My family is so odd!

But that's OK, because we're getting even! Our family of 9 is turning into a family of 10!


I would like to proudly announce the intent of the Spicer family to adopt a 2 year old (turning 3 in November) boy from Beijing, China. He's a healthy little boy, although he was on the special needs list because he had a fairly minor birth defect that has already been surgically corrected. How great is that? He has been living with foster parents (pictured with him, below) and I honestly can't think of a better situation from which to adopt.


So, we are going to have another set of virtual twins (besides Luke and Alex), as this little boy is only 3 months younger than Ella, although he is already taller and heavier! My children are out of their minds with excitement and dreams for their little brother. I have been unfailingly proud of my children whenever we have told them they might be sharing us with a new sibling. They all want him to sleep in their room, play with their toys, and try new things with them. They have so many dreams for him. I think that is one of the greatest things about international adoptions: the child is moved into a family that has wonderful dreams of their future together, and the child can now have dreams of their own.


We praise God for giving this little boy a hope and a future!


When we first started looking at him (eventually we'll come up with a name rather than a pronoun) I wasn't altogether sure he was ours, until one day I found out someone else might want him and I cried and cried and mourned over him. I know it sounds strange to mourn over a child I'd never met, but that was the way I knew he was mine. God gave me this very familiar verse as I was praying over him:


Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6


It doesn't make sense to us to add another child, yet we are trusting in the Lord with all of our heart. I am overjoyed, though, at the thought of another son, and from China no less. My heart has been turned toward China for decades and to have yet another connection with that ancient culture overwhelms me.


I took the big kids to Chinese Culture Day today and had my usual response to a room full of beautiful Chinese children: tears of joy. Joy that we have been allowed the unspeakable privilege of parenting these gorgeous kids, joy that each of them has a home and parents bursting with pride over them, joy that I get to be a part. I can't wait to take my little boy next year.

Isn't he darling????