Saturday, July 28, 2012

Someday She WILL Run!

Two years home with her forever family, we are still waiting for another celebration with Gabriella that is coming.

Eighteen years ago, the Lord gave me a vision of two little dark-haired, tan-skinned girls (that looked like they might be 3 and 5 years old), with hair just a tad beyond their shoulders. I didn't know their actual age, and I didn't know anything more, but I knew that I knew that I knew, they were mine. The taller one smiled the most beautiful smile and ran in the grass behind her.

Photo taken July 2012

The Lord gave me this verse while fasting and praying for Gabriella's healing... 
"Make straight paths for your feet 
so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather healed."
Hebrews 12:13 NKJV

Over the years, I cried millions of tears and wondered exactly how God was going to bring these two little ones to our family. I wondered what they would look like and where they would come from.

Gabriella and Amaris have brought so much joy to our family. Amaris has been home less than a month... within the last few months I realized something... the taller girl in my vision turned and ran in the grass behind her.

Our taller girl, Gabriella could not even sit or crawl without falling when we got her just 2 years ago at the age of 3 1/2. She could not stand even for a second for months. But, God IS doing a great and mighty miracle in her life.

"He gives power to the week, 
And to those who have no might He increases strength." 
Isaiah 40:29


I believe that God gave me the vision 18 years ago of a little girl running so that I would pray and believe for the healing of a little orphan named Xu Zhi Ming. 


While Gabriella is standing unassisted here in the picture above, this is still by the grace of God... I haven't timed her recently, but in the natural, it doesn't appear she will be walking or running anytime soon, unassisted. I am grateful that I don't always believe what I hear and see... I see beyond the "problem" and look to the "problem-solver" for my answers, but I find myself waking with great anticipation each morning... sometimes it's rather silly, but I am really looking forward to the day that Amaris' hair is just beyond her shoulders... because to me, this is when God is going to do the miraculous. I have never wanted the hair of one of my children to grow so fast!

Amaris will be 3 by the time her hair is just beyond her shoulders... Gabriella will have just turned 6. Could it be that God prepared my heart 18 years ago to share in a forth-coming miracle that we can celebrate together in. I think so!

The Lord says,
"As for you, I'll come with healing, curing the incurable, 
Because they all gave up on you and dismissed you as hopeless, that good-for-nothing Zion." 
Jeremiah 30:17 MSG

Gabriella will walk and talk, run and jump, hop and skip and play basketball.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, 
for He who promised is faithful."
Hebrews 10:23

"And, so, after he (she) had patiently endured,
he (she) obtained the promise."
Hebrews 6:15

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Gabriella's FIRST Hair Cut Home!

We are celebrating two years home with Gabriella. She came home July 31, 2010... since then, we have been growing her hair...

Every day, for MONTHS, she has proudly told us, "Hair sooooo long!" She runs her fingers through it with great pride. Most days, we hear this comment multiple times per day.

Baba has told her for a couple months now that she is going to get a haircut. Gabriella looks at me for some serious clarification. "Uh, yeah... we won't be doing that!"

But, Mama let Gabriella get a trim.

So, Mama got the balloons, the princess crown barrette and planned for a dinner out...



Gabriella is looking at Baba... she can't believe it is FINALLY her turn!
Joe gives Gabriella her first hair wash in the sink!








This is the BEFORE picture!



This is her first cut of hair... "Bye Bye Hair!"









She is showing off her beautiful, sparkly crown clip. 
She wasn't styled by "dooz"... she just got her goodies from them!












 Here's her team of professionals!
  

Gu Gu Corban got his hair cut a couple weeks ago here.