Happy Anniversary

One month ago today Steven and I met Grace face to face…

She's gone from this (day one photo I haven't shared; I know she's a little blurry but 

this picture says so much and captures her resistance…)

To this, taken a few days ago…

It's still hard to believe.  I still sit on nights like this in wonder and amazement that she's really here and she's really ours.  We had our first BIG all-day doctor visit today at the International Adoption Clinic (IAC).  The IAC is a clinic that specializes in seeing children like Grace who have been institutionalized.  They have experience in every possible (or nearly every possible) concern or problem and offer excellent care and support.  We answered and asked a lot of questions today and Grace underwent some tests that we are anxious to hear back from.   We have many more appointments to make but overall we had a good visit today.  Grace did really well…aside from the lab visit which no child (or adult for that matter) enjoys…and she was very patient throughout the long office visit.  We are SO grateful for all the prayers that are continually being answered on her behalf.

Psalm 37 has always been a favorite of mine.  Verse five says, "Commit everything you do to the LORD.  Trust Him, and He will help you."  It's been my desire for many years to do that very thing and He has surely been my Help sooo many times.  Trust is not always easy but the more I do, the more faithful He proves to be.

Then in verse six it says, "He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun."  That makes me think of Grace.  Innocence to me describes a child.  Life is unfair and many children lose their innocence far too soon, but I once read that the closest thing to perfection…the closest thing to heaven on earth literally…is a baby.  I know we're born sinful; we're born into sin…but we're never as pure or as innocent as we are when we're first born.  Gradually all of that changes (haha!) but you get what I'm saying.  There's just something special about a baby or a young child.

Grace represents innocence to me.  So the Lord says He will make her innocence radiate like the dawn.  And the justice of her cause will shine like the noonday sun…brighter and brighter.  I love the word justice.  When scripture speaks of God being a God of justice, simply put it means He makes wrong things right.  We are called to seek justice; and I believe Grace's life has already touched so many people because the LORD is turning her mourning into dancing (Isaiah 61:3) and the cause of the fatherless (wrong) placed in a forever family (made right) is shining like the noonday sun!!!!

Now that's enough to make you want to shout!  But before we do you HAVE to hear verse 18…

"Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever."

The LORD is the One taking care of Grace, day by day.  I just get to assist Him in the process!  And what's even better than having a forever family?  Yep!  A forever inheritance.  I pray Grace says "yes" to Jesus very soon!  Happy Anniversary, baby girl.