He turned 11 today. And, he may have had the biggest party ever because it extended way beyond the room in his orphanage.

I wonder if anyone giggled with him as he got into his cot last night, reminding him that it was his last night as a 10 year old. I wonder if he paused to consider if he was any bigger, any stronger, any healthier when he got up this morning. You know, he’s 11 now; 11 feels so much different than 10. I want to know if he bounced around all morning with anticipation, if the nannies had to tell him to settle down. He smiles so much already; I can’t imagine how much he must have been smiling today.

His nannies prepared the cake. They added some birthday-themed embellishments to a room already outfitted in red and pink and piggies for Spring Festival. I know them and can picture them perfectly, standing back and admiring the beautiful room with joy and dismissing with humility whatever praise was given by other staff.

I’m sure every child marveled as they entered the room, without envy of who it honored but joy that they were invited to join in. Each nanny and teacher offered him a birthday greeting. They all sang, likely in Chinese and in English with Miss Feng leading the charge, as children danced around him and nannies laughed as they watched and worked with the older children to pull up the little ones when they collided. I bet his cheeks hurt from smiling as he took it all in.

He got a gift. A doll in a pig costume. His good friend presented it to him. In 10 days, that friend is leaving. He’s being adopted.

Just like aunties would corporately mother a nephew, the nannies coached him to thank the crowd. He did graciously. After all, he knows his manners. They’ve taught him well. And, then he made a wish as his friends helped him cut the cake.

 

He wished he would have “a happy family in the United States like other children and have a loving father and mother.”

This is hope. Being willing to ask for something he knows is big and believing it can happen.

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His birthday celebration was lovely, but we want it to the last one with him making that wish. “Grayson” is currently available for adoption through Madison, a very good agency which wants to help him so much that they are offering a $4,000 agency grant to the family who wants to make him their son. Reece’s Rainbow is also offering a grant towards his adoption. Contact us info@sparrowfund.org to learn more about where he is and our experience with him, and contact Sarah at Madison to learn more about his heart condition and what is required of a family to adopt him.

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Kelly Raudenbush founded The Sparrow Fund along with her husband Mark in 2011 and launched Project Puppy Love, a canine-assisted therapy program for foster and adoptive families in June 2018. As a child and family therapist, Kelly has a particular interest in (a) encouraging and empowering parents who are struggling to attach with their children, (b) helping parents walk with their children as they process their stories, (c) helping couples continue to pursue each other and grow together while they parent their children as a team, and (d) training and empowering orphanage staff in China to build relationships with children and each other. Kelly and Mark have been married since 1998 and have 3 biological children and 1 daughter who was adopted as a toddler from China in 2010. You can learn more about their journey on Kelly’s personal blog. Contact Kelly directly at kellyraudenbush@sparrowfund.org.