One week later...

This guy:

 

 

 

It was one week ago today that we put this heartbreaker on a plane back to China.  As Bill Withers (or Lenny Kravitz, depending on which version you like) would say:  "Ain't no sunshine when she's (he's) gone."

I probably need to stop staring at his picture on our fireplace mantle or watching his You Tube video once or twice a day (there are currently 96 views.  I'm guessing 87 of them are mine...)

The kids imitate him constantly.  Oh my goodness- all 3 of them are dead ringers for JQ!  The hilarious things he did and said (or the things that were just downright precious) go on through Cole, Reid and Loren.  They miss him, too.

I'm so grateful for the pictures we've received from one of the chaperones.  Pictures of him with his foster parents and foster siblings, and pictures of him with friends from the orphanage.  Of course, he's smiling in every one.  SO happy and relieved that, at least as much as the pictures show, he is happy and not sad. 

I talked to one of the CCAI adoption coordinators yesterday, and got answers to a few of my questions...

first question:  Can he be re-hosted, either by us or someone else? 

answer:  no.  There are SO MANY ORPHANS in China, and Project 143's goal is to give as many kids an opportunity to be hosted as possible.  They will pull kids from a completely different region for summer hosting.  There are 10-ish orphans per 1 chaperone, so the kids do come in groups from specific areas.  Not just "one from here, one from there." 

second question:  Is there a family currently viewing his file?

answer:  no, there is not.  :-(

third question:  Can we keep in touch with him?

answer:  yes.  We are waiting for an address so we can mail him letters, pictures, etc.  Our contact at CCAI is also going to keep me posted on families requesting his file, more info, etc. 

We will absolutely continue to advocate not only for Jia Qing, but also for the other host children we met who are still waiting for their forever family to find them. 
If you look under Special Focus you will see not only JQ, but several of the other kids who were hosted and still waiting.  If there was an update in Dec or Jan, that is a good clue that you're looking at a child who was hosted, and his or her host family will be able to give you tons more info!

We will also continue to raise awareness about orphan hosting.  It's not always easy, but it is so worth it.  Those kids are so worth it!!  Our hosting coordinator was actually just in Latvia, interviewing kids for the summer hosting program.  Things are already in the works!  My work schedule will not allow us to host this summer, but Christmas 2015 is certainly on our radar!  Of course, I fear that JQ has ruined me for all other kids- ugh!!! 

I miss him.  WE miss him!  Honestly, there are times each and every day, when I second guess our decision to not pursue adopting him, even though there are probably a million reasons not to.  If we are not on the right path, I pray that mountains are moved on his behalf and ours. 
By the same token, if a different family is meant to adopt him, I hope and pray they step forward SOON, and my heart becomes more content with how things played out.  We want the best for him, and right now, only God knows what that is.  Psalm 68:5 says that He is a "father to the fatherless."  Thank you, Lord, for keeping his little heart so tender.  He is so special, and he is seen and known and loved!

Thank you for your prayers, inquiries, hugs, Facebook posts telling us how much you'll miss seeing JQ's pictures every day, etc.  We have awesome friends and family, FOR SURE.