New Friends, Heaven and Jesus

Sophie Mei Lewis 1.4-6.2008

Click on the picture of Brooks and Sophie to see more pictures.

Today we made our first church visit. Sherry took Sophie by to meet the ladies in Sherry's SS class, they have been so encouraging and involved with us...thank you. Sophie was very sleepy, so was I, she decided that it would be a good idea to play all night instead of sleep. She is still on China time. As I did my normal rounds to the student SS classes Sophie went with me. It was so much fun to see her just taking in the students...and Phil Wrye...instant friends.

Today in church Don Piper, author of 90 Minutes in Heaven spoke, and will do so again in the night service tonight at 6:30. It was encouraging to see the power of prayer and the need to tell our friends about Jesus. The only thing I would add to thoughts and reality of Heaven, according to the Word, is the greatest part of all....that is where Jesus is, that is where God is. Our identity and joy is wrapped in Who we are united with, Jesus, a fruit of that union is the destination, a glorious Heaven that Don so richly experienced and shared.

Doctors Visit

Sophie Mei Lewis 1.4.2008

I was going to get Sherry to write about the visit to the doctor today, but she is knocked out on the couch. Sophie decided to play through the night and mommy and Sophie both are now sleeping like babies. Sophie checked out very well today with the doctor. Everything is great. She liked the doctor and did not like the shots. Man, that was hard seeing her take a finger prick, a skin test needle, and four shots of vaccines in the legs. What a trooper! We were going to let her eat a Big Mac for lunch but she fell asleep in the carseat about a min. away from the doctor's office. Just kidding about the Big Mac...Whoppers only. Notice that in the pictures there is Lamb Chops. This has been a little joke ever since Sherry Marechale became Sherry Lewis. Remember Lamb Chops?? One of the families actually called Sophie Lamb Chop while we were there.

Mela-Whatin?

Sophie Mei Lewis 1.3.2008

Yesterday we needed to get out of the house to get our "melatonin straitened out" so we we could know that we were in the USA and not China. Sounded smart but...we are all still pretty mixed up with our sleeping schedules. I took the week off so I really don't mind, I actually like helping Sophie to get back to sleep. Pray that God would give us good rest and a more "normal" schedule.

This morning we will be having our first doctor's visit in the USA. Sophie has been thinking about being a doctor or taste taster, I think she is training more in tasting everything, I will keep you posted about her career choices.

Please pray for my mom and dad (Pat and Jerry Lewis). My dad has Shingles and it may last a few weeks or more. Mom was coming down to visit again, they saw us at the airport, but we all listened to Sophie's doctor and put that on pause. It hurt my heart for my mom, dad and even my sister's family, her family was "exposed" to it too. My sister used the words "God is Sovereign" about three times on the phone with me. I think it was to comfort all of us. Pray that my dad would recover fast and not be in to much pain. Pray that God would help them to wait just a little longer.

Sovereign. In the time of the puritans, this was a name that was frequently used in referring to God. Not just "God you are Sovereign", but it was used as a name. What aspects of God do I ascribe to God when I am talking with Him? In our culture today it would be more of the names like...Giver, Provider, Helper, Sustainer...these are all right and good and we can never seek to diminish these names of God, but what about the names...Wisdom, Judge, Justifier, Sovereign, Leader, King, Sanctifier, Propitiator, Knowledge, Life, Love, Long Sufferer,....and on and on. It is good to be reminded that I don't know much about he greater plans of God...I think my head would explode about second 2. He is Wise and Good. He is Sovereign and in that Kingship works with ultimate authority causing "all things to work together for the good, for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose".

It is good to have a place to think out my faith and even have others be encouraged, be encouragers, or even criticisers....don't know of any but hey....you know we do it.

When Love Takes You In, EVERYTHING Changes

Here is a video that was posted on godtube by someone. The song is by Steven Curtis Chapman.

"Everything changes" is one of the lines of the song and it is so true, not just for Sophie, but for us, our family, and friends. My family now has new DNA, literally and metaphorically. Sherry and I are no longer the same family that we were just a month ago, yes much is the same, but that much is now touched and involved by a new member of us. Much of adoption is often focused on how the child's life is changed, and that is sooo true and good. But, having Sophie in our lives has been such a blessing and privilege. She is teaching us in new ways about the love, peace, discipline, persistence, hope, faithfulness, glory, and the sovereignty of God. There are pictures that God paints in His word about being a father and caregiver, but there is a breakdown between me and God. He does it perfectly and relies on no one. I do it imperfectly and realize more than ever how much I am dependant on God, family, and friends. I can give, love, encourage and do many things like God, but not completely like Him. That is the beauty of God in me as the Holy Spirit accompanied by His Word...He longs to love Sophie through me and with me. What a relief, what a burden bearer He is, what hope that gives me. I really do exhale when I think about His desire for Sophie...It is so much larger than mine...I CANNOT fathom that. So I breath and I welcome the changes He has made in my life for the magnification of His nature. He longs for me to trust in Him. So a part of my self dependence has been exposed and crushed, maybe a painful change, but a good one. Pride in me will constantly need a chisel and hammer in the hands of Jesus. Always needing to see the "I have been crucified with Christ" aspect of the faith leads to freedom, obedience and joy.

Pray that we would all get back to a good sleeping schedule. Sophie decided to play thourgh the night. Her clock will soon change.

He has brought Sophie into my family for many reasons but today I am thankful for His purpose in changing me and helping me to rely upon Him and the body of Christ.

Successful Bathtime

Sophie Mei 01.01.08

Thank you so much for all of the suggestions on bathtime. Yesterday was our first successful bathtime with no tears. Sophie's cousin, Isabelle, gave her a bathtime Cabbage Patch doll named Quinton. We started off by sitting Sophie on the edge of the sink, fully dressed, while I gave Quinton a bath. She slowly started playing in the water with her feet. I filled the other side of the sink with warm, soapy water and let her put her feet in there. It was a good thing I wasn't on a time schedule. I took off layers of clothing little at a time and finally slid her in. She whimpered for 1/2 a second but then resumed playing in the water. I thought this was such good progress that I didn't wash her hair. Then, today she had so much banana wiped through her hair I decided I would take the plunge. But as you can see she was all smiles with a sudsy mohawk. The tears and screams came when I tried to rinse her hair. She doesn't want even one drop of water to touch her face or eyes. I know this will get better with time. The time of day was better too. I'm going to continue giving baths in the daytime for now and we'll move to nighttime later. Thanks so much for your suggestions. This blog thing is way too cool. Don't be surprised if I post many questions for you.

The other pictures were from the Rocker girls coming to visit. Mary Elle has been dying to see Sophie. Everytime I have seen Mary Elle for the last two years (on atleast a monthly basis) we have the same short conversation the second she sees me, "Where is Baby Sophie?", "She's in China.", "Why?", "Because that's where she lives right now?" "Why?" "Because that's where she was born.". "Why?" "Because that's where God wanted her to be born." "Well, go get her." "I will.", "Go get her now." ..... That conversation always made me smile. Mary Elle was also adopted and her intense interest in my bringing Sophie home was beautiful to me. It meant something more deeply to her than the other kids her age in our family. I know that was from the Lord. When I say intense, I mean intense. The day we got our referral picture on the computer she and her mom came over and I thought she was going to run over her mom to get through our door. She ran through the door yelling, "Where is she? Where is Baby Sophie?" She was a little disappointed when she found out it was just a picture. She did the same thing when she walked in the door today, "Where is Baby Sophie?" She came around the corner, saw Sophie and let out the biggest, "Awwwwwww." She started asking her, "Did you come from China?" Sophie proceeded to tell her all about our flight home. :-) I was unable to get that initial meeting on video. I'm not as quick as Marc is.

I'm not sure if many people are still reading our blog now that we're home but its pretty therapeutic for us. Right now its 12:15 am and Marc and Sophie are asleep. I'm hoping both will sleep through the night.

Airport Welcome Home Video

Airport Greeting...Wow!!! (Pictures)

Sophie Mei Lewis 12.28.2007 ATL. Greeting

Seeing our family at the end of the tunnel from the plane to the terminal and bringing to them the newest member of the Lewis family was priceless, getting out to the baggage claim area and seeing so many friends and family was so encouraging, thrilling, unbelievable and filling. All of your prayers, posts, e-mails, facebook wallings, messages, words, silence, and involvement over these weeks has been unmistakeably AWESOME. We are indeed created for community. Well, Sophie was awakened by the new year fire crackers and is still awake. Mommy is sleepy so I get to have Sophie and couch time as she falls back to sleep. Happy New Year!