beauty from ashes

This week, I was hoping to do a daily blog post  of 

our experience when we first met Jorja,

our time in China,

but as I tried to put some posts together

I was brought to tears,

and had to stop to pray.

Our trip to China was not the adoption fantasy that every mother

dreams of,

hopes for,

 and many times 

expects.

We had a rough start to our mother - daughter relationship.

She fought the idea of her needing a mother.

I grieved that she wasn't accepting me. 

She was a tiny thing -

weeks away from being 5 years old and 

weighing about 25 lbs.

But she was strong,

and could stare you down with death ray eyes. 

As we celebrated her 3 years of being in our arms,

I am brought to my knees.

God has truly 

"...bestowed on her a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of spirit of despair.

they are called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord 

for the display of his splendor."

Isaiah 61:3

He is healing her moment by moment 

day by day.

I look back at photos of her frail body,

her short, short, short hair,

her scared little self

and am incredibly thankful I do not see 

that little girl anymore. 

Today God has made her happy-go-lucky!

He has made her able to trust her momma.

He is healing her as she knows

she will have food every day,

I can still remember the first time she felt 

her tummy ache because she had eaten too much -

a feeling she had never experienced. 

and when she sleeps at night -

she knows her family will still be 

here in the morning. 

She loves to run, play, sing, cuddle and giggle.

He has allowed her to remembers her past 

but she does not live in her past. 

Only God could have turned this hardened

little girl into the loving, giving, sweetie

that she is today!

We praise him daily that He is the one who

"heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds."

Jorja shines with God's love.