Happy Eyes...God Has a Purpose and a Plan for You!

"I will not leave you as orphans.  

I will come to you."  

John 14:18

As if every day that I wait for my daughter isn't emotional enough already, yesterday it was as if God picked up the phone and spoke directly to me.  Literally.  

The call was actually from a woman who contacted me because she too was adopting a three year old from China very soon who has SWS.  Last year, she and her husband had been looking on an advocacy site for orphans who have special needs.  There are many such websites that post pictures and profiles of "waiting" children in the hopes that those who are ready to adopt might inquire about a child who is waiting for a family.  Apparently Ai Lan (who was listed under the name "Adele"), was listed under the subheading of "birthmarks."  As they saw Ai Lan's picture, they were quite captivated by her (join the club), especially her "happy eyes."  They had never heard of SWS, and also, they noticed that Ai Lan was "agency specific" to Holt, which meant that you had to be adopting through Holt to request additional information on her.  Since they were using a different agency, that eliminated the chance to inquire about her, but it did prompt them to click to the next child listed in "birthmarks."

And who did they see there but a sweet, adorable little child with the same condition!  It seemed a little spark was lit in them to consider SWS as a possibility for a referral.  The VERY NEXT DAY, their agency called to see if they would like to receive a referral, but thought that they might not since this child had a condition that they had not listed as something they would consider.  This woman said, "No, please send it!"  So the agency forwards on the referral and who do you think it was?  None other than that sweet face they clicked to right after Ai Lan.  This little girl had SWS and a port wine stain on her face, and it wasn't long before this couple decided to accept this referral.  They may even be traveling to China the same time with we are!  

This lovely woman tracked me down because she wanted to tell me that they really feel like Ai Lan was one reason why they were matched with their daughter.  She said it was Ai Lan who caught their attention, and was the reason why they decided to click forward to see what other kids with birthmarks were waiting for a family.  It's as if God was planting the idea in their heart in preparation for the following day's referral.  How amazing is that!?

She found my blog around May, has been following it ever since.  She finally reached out to me in the hopes that these girls, who are only 4 months apart in age, can be a support for each other as they grow.  Who else better than a girl with SWS and adopted from China to understand what a girl with SWS and adopted from China is going through?  And who better to support parents of a Chinese SWS daughter than parents of a Chinese SWS daughter?

Before she found our blog, her husband wondered, "I wonder what happened to "Happy Eyes?"  When she found the blog, they were so excited to see that Happy Eyes was matched with a family!  Months later, I'm so, so very glad that she reached out to us.  She was nervous in doing so, but I hope I put her mind to rest that she made the right choice.  

What a beautiful gift we have all been given.  And this situation just reminded me that God has a purpose and a plan for EVERY person.  God used an orphan, my daughter, to plant the seed in the heart of another family to adopt a child with SWS.  Ai Lan has no idea this has happened, and she doesn't know this other couple's daughter (though she will soon...thank you Skype), but she was used all the same.  And I cannot tell you how many people have contacted me (literally, this is probably the 6th or 7th person) to tell me that those "Happy Eyes" caught their attention as well.  Some told me they were praying that she would go back on the "shared list" so they could request her file.  Others have told me that her face motivated them to consider adoption for a second or third time.  But all of them were genuinely happy that she found a family who will love her.  Love is not selfish.

And this begs the question...what else is God planning for Ai Lan?  Her little life is already making waves!  I'm trying to stuff my pride right now, to remember that whatever good comes from Ai Lan is and will always be the work of God, not the work of Dan and I.  But I'm so, so grateful to be the hands and feet of Jesus that get to propel this child into this world!  She will face challenges, for sure.  But God has ALREADY proven that he will not leave her purposeless, and he used even her most tragic experience, that of being an orphan, to bring life and love to others.  

And the beautiful thing is, EVERY child in this world has the same plan given to them by our Creator.  Every child...the unborn, the orphan, the child with special needs, the child born into an abusive family, and the child born into a loving family, has value and purpose.  When we dismiss these lives before the have even started, or when we refuse to offer these children a home where they are nurtured, we cheat ourselves out of the opportunity to witness God's work through them and the joy in seeing God's plan worked out in amazing design.

Happy Eyes...I love that nick name.  It's going to stick.  Thank you to the beautiful family who reached out to us with the story of their amazing adoption journey!  Here's to many years of friendship!