Although Ellie’s adoption appears to be the final chapter in the beautiful adoption story God has woven into our lives, this adoption story actually began many, many years ago…

Some dreams really do come true!

As a young girl of only 11 or 12, I read a book about a family that adopted 2 girls from China. God used their story to plant a seed in my heart and I began to dream that one day I would do the same! Anyone that knew me well knew that I had that dream tucked away for as long as I could remember. But through the years after Doug and I married and had three children of our own, I continually put off such dreams until “later”. By the time I finally graduated from diaper bags and car seats, I decided that I’d waited too long to pursue my dreams of adoption. I simply couldn’t imagine returning to those preschooler years and giving up the wonderful freedom I was enjoying in this new season of life. But then… in November of 2003, I thought that I was pregnant! I had asked God to “override” our decision to not have anymore biological children if His plan was different than our own. Still I was shocked! Finally I decided that if God was going to “force” me to go back, I would just dive in and follow my dreams to China as well. But when several weeks later I discovered that I wasn’t pregnant, I could not stop thinking of China. I sensed God whispering to me… “I will not force you to go back, but will you choose to?” I lost many nights of sleep, wrestling with such a “choice”. Doug and I traveled to Florida in celebration of our 20th wedding anniversary. Finally, I mustered the courage to verbalize my thoughts… Somehow giving voice to my lifelong dreams again deepened my desire even more. On December 18th, I walked on the beach alone, desperately needing to hear from God.
 

That same beach ~ one year later.

As I walked, I listened again and again to the song “Word of God Speak” and begged God for His direction. Suddenly, along the edge of the water, I saw a beautiful white feather in the sand. I picked it up and noticed its’ pointed end, formed as a perfect writing instrument. I prayed…“Lord, write your will on my heart, and I promise to obey, no matter where that leads me!” I decided to take the feather home as a reminder of my promise to the Lord that day.

The next day, when I shared my “dream” with a close friend, she encouraged me to read the book, “The Dream Giver”, by Bruce Wilkenson. I bought a copy and decided to start reading it on the flight home. I barely made it through the first chapter before I realized that God was using this beautiful story to answer my prayers of the past month. The main character in the story was a man by the name of “Ordinary”. He lived a comfortable life in the Land of Familiar and allowed fear to keep him from pursuing his “Big Dream”. One morning he awoke to discover that he had been visited by the Dream Giver. To mark his visit there, the Dream Giver left on his windowsill, a beautiful white feather! I began to cry and could hardly read on…tucked away in my own suitcase was the white feather I’d found while praying about my “big dream”! Ultimately, after I finished the book, I came to the realization that if I did not follow my God-given dream to China, I would miss His best for my life. I could not deny His obvious leading…

We began the adoption paperwork process, completing it in only 6 weeks. Then we waited 6 months before the happy news finally arrived from China on September 8, 2004. We had been matched with a beautiful baby girl and that very day was her first birthday! She had been born in the city of Yiyang, in the Hunan Province, and abandoned beside the road when she was just 11 days old. She was found and taken to the orphanage in Yiyang, where they named her “Meng Hua”. I was awe struck at this incredible gift from the Lord when I discovered the meaning of her first name. Translated into English, her first name was~ “DREAM”!!! And she was...my dream come true and more!!!
 

My dream became a reality!

Kate was finally put into my arms on November 22, 2004. From that moment until this one, I shutter to think what I would have missed had I not followed my dream! In my wildest imagination, I could not have grasped what joy she would bring to our home. The sacrifices and changes have been great, but nothing in comparison to the absolute delight she brings to us each day! If anyone has even considered adoption, I suggest they meet Kate! She has the power to melt a heart of stone and brings a smile to everyone she meets. She has Daddy wrapped around her little finger and has completely won the hearts of my three teenagers- What a joy it is for me, as a mother, to watch my older children embrace this little girl as their own and treat her with such tenderness and
love.



Anyone that has witnessed this incredible journey should not be surprised that we have decided to embark on another. Now, as Kate’s beautiful story continues, Ellie’s journey home begins...

MORE PICTURES OF OUR DREAM COME TRUE!
Safe in Daddy’s arms Celebrating her first birthday at 18 months! A "living doll"!	The difference love makes!  Kate's "best friend"! Meng Hua- Dream Flower