Continuing to be Amazed

Lord willing, our beautiful daughter, Kylie, will be turning 6 in a couple weeks.  That is so hard to believe!  I am pretty sure we are getting close to her asking more questions.  Last night during dinner, our family was discussing China and her orphanage.  Kylie looked at us pitifully and asked, "Where were y'all when I was in the orphanage?"  That hit me hard.  I couldn't get the words out, but Brad told her we were here.  We were able to share with her how we along with so many people were praying for her.  She told us, "I was waiting for y'all to come get me."  I know we got Kylie in God's perfect timing, but I so wish we could have had her sooner.  I remember waiting so many years for her, praying, waiting, praying, waiting.  Kylie understands that she was adopted, but I don't think she yet grasps that she has another family on the other side of the world.  We are praying that God would give us the words to say to her when that time comes.  There are times when I cry while praying for her birth parents.  I wonder if her birth mom hid while looking when Kylie was found by the police.  The Chinese government is cruel in the fact that you can't have more than one girl without an expensive fine, plus it's against the law to abandon your children.  However, just like the story of Joseph in Genesis, what they meant for evil, God meant for good.  God made a way for us to have Kylie as our own daughter through the way the laws are in China.  God does not make mistakes.  I am so grateful for Kylie's birth mom for choosing life for her daughter, and I believe she tried to take care of her but it was hard feeding her with her cleft lip and palate.

I have so much to be thankful for.  I thank God for saving me from His wrath through Jesus Christ.  I am thankful for a wonderful husband who continues to love Jesus more each day, for my children: Karsten and Kylie who I am so thankful I get to raise, and for my 2 in heaven, Kyler, and little baby.  I know my life is not my own and everything God does is perfect.  God has a story for each of us.  He desires for us to know Him and He wants to know us.  I continue to be amazed at the One who died for me and is alive so I can live.