Six Years Ago

Six years ago today, my life changed more than I could ever have imagined. After praying diligently to discern God's will for our family, we committed to adopting a little girl with spina bifida. I had NO idea what the LORD had in store for us.

Ellie has taught me FAR more about life than I could ever teach her. She inspires abundantly more often than moments when she needs inspiration.

Read here about the day she joined our family.

What a blessed adventure it has been to watch Ellie grow and to watch our family grow in spirit for having her in our lives.

I remember when my heart burst with joy as I witnessed the miracle of these two little girls bonding as sisters.

And, seeing her grow more beautiful EVERY day.

On Sunday, Ellie and I celebrated her "Gotcha Day." This past year, I started a new tradition with my adopted children. For their Gotcha Day, they get to choose an activity to do with Mama. Ellie chose a day of horse back riding at the beach.

The LORD sent the most beautiful day.

We started at her favorite picnic spot-the grassy area between the Jekyll Inn and the river. For Ellie, a picnic is not a picnic without a blanket on the grass. (She also chose the menu of sandwiches from Subway.)

 

 

It is unlike Ellie to have down days, but the moments of frustration have grown more frequent recently. She has asked, "Mama, why did God choose me to have spina bifida?" and "Why do I have a disability?"

 

As we enjoyed our picnic under the live oak trees, I chose to remind Ellie of her story, the story God is writing. I told her how I read and prayed Psalm 139 over her as we sought to hear from God about adopting her. I fasted one day through lunch, with her photo on my desk and my Bible open. I told Ellie how God does not make mistakes. She is fearfully and wonderfully made, just the way god wanted her. He has great plans for her. He already knows her future. He has more thoughts of her than there are grains of sand! You can see the peace and joy we both felt as we talked about how special she is to our Savior.

And....just in time for a trail ride. Saddle Up Therapeutic horseback riding  and the volunteers there have taught her to love horses, thus her choice to ride horses. Her mama has taught her to love the BEACH. We combined two of her favorite activities into one.

 

Try as I might, I could NOT get this photo to rotate. You must turn your head to get a better view of Ellie's horse for the afternoon, whose name just happened to be Spirit. How fitting!!

 

After the trail ride, Ellie and I went for a short walk on the beach.

 

 Happy Gotcha Day, Ellie!!! I'm so glad Jesus gave you to me.