Jack turns 2!

Dec 22nd.  A bittersweet day!
Jack, we hope you had a wonderful birthday.  We imagined the other children and nannies singing to you and then you probably had a beautifully decorated cake.  No doubt you had fun opening all the gifts Megan wrapped for you.

We had hoped to celebrate Jack's birthday by going out to eat at a restaurant of Megan's choice.  This year that didn't happen because Jack's Grandpa(Granda Lee) was called home to Heaven on Jack's birthday, Dec 22nd.  Jack and Granda would have loved each other.

"As for God, His way is perfect"  Psalm 18:30

Second care package for Jack's birthday.

Megan and I are still in Ireland taking care of my Dad, but we had fun getting and wrapping presents for Jack's birthday.  Everything was individually wrapped so he would have fun opening.  Thanks to Auntie Cheryl and Granny Lee for adding to the gifts and also sending along sweets for the other children.

Maria's Big House of Hope

Jack, in Maria's Big House of Hope

Today we received an e-mail letting us know that Jack had spent some time recuperating after surgery in Maria's Big House of Hope which is located in his "hometown".  MBHOH was built to care for those orphans who require surgery and also those who are terminally ill and will never be adopted.  The work they do is awesome.  Check out their website by clicking on the "Show Hope" tab at the top of this blog.  The facility is named after Maria Chapman, the beautiful daughter of Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman, who died following a tragic accident. 
In MBHOH, he was called...Jack :-)

First Care Package to Jack!

We had so much fun putting together a care package to mail to Jack's orphanage.  Mom was practical and packed some clothes.  Megan was caring and took her time picking out just the perfect stuffed animal - Tigger!  She had remembered seeing him wear a Tigger shirt in one on his referral pictures.  We tucked in a family photo album and 2 disposable cameras that we hope his caregivers will use to take some photos in the next few months.

First Glimpse.

When we received the e-mail from our adoption agency asking if we'd review the file of  Dang Zan Shi on July 14th, 2011, we KNEW before we read the numerous attachments, that he was our son.  We had been in the China adoption program since 2007.  At first we applied in the "traditional" manner, to be considered suitable to adopt a healthy orphan.  Having been foster parents to infants, some with medical needs, we asked ourselves what was holding us back from adopting a child with a medical need who otherwise might wait longer to be matched with his, or her, forever family.  We expressed to our agency that we were open to adopting an infant with medical needs.  Before God, we had decided we would not search agency lists of waiting children looking for "the one", but would wait to be approached about a specific child.  That's how we met Jack!

Referral Picture

"For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him"  1 Samuel 1:27

A new beginning.

This blog was created as a way for family and friends to follow us on our journey to our son, Jack ZanShi Moffitt, who is waiting for his forever family in Luoyang, China.  We trust it will serve as a reminder of all the way God lead us in His goodness and faithfulness.

"God setteth the solitary in families:"  Psalm 68:6