Happy Birthday. Those two simple words, when put together, empower quite a range of varying emotions and expectations. Have you ever spoken with a child a few days before their birthday? They overflow with excitement for the special day; their minds filled with thoughts of cake, ice cream, gifts, and a day devoted to celebrating their existence. Many times that same child, already, the day after their birthday is once again counting down the days until his or her next birthday. To them, a birthday is a day to cherish and be excited about. A decade or so later, an upcoming birthday becomes a time filled with anticipation of reaching new milestones and celebrating how far you've come with those who love you and are thankful you are you. Add a couple more decades and some, like me, begin to wonder how in the world my birthdays keep coming so quickly and marveling to myself that I really am halfway through my thirties already! ( I just need remind myself that my husband just entered his 40's and I feel a little younger again for a little while though.) A couple more decades from now I'll be anticipating all the new medical testing I will need to tack on to my regular check ups, and a few decades after that and I will be Grandma's age. While she enjoys the love she is given, and all of us showing how thankful we are for her, her take on birthdays is far from the excited 5 year old, who counts down the days until their next birthday. This year our daughter, EmmaMae reached a milestone. She'd been promised since she was very young, that as long as she proved herself responsible, for her 11th birthday her birthday would include having her ears pierced. She was SO excited!!! Her birthday was a special day and she was excited to celebrate it. She knew her family was eager to share with her the specialness and excitement of her day, that she was loved, and that we were so very thankful to God for giving her to us. It was a good day. Though nervous about how much it would hurt, and despite the fact that the piercing device got jammed on her second ear so she had to sit very still while they fiddled for a seemingly endless 4 minutes to detach it's hold on her ear, once free, she beamed a huge smile while she looked at her reflection in the mirror, dawning her newly pierced ears with shiny little red ruby earrings. We treated her to her favorite restaurant for dinner (a family tradition) and the next day invited some of her new friends over to enjoy lunch and cake and ice cream and to celebrate our girl with us. Good memories were made. She knew she was loved and that we were thankful for her. We had the opportunity to remind her that God created her for a purpose and every single day is equipping her to be the girl He created her to be and that He designed her, knew her before she was even born and He wanted her to be born. She's special--Not only to us, but to the creator of the universe. Her birthday was an all around good thing and I can say she is already looking forward to 12.
Halfway across the world, our other daughter just reached her 12th birthday. This year she will enjoy a party, as the orphanage graciously allowed us to sponsor a cake, gift and party for her to be able to celebrate with the other children in the orphanage with her, though she will not know yet it was from us. While we pray she enjoys the party, we are aware that, to her, a 12th birthday is a day looming with the reminder of a deadline. The deadline that now that she is twelve, she has less than 2 years to be brought home by a family or she will no longer be eligible to be adopted. Ever. Today she knows that in 739 days, if she has not had a family bring her home, she will forever be denied a family of her own to love her and support her and to celebrate with her the day God made her. My heart breaks for her. Oh how I wish I could be there now to let her know she is loved and she is special and she has a family! We do thank God that while we cannot be in China there with her, we know her heavenly Father is with her always and we pray He comforts her. We also thank Him because while she does not yet know it, we know that she has a family working to bring her home, and we are working hard to bring her home as quickly as we can. My heart aches for our little girl so many miles away though, that she will not know the love of a family today. She will not hear how thankful we are for her, or how grateful to God we are that He chose to create her and then chose to make us her parents and her family. My heart cries for the scared and lonely little girl, on her special day who's heart aches to belong and to be loved, our sweet girl who does not have her mom, dad, sister and grandparents to dote over her and remind her how special she is and to remind her that the God of the universe chose her, designed her, loves her and has a unique and special plan designed for her life.
To our Ella-Mae,
Happy Birthday, our sweet girl. You don't know it yet, but your family has found you. You are no longer alone. We're cheering you on, even though you don't know it. You are loved. You are special. You are precious. The God of all creation chose you and designed you just the way He wanted you to be and has a unique and perfect plan designed for your very special life. You are treasured! I know you feel alone right now, but we love you SO very much! You are found! --Next birthday you will be home. We are so thankful God chose us to be your family!
All our love,
Your family.
I'm sure you already know, but adoption is not an inexpensive endeavor. We praise God that we know He provides for those who follow Him. We have reached the next major step of our adoption, finalizing our home study. Completion of this step includes a payment of $6025.92 by the end of this month. We are hosting a Yard Sale/ Adoption Fundraiser this Friday and Saturday at 868 Little Valley Rd. Roseburg, OR 97471. It includes everything from baby and children clothing and furniture to construction materials, household furniture, and more. Our 11yo was inspired to bake some goodies in hopes of holding a bake-sale at the same time to help bring her sister home so we will have some tasty treats for sale to enjoy while you browse as well. We invite you to stop by. All profits go 100% toward bringing our daughter home. Please drop by and become part of the unique and beautiful story of bringing our daughter home.
