Contemplating China....

With the Olympics under way here in Beijing, China, Ken and I have often been thinking of Luanna's adoption. How we were in Beijing in December 2006 when they were still constructing the buildings for the Olympics. We watched how the swim arena was being built with its crystal blue walls, and took photos of the construction. It was very cool to be there and now witnessing Michael Phelps swimming in there and getting all his gold medals for the USA!

To me, thinking about our China adoption is both heartwarming and also heartwrenching, especially when I think of Luanna's birth mom (and dad) and what they were possible feeling and going through before giving her up. With Luanna's birthday coming up soon (August 18), which was also the day she was abandoned, I will never know for sure who her parents were or all the reasons behind why they gave her up. I often try to put myself in Luanna's shoes, so
sometimes I feel angry at them, because I know she may feel those feelings when she gets older (I know I would). Other times I am just glad they chose to give her a better life.

Here is an article written by a Korean adoptee, who at 23, went back to Korea to find some answers of why she was given up.
Origami Crane Story

Even though this is written with the Korean perspective, it really hit home for me as well. I can imagine Luanna's Chinese mother went through all the pain and anguish as these birth moms did. I think of her often, pray for her, wish I could find her, meet her, hug her and assure her all is well....but most of all, I Thank her for choosing LIFE for Luanna.
Luanna loves all life, and she especially loves little bugs, which I find endearing. When she finds one, she will pick it up, speak to it for awhile, blow it kisses then let it go. Here she is with a little green cricket that she found at the park. She grew especially fond of this little cricket, and was very concerned that this cricket had lost his family. I assured her the cricket would be OK and would find his family soon, if she let him go. So, she did.