Six months and lifetimes

Today it is officially six months since we became Henry's parents.  In China we were clueless, unprepared, and scared just like any parents of a new child.  In six months we have learned so much about ourselves and about each other.  Henry has nearly mastered the English language, he loves school and for every day he lived away from his family he squeezes a couple of extra days into his present.  He is a pistol for sure, challenging every idea, every rule, every thing but is sweet and wonderful too.  He truly cares for the people around him and even though he hasn't quite come to grips with the fact that we are in love with him, he gives his love freely.

Today I asked him what he wanted to do with the afternoon.  It was our first day of our three week Easter vacation and his reply was, "Let's just sit and hug."  And that is truly what he meant...we sat and chatted and hugged for the longest time...he with his endless stream of questions...me with my very thoughtful, uncomplicated answers.

Have we felt the pang of change? Yes. Remembered the days of having "free time"?  Sure. But how can that compete with an afternoon of hugging?

It has only been six months but I can not explain how much this boy feels like he was born to be part of our family...God has only begun to make up for what was lost...and I'm so looking forward to every moment of this new lifetime.