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!

Last Wednesday I met with Ela's orthopedic surgeon. We have a plan to begin correcting her club foot. Next Wednesday we will begin a series of about 6 castings to prepare her for the surgery. Her foot will need to be stretched. Every Wednesday we will go to the doctor, he will stretch her foot and then recast it. The process will most likely be pretty painful for her. She will not be able to walk with her cast.

After her foot is stretched we will plan her surgery. She will wear another cast for at least 6 more weeks. The whole process will take 3-4 months. Hopefully by July she will be walking and able to swim. She will have to wear a brace for a while at night and during the day.

While Ela's foot is being stretched to prepare her for something better, I am reminded of my need to be stretched. The Lord is preparing those of us who know him for something better. Our real home, Heaven. He is making us more like him each day.

" God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains his soldiers not in the tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and subjecting them to forced marches and hard service, He makes them ford through streams and swim through rivers, climb mountains ,and walk many long miles with heavy backpacks of sorrow. " C. Spurgeon

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" 1 Pet. 1:6

Jesus tells us in John 14 " I will not leave you as orphans: I will come to you " He also says " let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

Just like with Ela's adoption we sought her out and came for her. We are going to put her through some stretching, but this will ultimately be for her good. We pray that she can trust us through this process. That she will believe we love her and want to heal her. May we all wait patiently & faithfully as we are stretched and waiting for Jesus to come back and bring us home. May we be believe that he is good and that he loves us.

I am so excited for my friend down the street! Today she will get her referral! I am praying for my friends who are seeking wisdom about adoption, I can't wait to see who the Lord has for your families. Lastly, I am rejoicing over the news of someone close to us beginning the process!
All of this made my day. We have the stomach flu going through our family, and I needed some fun news. Praying for all of you!

If you have time, read the post under " Journey" on my blog list. It is SO beautiful!!!