Lydia Meets The Little Miracle Girl!

One day in November, around our family table, Lydia asked Chappy and me: "You know what I would most like for Christmas this year?" Since we don't make a big deal out of gifts during the season, we gave her a somewhat puzzled look. She responded: "I want to visit Darya". So in December, just before Christmas, our family made a stop in Florida to visit Miss Darya.

***

Most of you will recall, but for those who are new to my blog journey I will give a brief background. Each year for the holidays, our family raises money for orphans instead of spending alot of money buying gifts for each other. In November of 2009, Lydia found Reece's Rainbow online, an adoption agency that focuses on finding families who want to adopt international orphans with special needs....and better yet, they specialize in finding families for international orphans with Down Syndrome (obviously near and dear to our hearts).

To make a long story short, Chappy was away in Africa on a mission trip the day Lydia asked if we could make this cute little girl she had found on the internet with Down Syndrome, Darya, our "2009 Christmas Project"....then she added a kicker: "And mom, if I can raise the $20,000 needed to adopt her by Thanksgiving, will you agree that we will go save her and adopt her into our family?"

***

At the time, Lydia was eleven years old and Thanksgiving was seven days away, so what were the chances? Lesson learned: never underestimate child-like faith or God's mysterious ways. She did it!

***

When Chappy returned from Africa, he was quite surprised to learn he was going to adopt another little one with Down Syndrome, but pleasantly surprised. We immediately began gathering paperwork, getting fingerprinted, and working on our homestudy....then things were halted. Because of Chappy's age, I learned I would have to adopt Darya as a single mom. The social worker (and friend) who was preparing our homestudy said she didn't feel comfortable with making me appear to be a single mom when I am not; and quite frankly, Chappy and I didn't feel too comfortable about it either. Then, as a final blow, we learned about the aneurysm in Hopey's heart which would make travel with her an impossibility. As a result, reluctantly, we backed away. We sent the money Lydia had raised to Reece's Rainbow, with instructions for the funds to be used specifically for Darya, and then proceeded to close the door of our hearts to the adoption.

***

Lydia's heart was broken. More like shattered. In her mind, God had provided a miracle, so it had to be His will for us to adopt Darya. Lydia questioned our faith, she questioned God, and she grieved. We all grieved. Lydia felt our family had abandoned Darya.

***

But God works in wonderous ways, and He never disappoints. Just when we were at our lowest, we heard from a family, the Fick family, who had come forward to adopt Darya. I remember screaming for Lydia to come quick to read the message on my computer.....we hugged and cried and cried some more. Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider, had provided. In that moment, all the darkness we had been feeling vanished and we were again bathing in His Light! We knew in our hearts, in a way I cannot describe, that this was God's plan all along!

***

Lydia and I began following the Fick's blog and their progression toward their precious daughter-to-be. When they were in the Ukraine, Lydia and I checked the computer multiple times per day to get a glimpse of Darya and to hear a word of news. The tears we have shed over that precious baby girl cannot even be counted....tears of joy!

***

After reading this, can you begin to fathom what it was like on our ride to Darya's house last month? The excitement in our van grew the nearer we came to the Fick's home. Looking back now, I wouldn't even call it a "meeting", because to us it seemed more like a family reunion. Marianne and Joel, along with their boys, opened their arms to us and greeted us with huge hugs teemed with warm celebratory laughter. And as for Darya, I cannot say enough. God's radiance is all over that girl.

***

The Fick's prepared a mega-Mexican lunch for us (with Joel's famous homemade salsa rivaling any Mexican restaurant); we shared stories, talked about the greatness of the Lord, and watched every move Darya made. Together we were in awe of the Almighty who brought us together through the miracle of Love, culminating in the perfect salvation of a two year old orphan girl with Down Syndrome who had been born a world away in the Ukraine. Only God can write a story like that!!!

***

To the Fick Family: We love you!!!

***

Psalm 145:6 "They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds."

Hope update: The aneurysm in Hopey's heart remains the same and the backflow (leaking) of her aortic valve appears to be unchanged as well. This is good news, and we are happy!

***

We will have a re-check in 6 months to make sure her heart is still cooperating. Many friends/family members have inquired about the size of the aneurysm, so I asked the cardiologist if he would consider it to be "small". He replied: "not small, but moderate in size." I don't know what "moderate" is in terms of an aneurysm, but maybe that answers a question for someone.

***

Just a few moments ago, as I was sitting down to begin this post, Hope came to find me and took my finger in her hand to pull me to the piano. She climbed upon the bench and waited for me to sit beside her. I asked: "You want to play a song with me?" She nodded a yes and began to plunk gently on the keys. Looking up to the music stand, I decided to play whatever page of music was present and sing along to make her happy....here are the words of the song Hopey and I played together:

***

"This is the air I breathe....this is the air I breathe....Your holy presence....living in me. This is my daily bread....this is my daily bread.....Your very Word....spoken to me. And I'm desperate for You. And I'm lost without You. This is the air I breathe.....this is the air I breathe....Your holy presence....living in me."

***

Accident? No, we serve a God who is never taken by surprise! I believe one of His messengers was pulling Hopey by one hand when she came to grab my hand. Imagine that. Hopey with one hand being tugged by an angel as she pulled me along with her other hand to the grand old piano. Perhaps the messenger even whispered to little Hopey who still remains without a voice: "Hey girl, let's go brighten the day with a dose of Jesus!" I'd sure like to think so.

***

Yesterday, when I entered Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, I was bogged down and suffocating with the nearly unbearable dread of knowing I was going to view a bubble in little Hope's heart on an ultrasound machine....visible proof that what the doctors have told us is very real. Shaken up with heart pounding, I could literally breathe only because of my Savior. Without Him, I am certain I could not bear facing Hope's chronic heart condition.

***

While Hopey used both of her chubby pointer fingers to peck at the keys, she lifted her perfectly round face up to the ceiling as if taking in every word I managed to croon. Separated by 37 years, 30 inches, and a different number of chromosomes, we both reverently reflected on "WHO" it is we eagerly worship throughout the song. Hope's feet dangled off the bench seeming to swing with delight as her spirit connected with the words about the Savior. And then it came to me like a flood: Hopey breathes only because of her Savior too....we all do. His presence is very much alive within us when we open up and experience Him.

***

Thank you for all of your prayers as we continue to walk this journey of faith and "HOPE", trusting the Creator Who holds the number of all of our days in His hands and knowing that when we blink our eyes closed to this earth, we shall open them to a new everlasting beginning with Him in glory! Blessed be His Name!

Our Little Princess

You may have wondered why I haven't blogged in a while. Hopey has a BIG appointment on Friday (January 14th) of this week, and over the last few weeks, our family has been taking time to celebrate life with her.

***

On Friday, Hope will have her 6 month heart check-up and we expect to learn if the inoperable aneurysm in her heart is continuing to grow....and if it is changing, we hope to get an indication regarding it's rate of growth. Knowing this appointment was looming, and dreading it with every fiber of our beings, our family scooped up our ray of sunshine and decided the very best place for a princess to visit is Disney World (where all the real princesses on earth live). So began our two week journey of celebration in Florida.

***

Everything at Disney went pretty much to plan until we entered Epcot. What was our plan you ask? To pretend of course. Afterall, Disney is a place of "magic" where "dreams come true".....a safe place to leave all worries behind and choose instead to engage imagination and wonder.

***

From climbing on board the most famous flying elephant in the world to cozying up snugly in a boat to view magnificent singing dolls from all over the world.....from finding a perfect spot on the sidewalk to take in the afternoon parade to meeting up with Mickey Mouse for a big old hug and fist pumps....from eating junk food until we all felt sick as dogs to taking in the most beautiful fireworks display over a castle iced in colored lights with tinkerbell flying from the tip top along a zip line down...down...down toward a crowd of "oohs and aaahs". Simply Magical.

***

Yep, our plan was going just fine until we met Linda:

***

"How old are your two little ones?" she asked as she posed us in front of the massive silver ball whose extraordinary presence beckons guests to experience the wonder called Epcot.

***

While pulling Charlie and Hope out of the double stroller for the hundredth time that day and adjusting them "just so" for the photo op I answered over my shoulder: "Hopey is 5 and our little Charlie-man is 2".

***

Her next words caught me off-guard causing my cheek to involuntarily twitch along with the snap of the first photo: "They are both so adorable.....any health issues?" Any health issues??? The question I always dread.

***

I put on my best face, took a deep breath and answered: "None for Charlie, thankfully. But (pause) as for Hopey (longer pause) she has had her share of struggles with her little heart." Somehow I managed to get the broken words out of my mouth without allowing the puddle of tears that had suddenly gathered in my eyes to find their way down my cheeks.

***

The Hollis gang smiled for the next two shots and I walked over to Linda to grab our photo card while the rest of the bunch worked together to bundle the babes back into their strollers in the 50 degree windy chill.

***

I was surprised when Linda looked directly into my eyes and purposefully took my hand in hers as I reached out to take the card from her: "One day, everything will be made right....everything will be perfect.....and I know you know what I am talking about."

***

My puddle of tears became a gusher as I stood in front of that great big silver ball at Epcot, but ironically, I forgot about being in that "magical" place during those few moments with Linda. As I cried, she continued: "We will all see each other again some day, and on that day, Hope's heart will be completely healed."

***

I shared more about Hopey with Linda and told her about Hope's appointment this week and asked her to pray. She said her late mother's birthday was January 14th, and assured me that will be an easy date for her to remember. Linda promised to pray for our little princess on Friday.

***

As I walked away from our new friend toward all the "magic" Disney had to offer our family that evening, my heart lingered back with Linda. For some strange reason, I wanted to sit a bit longer with her and secretly wished the line of guests waiting for her to snap their photo had not appeared. In those few minutes of time in a land called Epcot, a stranger had taken the time to remind me of the place where all of our dreams really do come true.....a place of unfathomable magic....a place called heaven. Her parting words to me still ring in my ears: "Remember, everything will be made perfect, so there is no need to be afraid."

***

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4

Thank you so very much for your prayers for Our Little Princess!