This evening we celebrated with Renee the day we became a family. I can not believe it has been a year since we met Renee. I think about the many people that we met during our time in China. I miss you all very much. It was an amazing time and it has been an amazing year. God has been so good to us. I think back to the years that I held onto the dream of having a daughter. I prayed for her for the very first time in Dec. 2000. I still have the prayer I wrote. God heard my cry and my prayer and after many years of saying wait, on this date a year ago, He said yes! Yes, it is time to meet your daughter! One thing for sure that I have learned on this journey is that it is not about me and it is not about God's blessings. God is God and God is good no matter what happens in this life. It was not just about me having a daughter. It was also about Renee having a family. I love her with all my heart. She has been such a blessing to our family. Thank you God for each one of my children. I am so very blessed.
She is eating pizza for lunch. She wasn't eating pizza this time last year.
Eating Pork Lo Mein with our chop sticks.
Renee surrounded by her brothers.
Here is her present.
I decided that we would celebrate each year of her life with a charm. The one on the right is a heart that says "Family" The one in the middle says "Sister" and the one on the left is just for fun. It is pink and it sparkles! She loves bling! Each year to celebrate the day we became a family we will give her a new charm.
I bought an ice cream cake because she doesn't like regular cake, but she loves ice cream just like her daddy!!
Here is a verse that someone shared with me during the wait of this long journey. I am thinking of you Heidi! I hope that this will encourage you. Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV) For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. I wish the appointed time wouldn't have taken so many years, but I am so glad I waited. It was right on time. I give all the glory to God and I am thankful for each day of my wait that led me to my beautiful daughter. God taught me so much and I pray I will be faithful with the things that He taught me.
The pizza thing cracks me up. Kim would not eat pizza either when she first joined our family. Now she loves it and signs it just fine!
ReplyDeleteOh, my, a year already! What a beautiful family you have :) Renee looks so happy, as do all of you. Congratulations on your first year as a family!
ReplyDeleteSoooo, the photo I have of you people on my fridge is when you came out to OR to visit us. I think I'm due for a new family photo & I want a copy of the one at the top of your blog. What's the use of being a friend if I can't demand something every now and again? :) LOVIES!! You don't need to mail it, you can just bring it with you when we meet up :)
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