A New Story Begins...

Blessed be my faithful God, for He has heard all my cries on behalf of my precious little Niu Niu girl in China and raised up a family to call her their own! On the day before Thanksgiving, I was shocked and amazed to find out through a friend that my sweet girl had been officially matched with a couple in the States. While I had been praying fervently for a family for her since I started sponsoring, I knew that placement might be difficult because of her serious heart condition. Opening that email on November 25th took my breath away. God had answered my wildest, deepest prayers! Since hearing the news, I've alternated between laughing and crying, mourning and rejoicing. While I am happier beyond words that she will soon have a mommy and daddy of her very own, a part of me grieves the fact that she will no longer be my "baby" and that I may never again be able to hold her chubby blue fingers in my own or dance with her down the halls of Samaritan's House to the tune of her giggles. These little "sadnesses," though, always give way to joyful celebration over her upcoming adoption and exultation that she will no longer be called "orphan," but "daughter". Oh the roller coaster of emotions that sponsorship takes us on!

While my sponsorship of Margaret and involvement in her little life is coming to a close, I am so excited for her new story to begin. I could have imagined no better way to conclude this National Adoption Month than to hear about God's faithful workings in her life and provision of a family for her, and I rejoice greatly that, as the Father to the Fatherless, "God sets the lonely in families" (Psalm 68:6). I only wish that I could be with her one more time to give her another hug, tell her again how much she means to me and how she will always hold a very special place in my heart, and whisper in her ear, "your Mama and Baba are coming soon for you, Niu Niu!"