebral palsy receive services at the Rehabilitation Center. They service children in the orphanage and living with families in the Xining community.

I am so thankful to Christian Action for caring so much for little Yang Yang. They sent him to a top pediatric hospital in Beijing to have surgery when he was an infant. One of their workers accompanied him on the flights, and they paid for his surgery and medical treatments. The words "thank you" are not enough for all of the things that they did for this beautiful boy and all of the children they care for in Xining. They are a fantastic organization of very kind and generous people who help the poorest, sickest and most helpless.”

The above pictures and words are just a taste for you of how uplifting Kathy’s blog is. Click here http://ohboychina.blogspot.com to visit and make sure to leave a comment !

Lastly, thank you Kathy for graciously sharing your life with us. Our prayers go with you and Yang Yang.

Siew Mei