Mason

So much to be written about this sweet boy! I have another blog totally devoted to God's call to adopt Mason, our wait, and our wonderful trip to China in May 2007. The blog is
http://ourjourneytomason.blogspot.com I want to focus this post on what God has done since we became a family of 8!

Mason was found at a train station in Chongqing on December 31st, 2002. He was given an estimated (and wrong) birthday by the orphanage directors in Chongqing. We think he lived at the orphanage for a short time before he was placed in a wonderful foster home. He lived with this precious couple for 4 years until we came to get him in May. He was quite the "prince" in his foster home, and he was so well cared for and learned what a loving family was. I am thankful every day for this precious foster mother and father. We stay in contact with them (via email), and I know they still grieve for him daily.

Mason is totally deaf, and we prayed long and hard for God to speak to his heart and ease the transition into our family. Mason is just amazing! He is smart, funny, affectionate, still a little spoiled (we are working on that), and a wonderful son. He and Molly and Madelyn love each other and play together so well. That being said, adopting an older child has been an adventure for our family.

When we got Mason in May, we immediately began working on sign language with him. After 2 weeks in China, he already knew the signs for many words before we returned home. Teaching a deaf child the signs for nouns and verbs is a fairly easy thing to do. Our problems have occurred when a difficult concept needs to be explained, such as why he didn't get to open any of Molly's birthday gifts. Several "melt-downs" have happened simply because we didn't have the language in place to explain something clearly to him. Frustrating for all of us!!!!

The good news is that we are all learning more daily, and the frustrating moments are coming with less frequency. His grieving has lessened, and we have settled into having a precious and very LOUD little boy in our family. He loves to home school with me and wrestle with his Dad. Randy is such a wonderful father! His energy with Mason, Molly and Madelyn amazes me.

I know that I know that I know that Mason is part of God's great plan for our family. We have had some difficult days, but the future is so bright! I love you Mason.