Day 7? - Giraffes, Germans and Germs (in that order)

I have so much I'd love to post - but right now my throat is on fire and the chills are coming on strong.  It's like those little green mucinex germs from the commercial are counting down to a full takeover.  Please pray I can sleep OK tonight and that this bug doesn't try to commandeer Greg or Caleb or anyone else.  In our weakness He is strong. I'm so thankful this is coming on now and not before since our schedule is now wide open. Thank you, Lord.
So yes, we did make it to the zoo.  It was the same, but different. There were animals somewhat like there are in the states, and they were in cages, but...ummm...yeah - I think the rest was different.  It was a fairly enjoyable time despite the heat and an unforgettable KFC experience.  I'm surprised they didn't kick us out of the zoo (or throw Caleb in with the tigers (his name means "tiger", did I mention that already? He certainly has a tiger strong will!)  We have some fun pics, but we'll work on those tomorrow since it's too much effort for me to get up and find the camera right now. sorry.
We returned and Greg napped a bit and then gave me a few minutes to myself to go workout at the gym.  He's been such a steadfast rock on this journey and I often mutter a breath of thanks to Jesus that we are in this together.  We feel our relationship deepening as we work on this thing...not without disagreement or misunderstanding - so we covet prayers for our marriage as well - but as a team in a mudslinging game of survival. (Have you seen Invictus? I'm thinking rugby here.)
Our beautiful German brother and sister came over for dinner.  We broke bread, gave thanks, played together, prayed together, then regretfully said goodbye (well, regretfully for us...gratefully for them b/c they're going home tonight).  It's rather comical watching two western couples eating on the floor, trying to have a conversation and helplessly NOT communicating with their Thai children who are running all over and doing flips off the couch.  We feel a unique bond with them that one only gains when walking through a desert experience with another.  They were a HUGE gift in the moment. Praise God.
Bedtime was torture, but he finally fell asleep.  The lines are so blurry between what is grief and what is a tantrum (remember his name means "Tiger"?)  He wants us to hold him standing up all night long, which physically is impossible - so the only alternative is to lay with him on our bed (which is now on the floor) and wait it out constantly bringing him back over and whispering, "Rau rak, Sua"; "Mai pen rai, Sua"; "Mai Tong Klua"; "shhhhh" - We love you. Don't worry. Don't be afraid. Shhhh.  Sounds familiar doesn't it? Like something I read recently in Isaiah :)  Oh - the parallels of our Father's Love for us!! I have never seen them, felt them so clearly.  "This is how we know what love is. NOT that we loved God, but that He loved us..."  "Greater love has noone than this, than one lay down his life for his friends..."
So...more pinholes of praise today.  Not without moments of desperation, to be sure...but we've seen God's faithfulness.  Caleb is showing more signs of trust - like letting us brush his teeth today!  My realization from above today is that each person experiences adoption in a different way.  Like the zoo - same, but different. Adoptee children, social workers, foster families, birth mothers, government workers and especially adoptive parents...all different.  We look to the Father to know what this is supposed to look like, but we give each other grace in the same way He gives us grace - to mature and grow in the process and experience it in our unique way and in His timing for us.  This was helpful for me today.  To wait upon the LORD to help me (as well as Greg and Caleb) to grow in bonding, love, affection, wisdom and other virtues over time.  We don't expect it to happen overnight for Caleb. And it won't happen overnight for us or for Micah and Savannah as well. (They are doing really well, btw - we couldn't be more thankful that we don't have to worry about them right now).  Anyway - I didn't mean to write so much.  Greg popped out to go to 7-Eleven and I popped 2 ibuprofen, which kicked in.  So if you're still reading, I hope you're not cross-eyed and I pray God's grace goes with you today as you experience more and more the depths of the reality of your adoption in Him.
Bless God.