11th Birthday Reflections

The ground was covered in a layer of snow, one day eleven years ago.  It was not your average day.  It like NEVER snows in Baku, Azerbaijan! Something else about that day made a mark on history.  It was the day she was born.  What I would have given to be there, to see this miracle, to know the begining of her story.  I have imagined it hundreds of times.  These are details that I may never know this side of heaven. I choose, therefore to focus on the things that I do know...

        *She has been wanted every day of her life....God placed her in my heart before she was ever born.

        *There has never been a day she has been out of His care, though I was not priviledged to
be her mother until she was nearly 10 months old.

       *This child was fearfully and wonderfully made.  To know her is to know the truth of this claim.

       *God uses her mightily in my life. When I look at her, I see God's hand of faithfulness.

       *She has a HUGE HEART for others in need, the likes of which is rarely seen in a child her age.

       *I did not approve of this birthday, but it seems I have no choice, but to watch her turn another year older; to celebrate what heaven celebrates; to give thanks to the Lord for making it so.

       *To remember with an unspeakable love and gratitude, the birthmother who gave so unselfishly to choose life for the child we both call daughter.  May I never take her for granted.   I pray that God meets her at the very point of her need, out of His limitless resources, to bring His PEACE & LOVE to her heart.

       *To wish my baby girl a very HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Disclaimer: If the hamster you got today for your birthday gets loose in this house, I am not to be held responsible for my actions. 

Ten Year Gotcha!!!

Every October ushers in a change of season with crisp fall air, beautifully changing leaves and pumpkin-flavored everything. But around our house October means Gotcha Day. And this October celebrates a milestone 10 Years!!!  It was ten years ago that God forever changed our hearts and lives with this child. 

It was ten years ago that God forever changed her life as well.  He changed her name, her world, her future and her story.  No longer was she an orphan, she became our daughter.  She was a tiny wisp of a babe, (15LBS fully clothed in winter attire) when we walked away from the Baby House that day. Not quite 10 months old, she had already been down a hard road. But God!  He is quite the Creator, ya know.  To have crafted this sweet thing with all her intricacies still blows my mind. I have always prayed that God would use her story to be the seed that grows her faith. I can't give her my faith, but I can recite God's faithfulness over her life, time and time again.  Every year she grows and matures before my eyes. God has birthed in her a love and compassion for others...for orphans.  Oh My Heart!  To be so young and determined to change her world is such an answer to this mama's prayers. I sit back in awestruck wonder and watch her heart look more and more like the heart of God.

This past summer she was moved by a sermon preached at church about adoption and the plight of the orphan. She came home resolved to make a difference. She boldly told me, "Mom, I want to raise money for orphans. I will start The Orphan Company and I will sell brownies and bracelets and raise $100 for orphans!" She had it all figured out and she was on mission!  I supported her 100% in her mission. I watched as she started beading bracelets for friends. I taught her how to follow directions, measure and bake brownies.  After three days of baking and selling brownies, this girl can crack and egg like a boss!  Oh, and then some mothers requested bracelets. We decided to design a bracelet for those with more grown-up tastes.  It was quickly dubbed "the Orphan bracelet" with it's unique O-ring design that reminds us to pray for orphans. Fast forward 3 months, and prepare to be amazed at the faithfulness of our Lord.  By this time, she had chosen 2 adoptive families to receive the Orphan Company money.  They were each adopting 2 orphans. So money raised will assist in bringing home four more orphans. My prayer is that she sees the Sovereign hand of the Lord in this experience. She gave her little & God made it much.  Much more than her goal of $100.  He blew us away!  Don't you love it when God leaves you awestruck?  On the weekend of her 10yr Gotcha Day celebration, she presented these families with their gifts. It was a lovely moment. One that we will never forget. She has seen the first 2 of those orphans lose their orphan status and come home to their loving families. Hopefully she will meet them soon.  We are still trusting God for the other two precious orphans to come home.  God is faithful & good.  God is in the details and the timing.  I can't think of a better way to celebrate our 10yr Gotcha Day than that!  I love what God is doing in the heart of my little world changer.  May He continue to work in my heart as well.