black and white Wednesday - the blessings of Christmas

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 1:37

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Luke 2:10

(This was a post written 2 years ago, it's been changed a little to where we are right now in our lives).

Five years ago on an early Christmas morning in China, a baby was born.

I imagine he had swaddling clothes and came from humble beginnings.  We will never know for certain but I do know his parents left him in a place where he could be easily found and cared for.  This baby boy had a large cleft palate and lip which made it extremely difficult for him to be fed. Fortunately he was placed into the hands of those who could help him and they did.

They not only saved his life but provided him a loving and nurturing home.

On the same day of his birth, on the opposite side of the world, a family celebrated their first Christmas in Wisconsin. Their lives had changed so much in the prior two years with the adoption of their daughter, changing jobs and moving from Chicago. They never dreamed that 5 years later, the baby boy born on the other side of the world....so fragile and innocent...would be celebrating his birthday and Christmas in their home as part of their loving family.

 Our lives are woven from many threads.

His name traces his journey.

The first name given to him was You Sheng which means "gift from heaven." 

 His second name was Michael, after his foster father.  We named him William and call him "Will" because he came to us by the "will of God," just as our daughter Grace came to us by the "grace of God."
When you start on an adoption journey, you never know the final destination or path that will be woven before you.
The wait may be agonizing at times, but worth it in all ways.

The first verse above reflects the "impossibility" of our family getting to where we are today. 
Will has become an integral part of our family after surviving enough ordeals in his brief time on earth to last most people a life time.  He's now a happy, sweet child who does not carry his past hardships as scars but rather faint memories of a past which fade each day. 

He's a joy and gift that we treasure.

The second verse refers to the "Christmas Miracle" and is an invitation to the world
to open their hearts to peace, love and hope.

 And we hope the invitation is accepted.

Giving (which is sharing what we have with others) is really what Christmas is all about.
No greater gift can we give than ourselves...our time, our love, our heads, our hearts
and for an orphan child...a family.
 Our Christmas miracle is also our family.
We all took different paths to get here but we are here now.

We combine our threads and weave the path forward...together.

This Christmas we joyfully celebrate the birth of Christ,
 and the 5th birthday of our son,

 William Michael Yousheng. 

Merry Christmas!

 May you find the blessings of Christmas - peace, love and hope...today and everyday.

With love from,

Gail, Dan, Nick, Grace
 and William