and I am in You

So it's been a while.  Honestly, I've just been busy...and when I'm not busy, I'm just too lazy to blog.  Horrid habit-laziness.  Definitely working on it.

Today is different though, because any busy-ness or laziness has been completely overwhelmed by some very sweet faces who I have been meaning to talk more about on here for a long time.  And frankly, there are no words...

So, before reading any further, make sure you have some volume and click here.

Yeah.  How do words express that?

That video is from another group who went to China after we left last summer, but those are the kids we were brothers and sisters with for a week...

Funny how short a week actually is.

I feel like I should be straight up with all of you (whoever you are, if anyone even reads this) and say that I didn't even really want to go on that trip.  No, really.  It was a complete act of spontaneity signing up last spring.  I don't even remember really thinking over it in depth.  I just knew I should go, and God provided me with the independence, patience, and faith to obey.  It was one of the most random things I have ever done.  And I was TERRIFIED.

Obviously (and thankfully), it was incredible, and EXACTLY what I needed to do at that time.  Which is easy to see now, but boarding that first flight I had to try so hard to be genuinely excited about it.  I mean, I've never been that far away from my family, or friends, or Chick-Fil-A.  Absolutely out of my comfort zone.  It's a good thing our God is so big and we aren't Him.

The thing about trips that are so eye opening and heart altering is that returning from them is like recovering from surgery.  When God reveals His love to you in such a raw and tangible way, it's hard to re-adjust to normal life again.  Yeah, it's easy to get all wrapped up in school and friends and bible study, but then you will see a link to the blog of family who just left to get their newest family member, and it blows a whisper into the back of your heart-

Hey-remember them, kiddo?  Look at how far my love reaches, and remember.  

And there they all are again, filling up your thoughts and prayers.  And as cliche as it is to say, adoption really is one of the all time best ways God lets us get a glimpse of what His love for us looks like.  How wonderful is our God that He would not only love us as He does, but then also give us all these daily reminders and glimpses into what that really means.  Click on this next link (and if you're anything like me, grab some tissues) to see one of our kiddos meet his new family: Bringing Zi Home

So here I am, in Apartment 4, sitting on the couch, with tears streaming down my face...completely overwhelmed by all the love my Father has for me.  

*Disclaimer: I did not say all of the above to guilt trip anyone, manipulate the way you feel, or be dramatic.  I wanted to bear my heart in the best way I knew how, and give a little preface to what I'm about to add...

Ladies and Gents, this is Farrah. 

Isn't she absolutely so stinkin' precious!?

Thing is, Farrah is an orphan in China just like the kids in the videos above.  No family, and no voice.  Therefore, I am her voice today!  This little lady is 10 years old, a total sweetheart, and would make such a sweet and precious addition to a forever family.  She LOVES to sing and dance, so we would basically be best friends.  

To learn more about Farrah, and kids like her, check out Bring Me Hope to see how the Lord is moving and working in the lives of these little ones across the globe.

He is the Spirit of truth.  The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn't see Him or know Him.  But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.  In a little while the world will see Me no longer, but you will see Me.  Because I live, you will live too.  In that day you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you.  

John 14:17-20