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