In China Again

As soon as we walked into the orphanage yesterday I began recognizing little faces.  One after the other. Children I have thought about, prayed for, advocated for, spoken with families about, and rejoiced as their families found them. Sweet, familiar little faces to me, and I am an utter stranger to them. It is a strange feeling. But it is an amazing feeling to be back and to see them all again and  see how they have grown and changed.  It is fun to see little ones who were just babies last year now up toddling around.

But it is hard too. For each unmatched child they have spent another year without a family and it is not known how much longer their wait will be.  I look at them and see them growing up and it is so bittersweet. I want their  mommies and daddies to be watching the changes and rejoicing over the milestones.

And so here we are, back in the middle of what we do in China. It is so wonderful and it is so hard. It is so sweet and it is so bitter. There are such happy moments and such hauntingly sad moments.  Yes, we are definitely back in China!

And ready to go do it all again today!