One year ago today, Kirk and I took a red eye flight to Guatemala, brushed our teeth at the airport (Yuck!) and went straight to Isabella's orphanage, Hogar Nuevo Amanecer. We got to meet our daughter for the first time. She was a whopping 5 lbs. 1 oz. and was 6 weeks old. What a tiny peanut she was! She looks much bigger in the videos because she was dressed in not one, not two, not three, but FOUR thick layers- plus a blanket!
When I think back to how I was feeling at the moment we met Isabella, I was SOOO happy, but SOOO scared! We knew nothing about her beforehand~ other than seeing two blurry photographs and hearing that she had been recently dropped off at the orphanage by her birth mom because she couldn't care for her anymore. Bella had been at the orphanage two weeks at that point and weighed one ounce more than her birth weight, yet she was 6 weeks old. See why I was scared? My poor baby had a rough start, but she's a fighter! God told Kirk and me that she needed us, and we went on pure FAITH that she was our daughter. Once again, I'm so glad we listened.
I wasn't going to post these videos because they are so personal to me... but then I thought, "What the heck. Why not? Maybe it will encourage someone else to take their own step of faith and trust God in uncertain times." Just go ahead... trust Him.
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Big Kahuna and I have known each other since we were kids and have been married for almost 15 years. We are passionate about our family, travel and serving God. We love helping people and bringing them hope. We laugh ourselves to tears watching classic episodes of Saturday Night Live and The Office. Summer is our favorite season, and we live for warm evenings playing with the kids on the beach.
Big Surf is 14 years old. He's a voracious reader, focused, and spends hours building things. He is our resident techie and is also learning to play the violin. He loves to spend his free time playing baseball, flag football, or out on the trails by the house building his clubhouse.
Goofy Foot is ten years old. He devours his free reading books like there is no tomorrow. He is also the family comedian. If you see him, ask him to tell you a joke! He is tender-hearted, social and compliant. When he is not outside riding his bike, you'll find him drawing or writing a funny book.
Beach Bunny is three years old. She is our sunshine! She joined our family through the unbelievable gift of adoption. Beach Bunny loves to snuggle with us and carefully takes care of her baby dolls. She is super silly and must say hi to everyone! One word that describes her is "joy".
13 comments:
That is so amazing! It is like going out on total faith whenever you adopt. You have no idea what their background is or anything, but God lets us know which baby is ours. We met our son when he was 2 weeks old. We met like 3 babies and had to chose just one, but when Luis Alberto was placed in our arms we knew he was the one. It is such an amazing feeling.
Isabella is such an adorable baby girl. I am glad you shared those videos, it shows how much love you have for her.
Wow........1 year ago. how time flys. What a sweet video. Thanks for sharing. Courtney
Wow........1 year ago. how time flys. What a sweet video. Thanks for sharing. Courtney
Oh Stacey, these are wonderful. OH the moment, I remember the awesomeness of God. I remember the unbelievable grace and perfection of His perfect plan. How blessed we are to truly know what it means to be an adopted child of God...we have lived it. Thanks for sharing with all of us. Hugs, Susie
Stacy, Thank you so much for sharing those videos with us. What an amazing moment that must of been for you both. She is so tiny and so very precious.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us this past year.
What a sweet post and thank you so much for sharing the videos. They made me tear up, just knowing the roller coaster of emotions that it took to bring our little girls home. Isabella Grace was meant to be with you.
Wow Thanks for sharing your moment of pure love with us. I see why you cherish it.
Stacy, sorry that it didn't work. Try this page and go to third main box. You just have to scroll down a bit to see it. Hopefully that will do it.
http://googletranslategadget.blogspot.com It's not doing the link so you will need to type it in or copy, paste it and that took me to it. Good Luck :)
Sandra
ps Congratulations today!
God CHOSE little Isabella Grace just for you. It is a step of faith indeed, but look how He blesses you when you follow Him.
It was one year ago that we first talked and I appreciate your encouragement. It was worth every day of waiting.
God bless you and your precious gift!!
LIsa K.
Thank you so much for sharing that special moment with us. I, too, had to completely trust in God's plan for us when we first we received Myla's referral. I was scared to death, but moved forward trusting in Him. It's pretty amazing how blessed we feel when we put our trust in what's really important. :)
She is so tiny, and so beautiful, and I just loved watching your face light up when you held Bella for the first time.
I, too, am so glad you shared your first precious moments with Bella!! It made me tear up with all those emotions that you feel when you first hold your child! It is such an amazing moment! You can tell that you love Bella with all your heart by that big smile on your face!!
You have sure been rewarded with a beautiful baby girl!! God is SO good!!
Your videos are beautiful! The remind me of that first moment when I saw Ben lying there in the NICU in his isolette with his big brown eyes looking up at me. Thanks for sharing!
Stacy, Oh your Isabella is so beautiful. The video brought back some awesome memories. She is a georgous little girl. Your blog is AWESOME!! Denise
What a beautiful video... and a moment so precious that I am sure you will never forget! She was SOOO tiny!!
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