5 Years Old!

I have never seen a child more excited about their birthday than Miss Pearl!  Our day started with getting dressed in her birthday shirt!  She loved it.  Our first event of the day was a visit to the ENT for a follow up.  Pearl told everyone that it was her birthday.  Of course, her speech isn't quite clear yet - so I had to interpret :)  She told the man in the elevator, the lady in the waiting room, the nurse, the doctor, etc.etc.

Next stop was Chick Fil A for lunch!  Lainie was along for the fun since we were out of school!  Pearl told everyone in the restaurant it was her birthday and that worked out great!  The manager gave the girls a free ice cream sundae!

Then it was home to celebrate with presents,

cake,

and a bubble bath for the queen.

All day I've been reminded of the words to a song by Audio Adrenaline:

"Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in Your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free
Shout your name in victory
When we love when we love the least of these
When we love the least of these!"

Happy birthday to our little five-year-old queen.  

Once among the least of these, now loved and adored!

Our Precious Pearl

One year ago today I met our precious Pearl in a hotel room on the other side of the world. I will never forget how confidently she walked into the room ahead of the orphanage staff.  She came straight to me and NEVER LOOKED BACK.  She walked into that room and into her new life with reckless abandon.  It was if she said,  "Hi. They told me you were mama and that you would take care of me.  So here I am."  She clung to me those 2 weeks in China and every day since.  No one else in China could hold her or do anything else for her.  In that moment she chose to trust me and she never looked back.  I was it.  I was all she had.
I've sat here staring at this computer screen trying to come up with words that would explain the journey we've been on since that first day.  It is only in looking back at her first month or so at home that I realize how far she has truly come.  She has had a major heart surgery, palate surgery, tubes put in her ears, and countless medical and developmental testing.  We've discovered she has a blood disorder called Thalasemia, severe tooth decay, speech impairment, expressive language delay, developmental delay, hearing loss, keloid scarring, orthopedic issues requiring shoe inserts and physical therapy, etc. etc. etc.
Yet, she is our precious Pearl.  She has learned how to love and how to live. She's still tries to be the boss of our house - but she's come a long way in learning how to be a part of a family.  A long, long way.  And although we've been tested more mentally, physically and spiritually than ever before, she is worth it. She is worthy of our love.  She is worthy of all that we have because she is a daughter of the KING.  There will be more struggles and hurdles to come as we journey through life with her, but she is our priceless, precious Pearl and we will go to the ends of the Earth to meet her needs and help her grow into the person that God has intends for her to be.
Here she is tonight.... tucked in safe and sound, surrounded by the love of her family. 

"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Cor. 4:7

We LOVE you Pearl!