The Boy

So, how about that boy, eh?

I can't tell you how many people are just shocked that we are adopting a boy from China.  I guess the general overall impression is that there are mostly girls.   Yea, I thought that, too!   The more I read, however, the more I'm starting to finally "get it".  Ya see, in most urban parts of China, they can only have one child.   If they have a boy and that is their only child, that boy pretty much needs to be "perfect" in their eyes.  Any sort of deformities, especially facial deformities, and these kiddos are thrown back into the water.   Oh, and I just read that they are so focused on appearance, that kids that seem to have big protruding ears etc. give them even more reason to shun them in their culture.   Breaks your heart, doesn't it? 

Me and my big nose would  never have a chance in China.

Years ago when I had that first little nudge to adopt, I always seemed to gravitate toward those kids with special needs.  I just turned to mush when I would see those little people exhibit such joy, despite their circumstances and physical limitations. So, when we met the folks at our agency in December, they gave us a few files to review that might match the special needs we felt we'd be able to handle.

After all, we all have some sort of "special needs", don't we?

In that stack of files, there was one very special one. It was for a boy. He was 3 and a half years old and had been in an orphanage since he was 6 days old. Facial deformity (cleft lip and cleft palate) And big ears . God loved him right away...and so did we!   I mean...really, people?    How can you not love this face??? 

On December 19, 2011, China pre-approved us to adopt this little guy.      His given name is Sun Hao Yan  (sounds like Soon-How-Yen)...I had no clue at first....I've asked every Chinese restaurant in town how to pronounce it!  Over the next year, this precious face is what motivates me to keep moving forward, even during the days when I simply have the desire strangle someone or sit on the floor and sob uncontrollably over the red tape, paperwork and overall ridiculous process.  

That boy needs some Momma-lovin', doesn't he?   On the "fun" to-do list: 1) Find the perfect American name that fits our family yet preserves his heritage and 2) Get him out of that pink little giraffe outfit!  ;-)