Happy Birthday Dear Lucy

So the day finally came!

Lucy had been asking about this day for so very long!

Since coming home, she had seen Christian, Maggie, Charlie, Caleb and Em celebrate their birthdays and hers just could not come fast enough!

As far as I know, the only other birthday she has ever celebrated was last year's birthday when we sent her a fruit party and a cake.

My heart broke when I saw some of the pictures from that "party"...

this was definitely not the face of a happy birthday girl...

so I think I was just as excited about this birthday and could not wait to see that happy birthday face that was so lacking in those pics last year.

What made it even more special was the timing!  It was spring break and my sweet sis-in-law was able to come down for a visit with her two precious daughters and help us celebrate!

So sweet Lucy's birthday started out here on Tuesday with yellow cupcakes (her fav color)... 

 

 

 presents and sweet handmade cards from her cousins...

 

 

 a beach trip...

 

 

 

 and ended on Thursday with a trip into JuJu's for more cake and gifts and swimming (brrrrr)...

and bubbles!

Last year...

She had the cake and the trimmings

 

we sent her a gift

that she told me later, she was not allowed to wear (sigh)...

she had a birthday crown but...

she did not have her family around her.

What a difference love makes.

You are full of joy and compassion and determination and have the most amazing laugh and while my heart is heavy for all the birthdays we missed...

 

 

I am thanking God for this year, this birthday and all the other birthdays that we will now get to celebrate with you!

Happy Birthday my beloved Lucy.

Challenges...

Yes

Determination...

YES!

YES!

Just 8 short months ago, these two sweeties could not speak a bit of English...

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and had never been to a real school...

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and while they still have a long road ahead of them...

 

their journeys so far has been incredible and if I know Maggie and Lucy...

 

 

the way I know Maggie and Lucy...

their incredible journeys will continue to have its challenges but will also continue to inspire and amaze us all.

These two beautiful broken souls have much to recover from and much to learn but their compassionate hearts and generous spirits are a true testimony to the Lord's hand in their journeys...

even before they knew Him.

We are still working hard y'all and learning right along side our wonderful daughters and if the next 8 months are anything like the past 8 months...

I may need a looong vacation...

hehe

 aside from the vaca (grin), however, I know it will be an 8 months filled with love and laughter, learning and growing...

and yes, sometimes heartaches but always heart healing and not just theirs...

but ours too cause we are loving and laughing, learning and growing right along with them as our hearts ache and heal as well.

You see, that is what I think most people don't get.

As much as we are helping them...

they are helping us.

As we know more of where they came from and what their life experiences were before us and witness the compassion in their hearts that has been so closely nurtured and protected...

how could we not learn and grow and be healed right along with them...

because as I am beginning to understand...

there is always learning and growing and healing to be done and we feel very blessed that the Lord chose this way to teach and grow and heal us!

What a journey y'all and it has only just begun!

My Source of Inspiration

This girl...

this amazing, beautiful girl walked into our lives almost 6 years ago and changed the course of our lives forever.

We thought we were content...

but we did not know what true contentment was until Lizzie came home and opened our eyes and our hearts to the Lord and to His plan for us.

What an amazing journey....

what an amazing child!

Lizzie was born with a severe clubfoot that required 18 clubfoot casts and will now require a surgery this summer...

but that does not and will not stop her from tearing up that soccer field! 

Lizzie has missing fingers and very small fingers...

but that does not stop her from trying and doing!

As a matter of fact...

pretty much nothing stands in this girl's way and while the first two years of her life still permeates her soul...

the depth of her love for us and for the Lord is remarkable and the effects of her life in C*ina will continue to fade away as Jesus continues to fill and heal her heart. 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

2 Timothy 1:7

Love you my sweet inspiration!