In Him

In Him we live, and move, and have our being. (Acts 17:28)

This is what I want Ellie to know. There is nothing she can’t accomplish, in Him. There is no greater joy found, than in Him. There is no peace found, except in Him. She is a child of the King.

I have read many adoption stories. I am somehow drawn to read them, in books, in magazines, and on the internet. The philosophies of adoptive parents are as varied as those around the world. The motives are equally varied.

I recently completed reading another adoption story, the generalizations are so similar to ours while the details are so different. The most significant difference was the parents’ view of God, a view of an uninvolved God who may be there or may not be; who, if He exists is only interested in the BIG issues of the world, issues like famine and war.

I want Ellie to know that God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ fashioned her in her mother’s womb, and orchestrated her arrival in our family. The same God that created the universe created her. The same God who painted the colors of the rainbow painted her eyes the deepest of brown. The same God who gave the sparrow his song gave Ellie a voice which rings in laughter. The same God who led the Israelites out of Egypt led her to me.

He has protected her since her birth. She was abundantly blessed to find a home at Amazing Hands, where the nannies love Jesus and love the children in China who are sometimes considered outcasts. Her medical care there was the best to be found in China. He moved mountains and several other families out of our way to be certain she made her way here, to the family He had chosen for her.

He is there. He is always there. In Him, she can move, anywhere she wants to move. Her gait may appear unnatural to others, or perhaps she’ll need assistance to get where she’s going, but in him she can move. She can move hearts. She can move mountains. She can move people to greater faith.

In Him, she can live. He gives life, and life more abundantly. He has given her incredible joy, a personality that enjoys life, and I pray she will bask in it. He has offered her the gift of eternal life. I pray she will accept it and share that indescribable gift with others.

And, in Him, is her being. He has made her who she is. He has loved her from the beginning. There is no greater love than the love the Father has for her. He has allowed me the privilege of watching her grow, and allowed me to be the channel for his love of her. She may struggle with her identity as she walks through the awkward teenage years, but her identity is settled with Him. She is a child of the King.

A Dream Worth Waiting For
I bought these shirts 2 years ago. Josie Tatum's reads, "Jie Jie," which means big sister, and Ellie's reads, "Mei Mei," which means little sister. When I bought these shirts, I never knew our wait for Ellie to join our family would be so long. I was not prepared for how difficult our first months would be. But, I truly never dreamed how sweet our days would become.


A Sister's Love
I wonder if Ellie will ever know just how much Josie-Tatum cares for her. They argue, of course, like any siblings do. But, just look at these pictures. Josie-Tatum took it upon herself to grab the ropes to Ellie's swing, so they could swing together. Ellie can "pump" her legs, but she can't go as high or as fast as she wants.




Just Hanging Around