About Ellie & Sam

Based on our first two experiences, one of the great challenges of Chinese adoptions is the relative lack of information one usually has about a child before meeting them. Most of the information is translated from a standardized form. Birth dates are often estimates, and heights and weights can be inaccurate. Personality traits and developmental milestones prove to be vague and confusing. The paperwork often details how many times the children urinate per day. Looking back, this has been the most accurate data in the files. Adoptive parents often receive only one grainy black and white photo of a forlorn child with a bad haircut. (For perspective on the quality of the pictures, we have ultrasound pictures of Abby in the womb that are clearer.) But as noted in the “Our Story” section, we have had an extraordinary journey to Sammy and Ellie thus far, with much more than just a standardized form to tell us about them. Through the amazing ministry of Drs. Sam and Julie at ELIM-China, our kids have had a very protected and well-documented time in China. We will never stop thanking God for the many ways He’s spared our little ones. Because of this, we know a lot more than just their pottying habits. We know: • They have been in loving foster homes. • They have learned some English (probably with an Australian accent!) • They have been told about Jesus. In pictures and videos, we have seen Sammy’s reluctant, but magnificent, smile. We have seen Ellie’s love of pink and fancy dresses… including at least once where her love spilled over onto Sam. We have seen their love for each other. We have “met” them via Skype, causing all six of our hearts to nearly explode with love and anticipation. They are beautiful and kind and bright and funny. There is one video clip in particular from Julie that we have played at least 5,000 times. A clip where Ellie is opening gifts. The gifts are very basic by Western standards, but her enthusiasm and appreciation is amazing. And then she finds a gift that she can tell is for Sammy. She walks over and exclaims, “Sammy! Sammy! Yours!” And then he receives it (after dropping a very girly doll that was clearly not holding his interest) and says in the most heartfelt possible ways… almost breathlessly… “Thanks.” She is generous, he is thankful, and we are so in awe. We are humbled by how others have loved on our children so beautifully. We are eternally grateful to these individuals and families who became the arms of Christ to hug our children when they were scared and wipe their tears away when they were sad. Of everything we know about them, though, the most noteworthy aspect may be how much they are loved…by ministry workers in China, by anxious parents and siblings in America, by each other, and most of all by an amazing God in heaven who is orchestrating it all. I do not know what God has planned for Sam and Ellie, but I suspect it will be something special. Any story that starts this well is bound to have an amazing finish. And we can’t wait to watch their journeys unfold.

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