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Elijah James turns 5
It’s sad when you look in your blog drafts and you see Elijah James turns 4 but you have to change the title to Elijah James turns 5 because you never got the first one done. I have vowed to do a better job of chronicling our lives for the kids as the grow up. I was fairly good at journaling with one or two children. I’m not doing such a great job with 13 kids still at home. But today is a new day and 2017 is a new year. There is always time to start over and do it right. Right? 🙂
Elijah is our littlest guy. His story is amazing and overwhelming and I am so humbled that I get to be a part of it. His sweet little face reminds me every morning that miracles happen.
What a gift he is for that reason and so many more. (I will add what I posted on Facebook about his story at the end of this post for those who don’t know his story.)
Eli has always had the sweetest little face.
He is the best little guy. He is easy going and loving and kind. Rarely does anything upset him or make him mad.
He has always been best friends with his sister Evie.
They were adopted on the same trip and their bond continues to be a blessing. Evie is easily fearful and Eli is brave. He holds her hand and comforts her. He is her best friend and protector.
He loves anything active – gymnastics, trying to be a ninja, running through our backyard.. He loves to play. He loves superheroes…
and since his color is green, Hulk is his favorite.
He patiently waited months for his PJ Masks Headquarters set.
His big sister, Gracie, is the cake maker in the house. He asked for a green cake with PJ Masks and dinosaurs and she did just that. It was a very green cake through and through.
We called Zach, Steph, and baby Nicholas to show him our Pj Masks Headquarters toy. I think Nick like it.
Usually we take the kids shopping for their birthdays. We spend a day with just them. I had a doctor’s appointment that morning and Elijah asked me to just pick up the toy. He said that he didn’t want to waste time shopping. He just wanted to play, play, and play. He asked if I could be sure that there were enough of the PJ Masks people for everyone to play.
He asked for Burger King and corn dogs for lunch and that place that sells fish and chicken and corn on the cob (LJS) for supper. Since the rest of the kids love those foods too, everyone was happy and full.
It was the perfect laid back happy birthday.
Happy birthday little guy! Daddy and I are thankful every day that we get to be part of your life.
The picture that started it all. We saw his face in a newsletter and asked if he was listed any where for adoption. His paperwork wasn’t prepared because he was considered “terminal” in China. We asked for them to please make him paper ready and the rest is history…
I don’t know how many of you know Eli’s story but it is amazing and every time I look at this little miracle walking around…
Well, it just takes my breath away.
He was born without main branch pulmonary arteries and now he is considered healed. He walks around with arteries that we’re made from his 4 large collateral vessels and some grafting material, during a 14 hour surgery by Dr Hanley.
When I hear him giggle or tell one of his great stories, I am reminded of this incredible gift he has been given – a chance at a normal life.
When I saw his picture for the first time, I just knew he was supposed to be our son. We saw his pictures and then waited for his papers to be prepared. In one of the craziest, God’s-hand-is-all-over-it stories ever, we had PA for Lainey and were waiting for Eli’s paperwork to become available. While we waited, not knowing if his papers would ever become available, we proceeded with Evie’s adoption. Dan kept telling me to have faith so we did the crazy thing and added Evie.
We had PA for both girls and saw Jasmine’s picture and added a third child. Six weeks before we traveled we received notice that Eli’s papers were ready and he needed to be expedited. It was allowed, which is unheard of.
We had no clue how we were going to pay for the extra fees or the 4th orphanage fee or the travel for the 4th adult that our agency was requesting we take with us.
On the very day we heard they would allow us to bring Elijah home, we received a check in the mail, from the University where Dan did his residency, for taxes that were wrongly taken out of Dan’s check for a few years starting in 1995 plus interest. The interest was the kicker. We sat holding a check that was enough to pay for the fees, the orphanage fee and the travel costs for our daughter. We were not expecting this check.
I know people think we were crazy for that year. I remember saying “You can’t possibly be saying what I think you are saying God”, but Dan and I heard him over and over again so clearly. Each and every time God provided in amazing ways on that journey to Eli. Every day when I look at his sweet face, I am reminded of this fact.
Eli is an amazing blessing. He is a great kid. We were blessed beyond measure for being obedient to His call and patiently* waiting for God’s timing to be made clear.
(*We’re going to pretend I actually did it patiently, never doubting, and readily agreeing to this journey! Even though it went more like “What? You want me to do what? Seriously? I don’t think so. I can’t handle that. Don’t you remember when I said ….? You name it. I probably said it.)
I’m so happy it’s not based on how great my faith is or how strong I am or how much I can do, because I would have missed this.
