Child of God

It is hard to believe that a month ago tonight we were sitting in our hotel room in China waiting to meet Michael.

It's even harder to believe that during our two weeks in China this boy barely cracked a smile outside our hotel room.

We're not entirely sure what happened along the way. We suspect his big brother has had a significant role to play in Michael's adjustment, but that doesn't fully explain how easily this little guy has slipped into our lives--and how his personality has blossomed since his arrival home.

I mean, look at him, practically dancing in this photo while his super-cool big brother pretends he doesn't notice the camera. Michael is, in fact, the only one of this gaggle of cousins who is looking at the photographer.

When we scheduled Michael's baptism before we met him, we knew we wanted to keep the ceremony relatively small and intimate. At the ceremony on Saturday Michael gave the impression that he didn't care how many people were there--provided he could bounce back and forth between his parents' arms and point his finger at everyone in the baptistry--and especially at Louis.

He gave an enthusiastic "Oh!" when we traced crosses on his forehead. He gazed at the burning candle with fascination. He only protested slightly when he realized there was water involved. But for a child who had endured shots and the horrendous bloodletting for bloodwork the day before--oh, how I detest that part of our otherwise warm arrival home--Michael was surprisingly tolerant.

His big brother was fine with letting Michael take center stage. He happily wore the red outfit we bought him in China, relaxing in it around the house before we headed to church.

And anyone who feels it's important to point out that we have Legos all over the living room floor probably hasn't walked across a Lego-ridden floor lately. Yup. We know they're there.

Michael wore the outfit Louis wore 21 months ago and it fit beautifully. (Thank goodness it fit since there was no plan B.) And a pair of hand-me-down, way-too-big white sneakers from Louis worked perfectly.

As I watched our boys play together, I imagined the photos we would get of them together in their Chinese silks.

 

Let's just say that the photos we got were...well...different from the ones I imagined.

But they're still fun.



And I'll never know how that Cat in the Hat weasels his way into so many pictures.



Luckily the day wasn't about photography. It was about bringing our younger son into our faith and promising to raise him as a child of God.

His big brother did a lot of squirming, even when we weren't asking him to pose for photos.



After a week away from his family, my brother Ricky flew to town that morning just to be there as Michael's godfather, and then he flew back to his wife and sons that afternoon. My friend Katie, whose son Jonathan is my godson, became godmother to Michael on the 11th anniversary of the day she became a mother to Jonathan. Jonathan even gave up his birthday morning for Michael's baptism celebration without a single complaint. We are so blessed.



My sister Maureen drove to town with her four children, giving Louis--and, as it turned out, Michael--some extra special fun for the weekend. The six cousins had such a wonderful time together that I really ought to do a blog just on that visit. But I am making no promises. Lately sleep is taking a priority over blog writing.

My favorite photos of the cousins from Saturday happened spontaneously as we waited for the baptism to begin. First Louis sat next to Julia. Then Gregory jumped in.

Then Mary slid into the picture.

Then Paul, the relaxed fourth child, was dropped in.

And then we inserted the man of the hour, who was only too happy to join the clan. Paul and Michael hit it off early in the weekend--and not entirely because Paul had a bag of M&Ms (though that definitely contributed to the camaraderie).

You may have noticed that several of our guests came in Chinese attire. We brought home a few dresses and blouses from our trip and everyone assumed we wanted to see them worn on Saturday. Thank goodness I didn't put Louis in his navy blazer that morning. He was so proud to be wearing his "kung fu outfit." The Chinese outfits made the day feel particularly special.

Aunt Treasa wore the dress we bought for $11 off the rack in China in hopes that it would fit. (The sizes in China are still a mystery to me.) It did. She stole the show--except for our boys, of course.



It was a beautiful day. Seeing Michael's baptism in the church where Louis was baptized and where John and I were married--seven years ago this weekend--was so moving. When John and I knelt on that altar on our wedding day seven years ago, I'm sure neither one of us thought we would celebrate this anniversary after our second round-trip to China to bring home our second son.
 

Actually, we probably thought we would celebrate our anniversary in some romantic way other than to pause while doing dishes last night to say, "You didn't buy me anything, right?"

I don't even know what the traditional seventh anniversary gift is. But unless you can make it out of Legos or paper plates, I'm afraid my husband is out of luck this year.

Still, I may have to find time to bake this weekend. After all, if there's one thing our newly anointed son made clear to us on Saturday, it's that he has an appetite for baked goods.

 

As it turns out, life--and our Michael Thomas--are just full of surprises.