Canaan's Progress

Good evening from China! We almost have one week down of our trip and one more week to go! We are close to the point where we can start counting backwards the days we have left, but we have got to get to single digit numbers first. Brad has been doing a great job of telling you the details of our trip, but tonight I am going to give the "girly version" since I am the only one still awake. I must admit, to be handed over a bundle of life, and in a matter of seconds it is understood that it is our responsibility to take care of, nurture, meet the needs of, raise, support and love this underdeveloped and socially challenged child is quite daunting. The first 24 hours we had her were quite emotional in many different ways. However, it has been nothing short of a miracle to see her thrive and literally come to life these last 4 days. She was handed to us with a blank look on her face, bruises on her body, a runny nose and rattling cough and arms that just flailed in a really weird way. In fact, she was still holding her hands in really tight fists just like a newborn would. God only knows what she has spent the first year of her life doing, not much obviously. It is so sad. But who knew what a bunch of kisses, lots of hugs, a few toys, three hyper sisters running around and a trip to the Super Wal-Mat would do? Her eyes have gone from distant and dazed to darty and curious. Her hands have gone from tight and fisted to open and grabby. Her body movements have gone from awkward and flailing to more smooth and normal. She has gone from pushing us away and not making eye contact when we try to cuddle her to enjoying the closeness and even looking in our eyes. Even today her eyebrows began to move and show expression and the smiles she gives are almost making it to her eyes. The life we are beginning to see in her eyes completely changes her look. Her tummy is already beginning to round out now that we have finally figured out what she likes to eat (which was a challenge in and of itself). She actually reached for Brad today which really warmed our hearts. The other girls seem to be adjusting to their new position in the family and even Chai seems to be handling the displacement of being the baby quite well. We are sure there will be many tough days ahead but we are thankful the Lord has brought us this far already. Watching Canaan progress has made me think that we all have a long way to go in one way or another and I am so thankful our Heavenly Father does not get overwhelmed with our progress or lack thereof. I praise God for His endless patience and mercy with me and I pray He will help me keep this all in perspective in the days ahead.

Comments

[Debbie Barker]

Mindi,

It was so amazing to read what your wrote today and to try and understand what Canaan has been through and like you said, how much progress she has already made in such a short time. Just want you and Brad to know that I continue praying for you both and for this sweet precious little girl! To know that God chose her for your family and for you to be her mommy is so awesome and now the wait that you went through to get her makes so much sense. God's timing, not ours, and now Canaan is receiving the love and care that our heavenly Father lavishes upon us all! Please give her a kiss from me and also to Chloe, Charis and Chai. (Tell them I have a ring pop waiting for them)! Hugs to you and Brad and can't wait for you to come home!

Love you!

[Valerie Avery]

Hi Mindi and family,

My heart grew heavy and then warm as I read your posting about your first hours with Canaan. We knew there were be wounds to heal and obstacles to overcome, but none of us could really imagine those until you have experienced them first hand in the past hours.

I know the damage that can occur from missing out on the love and nurture of parents early in one's life. But I also know God's promise to give mercy and provide a healing process through the love and care of others. You, Brad, Chloe, Charis and Chai are God's chosen in Canaan's life. And I'm so very content with that. Whatever challenges our little Canaan has faced in her first year and whatever is to come now, I am confident in God's having chosen you to be her mother and father and sisters. I've had the gift of watching close up how your love and compassion nurtures. Canaan is in the best of hands and hearts.

Know that you are being lifted up often throughout the day in prayer. We love you and are proud of you beyond words for the path God chose for you and your willingness to make a life changing difference in the life of one little girl so far away from her final home.

Tell the girls Grandpa and Grandma love them and look forward to seeing you all back home soon. The hot tub is waiting for a special swim for the girls.

Love, Grandma Avery

[Rebecca Dufresne]

Hi Mindi & Family,

We are enjoying sharing your journey, and it brings back such memories of our 1st few days with Shay Lu.

What I didn't fully realize then, and am still learning now, is that so much of the parental relationship is based on how our child responds to us. No matter how much love or attention we lavished on Shay Lu, our relationship could only develop at the rate at which she was able to respond. The 1st night we had her, she was inconsolable, and there was nothing we could do because we weren't the ones she wanted.

Four months later, we are still developing our relationship, and I'm learning that there aren't any short-cuts. We cannot be "instant family". I didn't feel like her "real mom" right away. I'm sure she didn't feel like my "real daughter". It just takes time. For her...and for us.

I've come to a peace with that. God will develop us in His own time, not mine. After all, God willing, we'll have the next 50-some years together. We don't have to be in a hurry.

Thanks for all the posts and pics.

Love Rebecca

[Alyson Epp]

Mindi,
What a beautiful analogy about our progress with God. I'm so grateful for a Heavenly Father who doesn't look at my baby steps, shake his head and whisper "...but she's got so far to go..." You've just helped teach me something new even after walking my journey with Em for almost six years now. Thank you for sharing your heart. Love you, A

[Vicki Rutherford]

Wow, lady, I loved your beautiful post. Little Canaan's eyes were the first thing that grabbed my heart when I saw her picture sitting in the floor by the bed. So much seemed to be hidden there, yet there is nothing hidden from God who is the ultimate balm for our wounds. I'm so thankful he chose your family to be her forever family. She will, indeed, thrive from the love that surrounds her and see a shining example of our Lord in the life you live.

May your remaining days in China bring glory to God.
Love you,
Vicki

[The Nails Family]

Mindi,
Your post brought my racing back to our first few days with Mia. It is so amazing to witness just how love & nurturing can change a life in a matter of hours. It is so hard to describe the emotions you feel when you see a child - your child- go from having a broken spirit to smiling and playing. Enjoy each and every moment as you watch Canaan bloom into the beautiful and full of life little girl God created her to be.

Love,
Jennifer

[Cebrina]

Mindi,
Thank y'all SO much for sharing your journey with us. I too thank God for His patience and mercy with me! Continuing to pray for this precious gift from the Lord! She is a gift to you guys and you guys are such a gift to her.

[Cebrina]

Mindi,
Thank y'all SO much for sharing your journey with us. I too thank God for His patience and mercy with me! Continuing to pray for this precious gift from the Lord! She is a gift to you guys and you guys are such a gift to her.

[Joan Young/Godgrl Gomer]

Hi Mindi.
You don't know me, but I am a little Aussie Gomer who holds you, your daughters and husband, along with the other members of Third Day and their families, before the Lord, constantly Watching and praying protection and blessings...whatever the Lord instructs me to pray.
The fact that you and Brad have been so open and allowed "the public" in to walk with you on your journey is an honour and a blessing.
I had tears fill my eyes when I read your post. I am a mother too and I could relate to you and your heart. We also have close friends who adopted an abandoned little boy from Taiwan. He is such a precious child and we too have seen him grow from strength to strength.
The Lord has certainly given you a big task, but one that is fit just for you. Out of all the world, you Mindi and Brad were chosen by Christ to be this darling child's parents. Knowing that God is Wise and does not make mistakes, we can rest and have faith in Him who has brought this into being.
Know that you are in mine and my husbands prayers. Even little Elijah (6) prays for y'all. There are many who love you dearly and are covering you. Be strengthened and know that you are not alone.
Congratulations again and may the Joy, Love and Peace of the Lord Jesus be yours.
Joan

[marg]

Hi Mindi,
While I am not a mummy yet, I am a 'kinda' mummy to about 30 different children in my job. As I read your post, I thought about some of my precious little ones around the same age (and yes, I am teary again!) and what milestones they are reaching the joy I experience in seeing them grow and develop and discover their world. Imagine if their world was just a room with 4 unexciting walls. It makes me even more appreciative of the blessed country (Aus) that I live in and makes the lifelong idea I've had of working in developing quality orphanages for these precious babies even stronger. Sounds like a pipe dream, but with God on my side, who knows what can happen. Anyway, off topic a bit - Mindi, I will be praying that God gives you all the strength to carry you through the difficult days and incredible joy in the others!
I cannot express how inspiring I have found you all sharing this journey with us. Gods richest blessing to you all.

[joanne]

Mindi, to hear your first few hours with Canaan is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Your family's love and tenderness just demonstrates how God is able to restore time that the locusts have eaten. We are continuing to pray for your new family. Thanks for sharing such an awseome story.

[Jackie]

Many prayings and blessings to your family. This is really wonderful.

[Anna Kate Barfield]

Hi sweet new friend! I am so excited to see your pictures with your new sisters and Mommy and Daddy. I guess since I have known them longer I will tell you- they're the bestest and God must love you a lot to give them to you. When you get home we will play and learn words together. My Mommy and Daddy and I pray for you guys a lot and hope your trip is good. I hope to get to see the great mall of China too.
Love and blessings
Anna Kate

[Tonya Granger]

Hi Avery's,

I have enjoyed reading your post from China. Canaan is precious. I noticed that you are fellow AWAA'ers. :) My family is close behind you...we should be receiving our referral next month!! God is so Good!! Brad we will miss seeing you in Wild Adventures (Valdosta GA) July 21st but my daughter was excited to hear that Shawn Lewis will be filling in for you. Enjoy your precious daughter and time in China!!

[Janet Mattox]

Hi Mindi & family,

Thank you so much for sharing this journey with us. Your blog is so beautiful and heart warming. You truely do have a heart for God, and I know that you will be a super family for Canaan! Nothing but the will of God can come for her and for you as a family. May His blessings overtake you day by day!

[Tara Jensen]

Mindi,

God spoke to me through your words. Thank you for being vulnerable with all of us. I hope I can abandon myself to God's love like Canaan has abandoned herself to your and Brad's love...not letting the experiences of the past hold me in my underdeveloped state. Canaan's faith in you and Brad encourages me to trust God. I'm praying for all of you as you adjust to this new life together.

Love you,
Tara

[Ryan Daniel]

Dear Mindy, Brad, Chloe, Charis, Chai,

I am so happy for ya'll! God had a special plan for you guys and for Canaan in bringing you together and it will be wonderful to see what the future holds. It's very heartwarming to see Canaan warming up to ya'll, and I can't wait to meet my new little neice. We have all been very excited here! I can't tell you how happy mom is. We have all been keeping her up to date on your blogs, and showing her the pictures and printing them out for her. May the rest of your trip be an enjoyable one and may God bring ya'll home safe and sound. Find any China small juice glasses? ;-)

[Kammy Krisell]

Thank you so much for posting this link on your web-site.
I am a relatively new Third Day fan ... so imagine my excitment to see your adoption journey link.
I too am adopting a precious little girl from China. My LID was 8/18/06, so I have a long way to go ... but being able to follow posts like this make my wait easier. I know that God is creating this child for me ... and in his time .. not mine ... we will be joined as a forever family.

Congrats on your new daughter. Blessings to you in the new journey you begin.

[Jeff]

Avery family,

We've spent several years working with orphans in China, and I just wanted to reassure you about any bruising you may have found on Canaan. All very young Chinese kids have what appear to be bruises around their bottoms. I'm not sure why this is, but it is normal. You mentioned other bruising or marks from IVs, which you have already discovered is normal for China. If the only bruising is in those areas, you don't have anything to be concerned about.

We're happy and excited to be able to share in the joy of your adoption by reading your blog. Thanks for sharing it with us and the rest of your fans, friends and family!