The Story of ONE...

Have you ever considered how incredibly loved you are?

Ponder this:

Thirty-some years ago, a baby girl was born.  Three days into her life, she stopped breathing.  Miraculously, a nurse walked past and found her lifeless body and flew into action.  The baby's mother was told that her child would probably not make it.  That mother, relying completely on strength from her Lord, prayed and gave that child over to God.  She prayed harder than she's ever prayed and gave her firstborn completely to Jesus.  His Will...not hers!
The story took a surprising and wonderful turn.  The baby girl was healed and eventually was sent home with her family.  She grew up in a loving home and was taught from a very young age that God was the author of her life and that He had great plans for her.  She knew from very early on that she belonged to the Lord and He had her life in His hands.

Fast forward many years and add a husband, four beautiful boys and a heart for adoption.  (yep, that baby was me) :)

In October 2010, while God was moving mountains (aka my husband's heart) a tiny little girl was born in China.  I will never know the circumstances of her birth.  I will never know what her first moments were like.  But I do know that on November 4th 2010, she was abandoned in a shed.  And that is where her story begins.

Knowing this little girl, because He created her, God was already working out a plan for her life.  She has spina bifida.  Her tiny little back was in serious need of surgical intervention.  She was rescued from her place of abandonment, operated on, and placed in an orphanage.

Two stories, independent, but about to merge!

God walked a family through the mountains of paperwork, background checks, fingerprinting, appointments etc...He saw them through the destruction of their home after a tornado.  He rebuilt their lives, guided them on the path of rebuilding and kept the light burning bright for this ONE orphan.

Throughout this journey, I have often times forgotten the purpose.  I've been selfish and thought that it was about me.  And in a small way, it has been about me.  It has been about my growth, and refinement.  But, all along, it has been mostly about HER!  God loves her so much that he would leave the 99 to pursue just ONE!  Just Her!  When I think back on all the ways that God has orchestrated the events to bring her to this family...this town...this community, I am overwhelmed at His goodness.
We don't deserve His love!  We don't deserve His faithfulness, but it is ours!

God has orchestrated the events of your life.  He has done it because he cares so much about YOU!  He moves mountains for you.  He increases the resolve of those around you...so they can love you to Jesus!  This is my plea.  If you learn nothing else through our pursuit of Esther, please learn that you are loved so completely by the creator of the universe!  He would drop everything just to be with you.

My praise and adoration goes out to the God that saved my life as a baby and brought me to this moment of seeing His redemption play out in such a beautiful way.  God, you have my life!  I will follow you to the ends of the earth!