God's Hand

It has been amazing to see God's hand at work.  I wanted to share a couple ways we have been seeing God's hand in our lives and those around us.

First of all we are very excited that in just a few short days sweet Samantha will no longer be an orphan but  will know what the love of a mom and dad feels like. I get goosebumps knowing that one more sweet little one is blessed with a forever family.  Her parents, Jarrod and Sara are good friends of ours and left today for a journey of a lifetime across the world to get their daughter and bring her home.  It has been so amazing to share this journey with them.  We will be waiting with open arms for their return and we can't wait for Max to meet his new friend Sam.

Max loves his blankies.  It is amazing to see how fast he has become attached to his blankies and finds comfort in them.  This week Max got a very special blankie in the mail.  It was a Leigh's Blankie from my friend Andra.  My friend Leigh Ann was killed a little over a year ago tragically in a car accident.  Andra started a ministry in memory of her and to carry on the legacy she left behind.  She was such a light for Christ and loved others well.  Leigh's Blankie's Mission is that those who receive them will be reminded of the warm love of Christ and the security that it brings.

Guess where Leigh's Blankies are heading right now?  Yes, they are on a plane on their way to Beijing, China with Jarrod and Sara to New Day Foster Home where their daughter Samantha is.  Jarrod and Sara will be able to hand Samantha's friends a Leigh's Blankie as these little ones wait for their forever family.

Go to Leigh's Blankies to find out how you can help spread Christ's light through this ministry.  You also can see were all of these sweet little blankies are heading.

Carl and Beth are part of our church family.  They have had trials thrown their way and yet it has been amazing to see God growing them and working in their life.  Their sweet little Sully was born 20 months ago with a large Nevus on his back.  Carl and Beth have embraced this journey they are on and relied on the strength only Christ can give.  When we started our adoption process they supported us and prayed for us.  They also said they felt maybe one day they would head to China for a little girl.  When we were in China this is a message I got from Beth : "If Carl and I hadn't been convinced that God was leading us toward adopting from China before, we are now...100%."  God is opening doors in their lives and their hearts.  They have a heart and a passion for little ones with Nevus' just like their Sully.  You can read about the stirring God has been doing on their hearts here.  I can't wait to see the way God continues to lead and bless their sweet family.

Many of you followed our journey to Max and many have read about our emotional day as we visited his orphanage.  There were many things about our journey that were deep and heart changing but the visit to the orphanage and seeing the sweet faces of so many little ones with hallow, sad eyes is something that I will never forget.  It was so hard to leave so many behind not knowing if they will ever have a family.  My hearts cry and prayer since we left is that each one of those sweet children will know what it feels like to have a forever family, the love of a mom and dad.

One night as I was making dinner I saw an email come across my phone.  It was a comment on my blog that read "Oh my, that baby girl from the orphanage in the pale blue is our daughter!!! Will you please email me your pictures of her? Oh mercy, praise be to God, you've just made my day!!!" . Tears began to flow and I quickly sent a return email to this sweet mom.  What a God thing ... this mom found my blog and of the very few children that I took a close up of, her daughter was one of them.  Meet sweet Emily.  It was a very real reminder that God answers the prayers of his people.  One of those little ones that stole my heart and that I prayed for has a family.

The final thing I wanted to post about was something I feel that has come full circle for me.  When we started the process I talked about why we adopted a boy and that sweet Andrew stole my heart and was part of Max's story.  The day of the orphanage visit I posted this:

"The faces of these sweet orphans just broke my heart. When we started this journey we prayed that maybe somewhere someone would be touched by Max's story and be led to pray for the orphans, support those who are adopting or step out in faith to bring an orphan home. Sweet Andrew touched our heart as his mom and dad were in China bringing him home. It was the sparkle in his eye that caught my attention after just a couple days with his mom and dad. He is part of Max's story and why we are bringing home a little boy from China and now we have our own little boy with that sparkle that I pray may just touch someone else's heart. These sweet faces will be etched in my mind and heart forever."

Just a couple weeks ago I got a comment on our blog that read: " I enjoyed watching your journey unfold as you all were in China. There was just something about Max. Those eyes...that sweet face!!! As I went back in your blog, I found a post called "It started with a picture." Well...I can tell you that God used sweet Max's picture to move our hearts. As of 2 weeks ago we put in our application to adopt a SN boy in China. We are very excited and so convinced that this is God's will for our family." Alisa

I got very emotional reading her comment knowing what she felt like.  Knowing how deep a little picture can speak to you and penetrate your heart.  I have been in touch with Alisa and can't wait to encourage, support and follow their journey to their son! I feel like it has come full circle.

So yes I know God is a mighty God and I know he is at work in the lives of his people.  It has been fun to see and share how God is working in our hearts and those around us! God is good!