Little Feet – The Hughes Adoption Journey

I’m so stinking in love with these little feet. Not words I EVER thought I’d say. How can someone be in love with feet? I don’t know but I totally am.

Aren’t they just the cutest? His straight little toes & the beautiful rich chocolate color of his skin. His skinny ankles and flip flops…I LOVE flip flops…he must be mine.

We received a better quality picture of our little guy this last week and I have zoomed in as close as you could possibly imagine, to try and memorize every single thing about his sweet being from head to toe! I love him.

We spent MLK weekend preparing a room for our little Burundian boy. The timing wasn’t intentional but it became important as I contemplated how the celebration of Martin Luther King & the impact he had on our country will have an even greater meaning for us next year.

I’ve been praying for years that the Lord would give me opportunity to better understand racial tension so that I could love with better understanding …so… He is giving me a son with black skin. This will give us a very different perspective…an up close and personal encounter to an issue, that as a white female, I can not fully understand… I am so thankful for this. And I’m terrified that the learning process will be awkward & messy. I am SO thankful for my black friends who have let me ask…well…probably very “white” & naive questions, but have been gracious to enlighten me to the struggles they face even today. Their patience with all of humanity is humbling. I have so much to learn.

Thankful that I serve a God who created all men & women equal, but not just equal….He created them IN HIS IMAGE. All people…ALL…are a reflection of God himself. What would it be like if we really looked at others this way? This is my prayer…To see people the way God sees them, not tainted by what the world says about them.

Deep Breath….sigh.
………

As I was saying…we spent the weekend preparing little guys room…

Umm…I totally bought one of those Beddy’s. You know the bedding that is all in one. It actually just zips up and presto…bed made. I know it totally sounds like I just described a sleeping bag but its so much cooler than that…see below.

This purchase might have stemmed from the fact that my 4th child still doesn’t really know how to make his bed very well…I mean COME ON! You do it EVERY SINGLE DAY and you STILL forget to un-wad the sheet at the end of the bed? Solution to my frustration….BEDDY’S. Of course, I didn’t buy child #4 one cause, man, I’ve put in the time and he WILL get it right! But we need to keep things simple for #5…simple for Mama. 🙂

I have walked by his room the last few mornings wonder what it will be like to see his little face peeking out from behind the covers! Those days will be the best.

Where are we in the process?

We’ve received our approval from Homeland Security stating we are free to move forward with the adoption of…we’ll just call him “J” for now. We’ve filled out more paper work that will now be sent to the US Embassy in Kenya who will then contact the Central Authority in Burundi who will contact us and let us know when our court date is. Once “J” is legally ours we will be able to travel 30 days after. These next 6 months are going to FLY by! Eeeekk! I’m so excited!

Please pray that the process continues to move in a timely matter. We are still moving forward as if we are all going as a family to pick our little guy up. This will depend on the safety situation in Burundi at the time so please pray for the country.

Almost everyday one of you texts or emails or calls or stops me at school or church to ask about “J” and you just cant know how much this encourages us. When I think about the love our people have for this little guy…I tear up and smile all at the same time! I write all of these acts of kindness & love down in a journal I am keeping for him…I want him to see how God has used all of you in a HUGE way through out this journey. THANK YOU!!!

Much love,

Heather