Selah's Last Christmas without a Family

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. This year though, I’m heartbroken that our little Selah is still separated from us and will not know the joy of a family this Christmas season. The boys and I filled up two Operation Christmas Child boxes this year, two for a boy and one for a girl. As we filled up our boxes, I prayed that someone would show our little Selah a little extra love this year at Christmas while we can’t. Because this year, as Levi and Ezra run down the stairs Christmas morning, as we read the story about Jesus’ birth as a family, and as we eat our special Christmas morning breakfast together, it will be so apparent that one of us is missing. Across the world, our little Selah doesn’t have a momma to hug and kiss her on Christmas morning or lovingly pick out and wrap her presents or tuck her in and pray over her each night. She doesn’t have brothers to play with or a daddy to teach her about Jesus’ love. I will pray that she is well-nourished, healthy, and warm across the world in her orphanage, but until she is with us, there will always be a piece of me and of our family that is missing.
 
I’ve shared before that my grandfather grew up in an orphanage. He was never adopted, and he spent his Christmases just like Selah is right now. I wish I could tell him that there will be one less orphan waiting for a family because of his story. This song reminds me of him and all of the children waiting for a family across the world.
 
The good news is that this is little Selah’s last Christmas without a family. She doesn’t know it yet, but God has been moving mountains for her. We cannot wait to get on that plane and bring her home where she belongs!
 
These past few weeks, I am so humbled to tell you all, we are officially fully funded! This is no small miracle. Last February, when we started this process, we prayed that God would provide what we needed for our adoption, and He has really shown off. We are so thankful for everyone who has helped us get this far. This process has strengthened our faith in God and His promises, and it has restored our faith in humanity. I feel that every day I hear something so terrible on the news or on social media. However, I have been astounded and teary-eyed by so many people and their generosity, prayers, and support throughout the past few months. I know that God fights hard for each one of us, and He is really fighting hard for Selah. For all of you that have prayed for us, donated, helped with our fundraisers, and bought our t-shirts, thank you. We will never forget your generosity and love.
 
We are fully funded and extremely thankful. God truly is always faithful. I wrote this back in April, when we still had about $34,000 to raise:
 
We know that the number one fear that families have when adopting or deciding to adopt is finances. Adoption is not an inexpensive undertaking! Looking at the fees and invoices can turn excitement into fear. We are continuing to remember that God is the Father to the fatherless, and God is not a dead-beat dad! If He can turn two fish and five loaves of bread into a meal for 4,000 people, He can certainly transform our finances to be ready for a $30,000+ adoption. We are allowing this fear to turn into a lesson of trust.
 
God really performed a miracle for Selah’s adoption. That isn’t to say that the last few months haven’t been hard. There have been so many times that worry and fear creeps in and that voice in my head says,  “What if her needs are more than you can handle? What if you don’t have the money? What if we all get sick in China? How will Levi and Ezra manage two weeks without their parents when we travel”? These worries aren’t from God, and I am constantly reminded, “you of little faith, why do you doubt me?”. God always pulls me up, just like Peter sinking in the water when he starts doubting.  God doesn’t promise a life of comfort and convenience when we follow His will. However, Jesus says, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of (John 10:10).  Dan and I never dreamed that we would be adopting. But, God called us, we answered, and He provided. It’s already better than we could have ever dreamed of.