Sunday, January 23, 2011

introducing Judd...

We had a surprise this weekend. After months of no updates, no news, and frankly no nuthin’, we saw our little boy, Judd, completely by accident. Here’s the story.

Anne recently joined a very helpful Yahoo Group for adoptions from the area where Judd lives. On the Yahoo group, a lady named Rhonda posted about New Day Foster Home that works with special-needs children in the area. Anne clicked on the link to learn more, and there was our boy, one of twenty faces looking back at her. We. Were. Shocked. We’d been praying for an update—news, any news—and heard not one word since November. Then, we accidently find Judd on a website.

We had no idea he was at New Day. We had no idea what New Day was. And we had no idea we’d stumble upon an answer to a prayer. So this finding was huge.

We know it is him. Same name, same city, and same birthday of what we were told. Plus the CCAA paperwork said that he was in foster care, but we weren’t sure which program. Plus, we knew by looking. Same big eyes. Same face. We clicked on his picture, here is what we read:

These seventy-four words and few-thousand pixels are the bulk of what we know about Judd. The first report we got of Judd (just before Thanksgiving) was that he was only 10 pounds yet several months old. We were obviously concerned. In chronically understaffed Chinese orphanages, there are too many needs for the staff to meet. So we’ve been praying that God would take care of him somehow. Well, Praise God, Judd isn’t in an orphanage with a hundred or thousand other kids. He’s in a New Day foster home, with good people who are helping my boy make it. Thank you, God, for New Day.

Finding this page answered our prayers in many ways. We have new information. We have a new picture. But most importantly, we are assured that there are people who are taking care of Judd until we can. We’ve looked all over New Day’s site and love what they do. If you are interested, you can read all about New Day or watch a video about what they do. They also have a blog for their Beijing home with lots of pictures. They are great.

So world, let me introduce you to Judd Longshan. He’s a cute kid and we imagine him to be sweet and fun. He was born in October 2009 and will hopefully be here in April 2011. He’s our boy.

Thank you God for an update. Thank you God for New Day. And thank you God for Judd. Please be with him.

7 comments:

The Utz Family said...

How Amazing! We are so happy for you guys! I know how blessed you must feel and Judd will truly be blessed once he is joined with the Graves family! Congratulations!

Andy and Jenn said...

Praise the Lord for Judd. Thank you Jesus for this precious face. So thankfull!!!!

livinginbetween said...

Yay!! Love seeing Judd -- what a sweet face, just makes me want to kiss those round cheeks!

He shares a birthday with one of my favorite people, so we'll have to party when we see him. :)

RD said...

What great news! Judd is such a cutie! He does have sweet eyes! He is so blessed that he will have you all as parents and Rex and Wyatt as brothers. God is good!

Love,
Emily Davis

Julie said...

Wow! This is so exciting! I can't wait to meet him in person.

Jolene said...

We have friends that work with New Day in Beijing and it is a very good organization. Judd is not only being cared for but prayed over...what a good God we serve!

Lib said...

Hey Graves Family--

I came across your blog through a comment you left on "Ni Hao Y'all." We are also in the process to adopt a boy from China. Congrats on getting matched with sweet Judd!

We are quite a ways behind you in the process--we just had our first homestudy visit, though we hope to be finished with paperwork in the next 4 months. We are working with All God's Children International.

Anyhow, just wanted to say "hey" and introduce myself--it's nice to meet people who are in this journey as well. Congrats again and many blessings as you travel to pick up your precious boy.

Lib

http://seriously-therealstory.blogspot.com/