Happy Birthday Leora!

April 16, 2016

Happy Birthday Leora!

Beautiful, kind, gentle, caring, calm, funny, insightful, wise, creative

 Leora is 14!

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

Until I longed for a child, I had not grasped the depth of desperation that can be the result of a deferred dream. 

The day my OB Dr. revealed her concern that my pregnancy with Leora could easily end, was a day my heart fell deep into that sickness. The experienced Dr's concern was underscored by prescribed ultrasounds- 4 each week.

   Although glimpses into Leora's unborn world were a treasure, I ached for a day when she'd be safely delivered into my arms. 

14 years ago, my "tree of life" exploded with joy as newly birthed Leora was finally placed safely into my arms- healthy, strong, beautiful and deeply treasured. 

She came into our arms on her grandmother's birthday. 

Oh how I cherish the memories...

Leora was a sweet and gentle baby...

Leora with her big sister, Ianna

Her name means "a light"

-and she has been since the day we learned of her life.

Kind hearted Leora

During each of her last two birthdays, Leora expressed sadness- sadness from a desire unfulfilled.  She wanted Mohale home for their birthday.  Their birthdays are only 2 days apart. 

Last year was particularly difficult as our own USA government had required us to dissolve Mohale's adoption process and start it over. We all felt panicked with fear that our beloved Mohale- who we'd never yet held- would be forever kept from a family- our family. 

My heart- and the hearts of our children also, fell into that place of heart sickness from hope further deferred. 

(It felt like the longest 

high-risk pregnancy ever.)

This weekend, our hearts burst with life, love and laughter. Leora and Mohale finally have their birthday celebration

Together. 

Leora's birthday dream from years past, has been fulfilled...

Daiily, she's pouring herself out for others...
and creating laughter in abundance.

The years have unfolded and the sweet little sister also became a middle child and the big sister of 5!

Leora,

You are our miracle.

I call you "angel" because from the moment I learned of your life, your presence felt like a message from Heaven of God's love.

We longed to hold you long before we knew of your presence within

and long before your first breath.

Daily we celebrated your life-

And a day does not go by that I don't Thank God again that I get to be your mom.

You are a gift.

You were created beautifully for a purpose.

You are treasured, 

adored,

loved,

and celebrated.

You are precious, priceless and filled with His beauty- inside and out.

You have the gift of creating laughter and your heart lights up dark places...

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know it” Psalm 139:14

Mohale is three!!

April 14, 2016

Mohale is 3!!!

Three years ago today my son was born into our broken world. 

His first mother's heart broke. 

Three young heroes on their early morning walk to college found newborn Mohale abandoned, alone, and crying in a ditch. 

 Mohale was named after one of these three Heroes who rescued him.
.  

Although we did not know of Mohale, 

God had a plan. 

The week of his birth was the exact week we began the adoption process as the first American parents to adopt from Lesotho under the new HAGUE accreditation.

 (To this date our son is the only Lesotho child to be adopted and brought home by an American family under the new accreditation.  Please pray for waiting children.)  

One year unfolded-

He was loved by many beautiful hearts and thrived in the arms of those at Beautiful Gate Orphanage who prayed for his adoption-
Beautiful people with beautiful hearts surrendered to love Mohale fully so his heart could be someday healed.

Mohale has bonded and attached incredibly because of those at the orphanage who loved him beautifully in the wait.

His referral to our family came when he was 10 months old.

Referral picture:

Two years ago today, our hearts ached to go and bring our Mohale home for his

1st Birthday

But red tape kept us away and we celebrated his 1st birthday apart.

Another year went by-

One year ago today we were in the midst of more adoption red tape and our hearts ached to hold him on his 

2nd birthday.

Another year has gone-

A rich year indeed- that included a trip to Lesotho❤️. 

Today we celebrate our son's first birthday home as he turns

3!

Mohale, you are beautiful. 

Your heart is gentle and strong. 

Your mind is sharp, clear and bright. 

And we treasure you, our precious, adored, gentle

SON. 

Friends from near and far celebrated your adoption and birth with us this week.

GRATEFUL

Our arms and hearts are full.

For those who wait and wait on dreams to be fulfilled,

don't give up.

Habakkuk 2:3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.