Friday, September 5, 2008

"Sisters" (God Story part 3)


I was so excited to get these pictures of Grace and Kate yesterday. I still can't believe what a difference there is between their sizes~Grace is only 5 months older than Kate!! She will be celebrating her 2nd birthday next month!!!

So onto the story.

On July 25, 2006, we received a very important phone call telling us that we had a new addition to our family... a precious girl named Chen Xun Hui- our AnnaClaire! Her referral had come in a surprise batch of 4 (SN) referrals. 2 other families also received referrals on that day... Instantly, a bond was formed between us and those mommies which extended into 12 other waiting mommas, the Chatty Girls. We waited together and experienced all the ups and downs of adoption together. The other 13 families received (SN) referrals 2 weeks after us, so our time lines were all very similar and we had high hopes of all of us making our trips to China together. Unfortunately, that was not the case. However, that friendship stuck and remains strong now that all the girls are home. One of the families returned from China with their 6 year old son this summer and 3 other families as well as us received referrals this summer. Now, could this get any crazier... one of the families that had received a referral along with us in the "surprise 4" batch received the referral for their second daughter one day after us!!! They knew right away that their precious daughter was at Philip Hayden. We didn't find that out for another 2 months. However, shortly after finding out that our precious Kate is at Philip Hayden, we found out that our girls, Grace and Kate (known as Vira and Shia at PHF) lived in the House of Peace together until last month when Kate was moved to the House of Love!!! AMAZING!! So, I want you to think for a second. Think of the thousands of orphans in China alone. Think of the thousands of families that are adopting from there. Think of all the orphanages in China. Yet somehow, in our group of 15 "chatty girls" 2 of the girls are TOGETHER! Yes, TOGETHER. How amazing is that? I just cannot get over that fact. He never ceases to amaze me.

Here's one of the two big sisters dressed as Snow White and holding sweet hands :) Can't believe how little THEY look, 10 months ago!



Part 4 coming soon :)

4 comments:

Jeanette said...

Emily, we serve a MIGHTY God that cares about every single detail of our lives. The fact that the chatty girls are knit so tightly together is proof of that! Kate's story is amazing...God does the impossible, the incredible, the unimaginable. He says pray big, pray expectantly and then let ME give you more than you could ever ask or imagine! HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!!!

2 China 4 Addison said...

It is truly only something that God could orchestrate.
Love these stories!!
It really makes me think God is just affirming our "chatty friendships", and giving these girls in China a little taste of what's to come!

Lexie said...

God ROCKS! :)

This reminds me of my sweet girl and her best friend (who has left her now. :0( ). What a sweet connection these girls (and there families!) share!!

Lexie

Robin said...

Love reading stories that affirm everything we know to be true about the awesome God we serve! So wonderful to have all these sweet pictures of Kate as well!