Adopted by the King

While in Hong Kong, we actually met up with our friends from the US who happened to be on their way to pick up their adopted daughter from China. On the way back to their hotel from dinner, I asked this sister if she had prepared something special to give the baby girl when they meet her. Her response was that they were so busy with paperwork and preparing to travel with two toddlers of their own on this trip, she had barely the time to pack the day before. That evening, as I was reflecting on our conversation, it dawned on me that this sister had already given the baby girl the greatest gift of adoption. As I am reminded in Ephesians 1:4-6: In love, God predestined us to be adopted as His sons and daughters in accordance with His pleasure and will. I, unworthy as I am, have been adopted by the King. What glorious gift!

Post-Trip Reflections

We've actually been back from Hong Kong for over a month now but with a toddler, schedules take a while to get back to a routine. So I finally got the opportunity to sit down and reflect on our trip and the things for which we want to thank the Lord:

• God was merciful to us in granting pleasant flights to and from Hong Kong. Though we dreaded the 14-hour flight with a toddler who had never flown, Caleb did exceptionally well, enjoying the meals and everything new to him on the plane.
• Caleb was potty trained a month prior to the trip so we didn't have to stink up my parents' flat or deal with having to change him out in the public. God's gracious to us...
• Meeting up with old friends and classmates and relatives was a blessing. It always makes me nostalgic...
• With only two weeks on hand, we scrambled to purchase a computer and necessary accessories for my parents and got broadband internet service set up for them before we left. We now can email, talk with, and see each other on the internet. What a blessing!
• Though we suffered from jetlag pretty much throughout the two weeks and Caleb did catch a cold for a few days, we are grateful that Andy and I stayed well, except for some stomach ailments, and the Lord sustained us all throughout by His grace.
• Last of all, God granted me a big helper--one who had to rush with Caleb in search for the men's room each time Caleb cried "Need to go pee pee," the IT person plus system administrator for my parents, my voice-activated portable stroller, and much more...