Four years of memories on the blog... March 14, 2013

Hi everyone--

Well, on this date, four years ago, we launched this blog... WOW-- what an incredible arry of precious memories... what an amazing journey...

I love the Lord!! He is so wonderful, and I credit Him with all of the many blessings that He has provided to our family, especially with the gift of Ellie-Kate. I praise Him for gently and lovingly closing doors and opening this incredible one. I praise Him for leading us to China, to Living Hope Adoption Agency, to the special needs list, and to our sweet Ellie-Kate. I praise Him for His divine timing. He enabled us to charge through all of the paperwork and approvals in just four months so that we could be right in line, at just the right time, to be able to see Ellie-Kate's beautiful eyes just as she came up on the special needs list. He allowed her to stay on that list for two months, just enough time for Him to open our hearts and minds to the possibility of welcoming a little girl with so many scary sounding conditions. He gave us the courage to step out in faith and to take our little girl in our arms!! Truly, praise the Lord!

Of course, it's no mistake that I have been reading (and re-reading) Hebrews 11. What an inspiring chapter about faith!! If you haven't turned to it recently, I urge you to re-read it. It's a "shot in the arm" reminder of the need for and the beauty of faith. (I've actually been "stuck" on it for the past few days as I journey through the New Testament this year.)

Hebrews 11:1 proclaims that "[n]ow faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Of course, the passage refers to our faith and hope in Christ. However, on a much smaller level, it also captures what was happening with me as I struggled with infertility and the desire for another child. Throughout the entire journey, I prayed for God's will. I don't always do that, I'm ashamed to say. However, especially after we started going to Columbus for fertility treatments, I resolved to "let God be God." I gave it to Him, and He answered. Even though my test results were amazing, we didn't have a child. Even though my body responded in ways of someone quite younger, we didn't have a child. I interpreted these responses as God's way of telling me "not 'no,' just 'not yet.'"

If you would like to read the story of how I started to grasp God's plan for our family, please read our very first blog post, back on March 14, 2009. Quite simply, for me, our journey to become "a family for Ellie-Kate" was one of faith, hope, and, ultimately, obedience. God didn't just answer my prayer with what I wanted. He blessed me with something much, much more-- yes, a fourth beautiful, healthy daughter with an amazing personality, a warm and wonderful disposition, a brilliant mind, and an intense knack for sports. However, beyond Ellie-Kate, He has taught our family about the blessings of stepping out in faith. Those steps took us around the world and brought us into the lives of people that we would never have met otherwise. He bolstered our courage, provided our finances, broadened our world, and enriched our lives in such powerful, incredible ways.

He blessed us with this journey that we have shared with you for now four years. Thank you for caring about us. We pray that our story has been a blessing to you as well.

More soon--

Christie