This is a picture of Beach Bunny at six months old. I just ran across this picture the other day, and so many memories of her adoption came flooding back.
At this point in her adoption, she was still living in her orphanage. Kahuna and I would fly out to Central America and visit her every six weeks or so (How we afforded to do that I will never know- It was only by God's hand). We would literally scoop her out of her dimly lit, no windows, no heat-no air, slump stone orphanage; and whisk her off to bathe, feed and love on her for five straight days. It was heaven!
There was literally no sunshine for her while living behind the walls of the orphanage, so once we got back to the hotel I would prop her up on pillows and blankets, open up the slider to the balcony and bathe her in sunshine.
Oh, how she loved it! Her eyes would just sparkle!
The excruciating part of our visit trips was that at the end of our five day love-fest with our daughter we had to give her back and come home to the U.S.-
and not know "when" or "if" she would really be coming home to us.
Kahuna and I would gently lay her back in her metal crib,
pray over her,
cry,
and ask the Lord to protect her life...
and He did.
No matter how big she gets,
she will always be our miraculous, sparkly-eyed, beautiful,
answer-to-prayer,
"faith" baby.
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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".
44 comments:
She is just gorgeous! What an awesome story. She sure was happy in that sunlight.
just beautiful!!
Love this pic
She is a doll!!!
oh goodness she IS a cutie, there's no doubt about that!
Wow!! What an incredible journey....and what an Incredible God!! Thank you for the gentle reminder that every child is truly a unique gift from Him!!
Amanda Rooney
www.raising-royalty.blogspot.com
She is so beautiful. God bless your family.
Barbara
http://barbarasbeat.blogspot.com/
I know of a couple adopting within the US and they are not permitted to meet the children at all before they are officially their adoptive parents! How tough. It must have been so nice to meet her and be able to focus your prayers on her specifically! She is beautiful!
KT
Such a beautiful story and such a beautiful little girl. You are blessed.
So sweet! Isn't God amazing? What a sweet story you will tell her one day!
What a great picture of her! Such a sweet story too! I remember the pain each time we finished our visits with Peter and had to leave him behind in Guatemala while we traveled home again. What a blessing that they are here with us now!!
I just love this! Thank you so much. It is exactly what I needed today.
Also, thank you so much for your sweet words and prayers. Even though we have no idea where the funding will come from, I have complete peace that this is God's will. So, I know He will provide.
Blessings friend,
Amy
Just beautiful! You can really tell in that picture just how happy she was in that picture!
As you have probably gathered, I think about all of those many many months my little one was in an orphanage as well. Just so glad these babies are home!! We were not able to visit Mayna's and oh how I wish we could have just to have some of our questions answered.
Great post!
What an amazing story of how God always provides and takes care of us. Beach Bunny is so lucky to have you and your husband and other children. This was a great way to wake up and start my weekend...thank you! You are precious.
OH, I LOVE THE PIC!!!
Isn't the Lord just wonderful and good? I never knew that Beach Bunny was in an orphanage. You know I love those orphanage babies :)
Now, she IS the ray of sunshine in your entire family's life.
God IS Good.
PS: Thanks for making me cry first thing in the morning!
Gorgeous pic!!
So beautiful!
OMGosh, she is just an angel from heaven!!! I remember your adoption like it was yesterday, yet it seems like the distant past at the same time. Don't you love going back to edit these pictures after all you know now? I have been playing with that a little and want to re-post some of my older pictures. In fact, I'll be doing that today (of Diego)...as soon as my little munchkins let me. Hahaha.
-Jaimee
What a story. She is beautiful. God is Great.
Awww...what a doll baby! Awesome blog by the way. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and leaving such wonderful compliments. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that. And yes, I'd be totally honored to have you add my blog to your blog crushes. That is so sweet of you. Keep in touch and I'll do the same. So glad you came by my blog and left some comments. Now I know about ya' and where to find ya'! :)
Blessings, Angie Seaman
www.angelicagracedesigns.com/blog/
www.angieseamanphotography.blogspot.com
How cool that my comment is right after Angie's!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE her!! Crazy good photographer!! I just finished my class with her a few weeks back. She's offering another class in a week if anyone is interested!!
And yes...you can add me to what ever you want! I'm lovin' the blog community!! Oh - and I've started reading LOTS on PW about "actions!" Thanks for the tip!! :)
She is just precious...i sooo miss those babies ...now they are getting so big!!!
i brought abby home at 6months and i THOUGHT THIS IS TAKING FOREVER!! now i look back and say "WOW that went by fast now that she is 3 yrs old!!!!
Faith is just gorgeous!
Thanks for the tips on my blog about making the photos bigger...I am going to try them out soon :-)...beautfiul blog and family, btw!
Blessings, Katy
It seems like it was just yesteday for us too! What is amazing is no matter how many pictures I see of your precious faith baby, when ever I think of her, I always remember her as the tiny 6 week old darling that she was when we met you! She is just as beautiful now as she was then.
Love and prayers,
Gina
I will never, ever forget our journeys to our daughters. The "love-fest" was certainly bittersweet, wasn't it? Love that pic of beach bunny. So precious.
What a beautiful baby girl!!!
What a precious picture. Reading your journey just brings tears to my eyes. How blessed are we to be called mama by these precious Chapinas! Tomorrow we celebrate 4 years. I can't believe how fast the time has gone.
My heart aches for all those precious children so many people would love to call their own and fill their life with love and sunshine and they are stuck by a crummy system.
she is so precious. . love love this post! They are our FAITH babies in ever way. I love going through all of Lucia's pictures such an amazing journey!
Absolutley beautiful.....
Beautiful baby girl! What a wonderful story...God bless!
What a great pic and answer to prayer! She is just beautiful!
Love and Prayers,
Tim
Love your blog. Glad I found ya!
Wow what an amazing story! I can not imagine how heartbreaking that was every time you had to leave her there. She is beautiful and I'm so glad everything turned out the way it did for you guys :)
First of all, thanks for the sweet comments on my blog! I feel you are also very talented in your creative work!
On another note...Wow, such a sweet story! Your little girl is gorgeous and looks like she is so happy! What an adorable family you have been blessed with!
When you stumble onto one of these pictures, do you feel like you are right there all over again? It's as if no time has passed. Beach Bunny has always had a sparkle in her eye, for sure. Such an immense blessing. Thanks for reminding me how tiny she once was.
Amanda and Gabi
Your daughter is gorgeous!!!! Our 2 1/2 year old is adopted too. Adoption is such an awesome thing.
Thanks for praying for the twins... it means alot! I love praying blogger friends! Beautiful blog by the way!
what a precious picture!
What a beautiful little girl! She is lucky to have you as her parents.
she is so gorgeous! She is just as blessed as you are!!!
Stacy, you know how much this post touches my heart as well as hundreds of others. When God directed us to adopt, I had no idea how touched and changed we would be because of it. I remember seeing you in the hotel when Isabella was only a few weeks old and smiling at you thinking "that woman is totally in love with her child...I know how she feels". I remember post after post with concern over her care and health and size and I look at her now and the promises filled in God's love. He is ever faithful for those who believe. Thank you for always sharing your heart with us. Hugs, Susie
she is so beautiful!
What a great story, brought tears to my eyes. SHe is simply gorgeous and you are right, God does great things:)
As a mom to four biological sons and a precious daughter that joined us through the miracle of adoption I find your blog completely charming! Kim
Brought tears to my eyes too.
Beach Bunny is lucky to have you and you are lucky to haver her :)
All the best!
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