Thankful Thursday!

Many of my blogging friends have a catchy theme for each day of the week that they post on and since yesterday was Thankful Thursday, it only seemed fitting as we countdown our days to Jax AiZhe…to post on what I am thankful for:

• That one week from today, we will be leaving on a plane from Wichita to Guangzhou, China
• For our many friends and church family who have been praying for us and with us throughout this journey over the past year
• For my Mom who listened to me with an unbiased heart and mind when I told her I thought we were being called to adopt AGAIN, a specific little boy from China, when I myself was thinking I must be “crazy” and quite frankly was expecting the same response from her, but didn’t get it—Thanks Mom!
• For family who have never questioned our decision to go back to China for our fifth child and second adoption
• For a sister who is lovingly providing Jax with a wardrobe of amazing clothes
• For Love Without Boundaries for blessing me and so many precious children
• For True Children’s Home who lovingly cared for Jax and provided for two of his cleft surgeries
• For Jenny Smith who is truly one of God’s angels doing His work
• For my three AMAZING “older” kids…Mikayla, Ty, and Josh who have been our biggest cheerleaders during both of our adoption journeys to add a sister and a brother to our family
• For “Nacho” who has advocated for her new older brother Jax since the very first time she saw his picture in our referral packet
• For Jax’s Foster Parents who loved him and cared for him for 2 ½ years of his life and showed him what a family is and what unconditional love is
• For the Orphanage Staff who are preparing Jax to meet his new Mommy and Daddy and who are getting ready to let him go nearly 5 years after his arrival
• For a God who planted the seed of adoption in our hearts three years ago and has been with us through both of our journeys
• For how God has stretched Shon and I in so many ways that we never thought possible
• For a husband who loves me with all his heart despite all my flaws
• For Gma & Gpa Gerber and Gma & Gpa Cunningham who will be taking care of our precious four children for us—We are blessed indeed
• For new couples that we will soon share this adoption story with in China
• For God who literally opened the doors of Bethany Christian Services of Kansas the month we found Jax on their adoption list so we could adopt him
• For a little boy named Jax who will soon know the love of a forever family
• For Shon’s willingness to travel this journey of the heart with me with complete faith…again!

Please know you have each played a part in our journey and we are blessed by each of you! We are busy getting ready and very excited to meet our son and brother, Jax, in just 10 days!