Worth the Journey

Ela at the Doctor with Dad. I look at these pictures and see a new person. Praise God for his goodness!

This is the 1st picture we saw of Ela.

If you have not adopted, your missing out :)

That is a bold statement. But I have to say it. I can't imagine life without my two sisters, I can't imagine life without my two daughters.

Adoption brings something to your life that is like tasting a bit of heaven. Yes, it can be hard, it can be expensive, etc... But you are opening your life up to see the hand of God work. You see his heart for the orphan and his amazing provision. You see his heart for yourself, a former orphan. You see the road Christ walked in order to adopt you. I am a better person because of adoption! Don't miss out on this beautiful journey! Don't be afraid! Consider adoption because you also are adopted! :)

Adoption through the eyes of a almost 5 yr old and 6 yr old

They get it! I have been so amazed at Hudson and Ela's view on adoption. It's natural!! It's childlike and pure, undefiled.

The other night at the dinner table we were explaining to Ela that we are her family forever. That we love her and will never leave her. During this conversation Hudson reached over and put his hand on top of hers. They see one another as brother and sister! This is the Gospel.

Ela has completely embraced our family as her own. It is actually pretty unbelievable! She has come in and expected what any child living here since birth would. It is like she has been here all along. She has a deep confidence that she is a Parker and expects what comes with the new name.

I have been thinking a lot about this childlike faith. What would my life look like if I claimed all the rights that our Father in heaven gives us.

I was adopted into our heavenly fathers family about the same age as Hudson and Ela. It was so concrete, nothing caused doubt. As we get older some of that can fade.

We can be tempted to place our identity in things other than Christ. Those of us adopted by Christ have a new identity, a new family a new inheritance. We are given the gift of the Holy Spirit that reminds us of our new identity.

" But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an Heir through God" Galatians 4:4-6

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then Heirs- Heirs of god and fellow Heirs with Christ." Romans 8:16

"And from this fullness we have received Grace upon Grace." John 1:16

May we all be a little more child like and truly believe that we have exchanged our "old self for the " new self", created after the likeness of God" (Eph. 4:22-24)

We have been casting for 6 weeks now. I think Ela's surgery will be April 8 or 15th. She really has been such a trooper. She has only had a few rough nights. It has been amazing to see her get around with her cast. She figured out how to ride a bike!