A FRIEND FOR ALL SEASONS

"The LORD watch between you and me, when we are out of one another's sight." Genesis 31:49b

There are many seasons in a person's life. We have been through many just in this year alone. When there is a huge undertaking, like adoption, I think we are fortunate to see more seasons of growth for all involved in a short period of time. The beginning of our adoption season is coming to a close. Next Friday is our court date, in which the government will make legal what we have known in our hearts since we first saw Sam's picture....he is truly ours.

With the close of this chapter, comes much joy! At the same time, we have to say a little bit of a good-bye to some of the people who have helped make our adoption possible. And that is always a little sad.

Many people dread the visit from the Social Worker, more than any other part of the adoption process. They feel like they will be under a microscope and that the Social Worker is looking for every reason to disqualify them from adopting a child. They clean basement storage closets with toothbrushes and freak out for weeks before the Social Worker's visit. That was not the case for us. We felt that our Social Worker would probably want to know the "real Yuens", stacks of mail and all! And when we met Jan! Oh! She was wonderful. Clearly a woman concerned with finding the best families for the children waiting for them. She was thorough, and thoroughly fabulous. In fact, after her first visit....we really looked forward to our future ones!

When we brought Sam home, I couldn't wait to introduce him to Jan! She obviously, has a heart for children and families. Her business is definitely a labor of love and I wanted her to see what her labor had produced! She took joy in the expansion of our family....almost as much as we did! That is what friends are like......they are overjoyed for you when things are good! And that is what Jan has become to us...our friend.

Today was our last post-placement visit. <> That means that Jan isn't coming again to check in on us. It is sad to say good-bye in that sense. But, we have been blessed with a wonderful friendship with her. We hope that we can still meet up with this woman when her schedule allows! She is busy bringing more families together and running a photography business! But we have hopes of getting little visits in when we can.

So....while we are bittersweet about the passing of this season, we look forward to future seasons with Jan in a new capacity....FRIEND! We give thanks for her continually. In Joshua, the LORD tells Joshua and the others to gather stones after He parts the Jordan River for them. He tells them to build up the stones into memorials, so that when the children of Israel ask what the memorials are for, it will give the parents cause to tell of the LORD's great deeds. We keep our own memorial stones on a pedestal in our entry way. Many events and people are recorded on stones there. This morning, we added one more.......

Thanks Jan! We love you!