We have some exciting news! We found out who we will be adopting! We are not able to share her Chinese name until we are further along in the process of adopting. But, she's a girl!!!! I am so excited that God has answered my prayers for a little sister!!! I have always wanted a little sister and am so happy for her. She is a young five year old and lives in an orphanage in Dongguan China.
This is how I found out. One day Mom and Dad surprised us with Chinese food for dinner! I was like, "Why?" They were like, "You will see." So we ate dinner and at the end we had fortune cookies. I opened mine up but I noticed something. Usually when you have fortune cookies they have wrappers around them. Ours didn't! I curiously cracked open my cookie but before I ate it I took out the fortune. Josh was reading his fortune and had a big smile on his face. Nathan opened his and I opened mine. I read mine out loud and it said: "You have a new little sister. She is five years old." At that moment a rush of excitement flowed through me. I was going to have a little sister!!! The boys had big excited smiles on their faces and so did I. I bit into my cookie knowing my fortune was going to come true.
Then our parents handed us all red Chinese envelopes and inside was a picture of my little sister. The first thing I said when I saw her picture was, "Awww, she is so so cute!"
A couple of weeks later we went to the post office and ordered passports. We kids got passports too but Mom and Dad say they are not sure yet if we get to go to China or not. When she comes home, which might be in June, July, or August, but we hope is sooner, we will get to share a room together. I was mostly excited but also a little sad because I like having my own room. I have learned a few things about her: she has a blood disorder called thalassemia, a disorder of red blood cells. People with thalassemia do not make enough hemoglobin so she will need to get blood transfusions. Her favorite toys to play with are dolls. She loves milk and snacks. She loves to smile and she is some-what shy. Her legs are a little weak but she does exercises and gets stronger every day. I am so so thankful that God answered my prayers and this is a great reminder for me how God always answers your prayers. I am so excited and can't wait until I get to meet my little sister!
It's been quite some time since we've posted, but we felt it was time to dust off the digital dust, sharpen our pencils, and fire up the old blog again and share some updates and happenings in the Groezinger household.
This past summer, we took a family trip out west to the beautiful areas of the Black Hills, Yellowstone National Park, and Grand Teton National Park. Suffice it to say, the beauty and views were amazing, the hikes were refreshing, and the wildlife we saw was amazing. For those of you who know about our bear story from Colorado a few years back, I'm thankful to say we didn't repeat *THAT* adventure (although we did spot some bear and cubs in the distance while we were on a hike)! We love being able to camp, explore the outdoors, and marvel at the incredible beauty God created in this part of the United States.
On our way back home, we spent the night at a hotel and took some time to enjoy the pool and hot tub. The kids were tossing the football around, pretending to make NFL-quality leaps and catches into the water, and it was quickly decided that we should try to do a "Dude Perfect" trick video and all catch the football and jump into the water one right after the other with no breaks or dropping of the ball. We quickly made a make-shift tripod (thanks to the hotel's pool towels and a shaky poolside table), and started filming on one of our phones.
As I was in the other end of the pool watching the others practice their catch-and-jump-in-the-water tricks, I began to tread water. As I did, I began to take note of how my arms and legs were stirring the water below the surface, but yet the actual surface of the water showed no movement or ripple. Perhaps it was from my own fatigue from the day of driving across Nebraska (sorry, Nebraska friends!), but I was reminded again of how there can be movement and stirrings happening in places that can't be seen from just the surface level or at a quick glance. But eventually, stirrings from underneath begin to surface, causing ripples and impact on the surface.
Many of you know that seven years ago God stirred in our hearts to reach out and adopt Joshua from South Korea. This blog was created as a way to journal and share much of that experience with you. Feel free to look back at some of our older entries here to read about that incredibly beautiful and amazing experience for us. Since bringing Joshua home in 2012, we have had the joy and honor of being his parents, and he has brought an incredible amount of joy (and energy!) into our lives. As we look back at that initial stirring God put in our hearts to adopt, we couldn't be more thankful for how he brought Joshua into our family and the blessing he has been to us.
Well, the water is stirring again.
Earlier this year, we began discussing the possibility of adopting again and if God was opening the door for us to do so. After some time of prayer, reflection, and seeking God's direction, we came to the conclusion that yes, adoption is the next step for our family.
After some discussion and research into different agencies and criteria, we sensed China was our country that we would explore and adopt a child from.
As we have begun to fill out applications, submit paperwork, and have interviews, assessments, and background checks complete, we continue to bathe the process in prayer and discussion, asking for the Lord's direction as we navigate these stages of the process, trusting that He has the right child for us and our family and will bring him/her to us in His timing.
And so we're re-launching our blog to invite you to join us on our journey to China to bring home our next child! We desire and value your prayer and support as we continue to move through this process, and look forward to sharing more with you in the weeks and months to come!
Thanks for journeying with us!
Eric & Jill
P.S. Oh yea...as for that Dude Perfect trick video we were attempting to do in the swimming pool? Well, here it is, in all it's "raw" glory.... (the celebratory dancing and splashing at the end is probably more exciting than the catches themselves? You decide!)
A couple of weeks later we went to the post office and ordered passports. We kids got passports too but Mom and Dad say they are not sure yet if we get to go to China or not. When she comes home, which might be in June, July, or August, but we hope is sooner, we will get to share a room together. I was mostly excited but also a little sad because I like having my own room. I have learned a few things about her: she has a blood disorder called thalassemia, a disorder of red blood cells. People with thalassemia do not make enough hemoglobin so she will need to get blood transfusions. Her favorite toys to play with are dolls. She loves milk and snacks. She loves to smile and she is some-what shy. Her legs are a little weak but she does exercises and gets stronger every day. I am so so thankful that God answered my prayers and this is a great reminder for me how God always answers your prayers. I am so excited and can't wait until I get to meet my little sister!
