127 Million.

Normally, Friday morning is my designated writing time. From 8:30-10:30 I make myself sit down and write, no matter how much school work I have ahead of me.

It refreshes me. And I love it.

Except for mornings like this morning.

There are days when the words just don't come, and the creativity is wiped right out of your head.

It's frustrating.

Anyway- I figured I would use this time to sit down and write to you all about something that's been pressing on my heart all month.

Actually, it's something this month is designated for.

November is orphan awareness month.

And boy, do I have a lot to say about that.

I can't believe I'm about to do this. But, I'm about to give you an exert from my book. This is one of my favorite scenes from the whole book.

So, here you are. In this scene, Chrissy, the main character, is asked to help introduce three babies that are being adopted to their parents. As you might be able to tell, this was taken from when we met Sonia the first time in Rwanda.

     "I handed her to her father, she looked confused, but her parents were elated. Her mother’s eyes were brimming with tears, watching her husband holding his daughter for the first time. As it had many times already, my heart broke for the children who didn’t have families, who weren’t going to be loved like little Sonia was. I then thought back to Ava, she would one day have a family, who would love her with all of their hearts. Her mother’s eyes would be full of tears, seeing her for the first time, and her father would hold her with comforting arms. She wouldn’t know then that this would be the family to care for her and to love her as long as she lived, but she would someday. She wouldn’t know that I had fallen in love with her and would have given anything to make her mine. Even if she never remembered me, even if I couldn’t be there forever to love and care for her, I could love on her while I was there, knowing that one day, she would have a family too. 

     Once they had spent about forty-five minutes with the kids, we had to take the children back to their rooms. The fathers held each of their children in their arms. We led them to their rooms and they placed each of their children back in a bed, where they would sleep for one of their last nights there. The children once again had a look of confusion on their faces, wondering why in the world they had to leave these people. Sonia’s father kissed her on the forehead and walked out. Once they had all left and the door was shut, all of their eyes filled with tears as their fathers walked away but I scooped them up and held them close."

Ava is a little girl who doesn't have a family. In this book she represents all of the orphans around the world- all 127 MILLION of them. 

These children long to be loved- they long to know the love of a family. Not just children in different countries- but right here in America. 

I have been so burdened lately after being in Uganda and seeing all of the orphans again. My thoughts this time have been mainly, "What if they don't ever know the love of the Father? The love of Jesus Christ?"

And it breaks my heart. 

It breaks my heart to think that there are going to be children who will never know the love that Christ has shown us. He is Father to the Fatherless- what if they NEVER hear that?

May we not just sit still and think, "What cute children!" 

May we be called into ACTION by the words of James 1:27, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

God- wake us up. Move us to action so that these 127 million children can know your love and know the love of a family. 

He has called us to so much more than sitting still. 

He has called us to GO. To LOVE. To be His hands and feet. 

So that every. single. child. on this planet may know the love of the Best Father this world will EVER know. 

~Bailey

Thanksgiving: part 1

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches...many thoughts come through my mind.

So this is Thanksgiving: part 1

This time next week, we will be celebrating three years with our sweet Sonia Grace.

THREE YEARS!

It seems quite impossible really, not the fact that it's been three years, but the fact that she hasn't always been here. It seems like she's been here forever, she asks questions and says things now..."When I was in mywanda(Rwanda) you came to get me and you brought me home."

Oh, how much she has changed over the past three years.

She came home, she could barely speak any English, now she carries on full conversations, tells endless stories. There's barely any baby talk left. And it's so sad, I miss my baby girl.

She came home with barely any hair, it's now long enough to do braids with beads. And she loves it!

She's tall now. And she loves to wear her boots "that are just like sissy's." She loves to wear makeup, which only consists of mascara and a bit of eye shadow- but it makes her feel like a big girl- like sissy. She doesn't like to be held, unless she's upset or hurt. And she only let's mommy rock her, if she let's her rock her at all, because, "Mom, I'm a big girl like sissy, I don't need to be rocked anymore, remember?" She loves Doc. Mcstuffins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. She does preschool with mom each morning when we do school. She can read words like, "CAT," and "TOM." Oh, and she has "4" loose teeth(by loose, I mean barely wiggling, but still)

In the blink of an eye, our Sonia Grace has gone from this:

To this: 

Sonia Grace, I'm so thankful for you. I'm so thankful for the little lady you are becoming. I'm thankful YOU are my sister. That each morning I get to hear you say, "Good morning Sissy!" I'm thankful for your joy, your little stories, your sweet excitement for baby Harper...and your little self. Even though sometimes it breaks my heart, I've loved watching you grow up and mature. I love you a whole lot, sweet girl of mine. And I'm so very thankful for you this Thanksgiving.

Love, Sissy

To My Sweet Sonia Grace

Oh, my sweet Sonia Grace...from the moment I first laid eyes on you- I knew you were meant to be part of our family. I just knew. And I fell in love with this little girl.

You make us laugh. And you drive us crazy- but my heart finds new ways to love you daily.

The Lord is continually stretching my heart and teaching me so many new things through you.

And when I think my heart is as big as it can get, God proves me wrong.

"You know what sissy? I wuv you."

"I love you too," I say as we hug each other. Our relationship- our bond is different, it's like no other. We are ten years apart, but God has shown me so much through such a little person. He has changed my life.

People always say, "You've changed her life." No. She's changed ours. And what an incredible story we all have to tell...

And while I was begging God for a little sister, I had a big sister watching out for me. Supporting me every step of the way. The relationship Amanda and I have is completely indescribable- only something God could ordain.

My sisters are both incredible, amazing gifts from God and I am so, so, so very thankful for both of them. And the story of how God has placed each of them in my life- again, only something He can write.

Oh, my sweet Sonia girl...I love you so much.

More than words can ever say.

And my dear Sonia Grace- on (the day after) your 4th birthday...I don't know how time has gone by so fast. I love you so very much- we all do. Your love for Christ and church amaze me, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for you. I pray Christ will fill your heart with His love. I pray you will seek Him- not others on hard days, a mistake I've made plenty of times. I pray that you will guide and lead those younger than you in righteousness. I pray that God will guide your paths so you will see what He has in store for you. And even when I'm away at college, I'll be there for you. I will always be with you.

With love and joy filling my heart this day- Bailey

Just Life...

Ahh...feels good to be back at the keyboard! School has been back in full swing, which makes life a bit crazy! Here's an update on my life for any of you that care...

School: It's going well. Math has been much better so far this semester. For our science research paper I have chosen to do hurricanes and tornadoes! For our intoducotory philosophy course, I am doing a presentation on the Shakers at the end of the semester. I don't agree with their beliefs at all, but they are very interesting!

My book: AMAZING! I have talked with a self publisher who was extremely interested about it, he's calling back in a month to check with me again to see how far along I am. I am stinkin' excited! Once I get it done, I'll have an extra page on my blog so that you all can read the first chapter!

Sonia: So cute, as always! She is growing like a weed...well so am I, but I'm 14 so it's not very normal ;)

I believe that's all I have to tell you right at the moment...sorry if I bored you, but I thought you would appreciate something! Have a great(raining here) weekend!

~Bailey

Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news...

When we left to go pick up Sonia, we met an amazing couple- Chad and Heidi Spore. They had four kids at home, Hallie, Carter, Carly, Hayden...and were adopting Cooper. And we never expected that we would be such amazing friends to this day. Let's just put it this way- we all LOVE the Spore's...so so so much.

When we were in Ethiopia, getting visas for the children(it was that Friday, we had been gone 16 days, and were ready to be home), Heidi walked in our room and told us the most amazing thing. With tears in her eyes she said, "Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. We are leaving tonight." And we hugged and cried together.

At the beginning of this year Chad and Heidi began the adoption process out of Uganda, they wanted a boy around their son Cooper's age(They adopted him from Rwanda). They got a referral this summer- for a boy who was about 2 and a little girl almost a year. And they said yes. Why not, right? haha

Unexpectedly, they left December 2 for Uganda to pick up their two precious new children- who would be named Hannah and Caleb. As the weeks passed they prayed vividly that they would be able to make it home for Christmas- with their family complete- their family of 9. This week came closer...they needed to passports and two visas.

Our God is an awesome God. He can move the Mountains. He is Mighty to Save. Prayer is a powerful, powerful thing. Really powerful...

Because they are leaving tonight at 5:20...and will be home tomorrow to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with their family. And we(my family) could not be more thrilled for them.

Now you can't say snow is a Christmas miracle- this is. Praise God almighty!

~Bailey

Our Sonia Grace...

We all hopped out of the van and onto the red dirt at the orphanage, after a 18 hour long flight- all the day after Thanksgiving. We were getting ready to meet our Sonia Grace for the first time. I had butterflies in my stomach, we were getting ready to meet the little girl I had prayed for such a long time. They walked into the room with Sonia, Cooper, and Grace, and mom immediately teared up and dad got out the camera. They handed Sonia to dad, and she had a look of fear and wonder on her face.





The little girl we met two years ago is not the same little girl who has been playing with her "little people" nativity set today while we put up Christmas decorations(pics coming later). She is now one of the cutest, funniest three year olds you will ever meet. I love this little girl deeply, this little girl from "her wanda"(Rwanda). It's hard to believe that two years ago we met her, two years ago I held her little self for the first time. Many people say that we blessed her, but really, she has blessed us so very much. And we are so thankful for her, so, so thankful for our Sonia Grace.

~Bailey

A Journey...part 1(of 4)

Two years ago yesterday, my mom was asking two of her closest friends to pray that we would be able to get plane tickets for Rwanda. We had just been called and asked if we would like to travel FRIDAY to pick up Sonia. It was Tuesday. That's three days, and most places were closed on Thursday because of Thanksgiving. By Tuesday night we had gotten plane tickets, and our house was a disaster. I can see it- Sonia's suitcase on the table with sippy cups and clothes and bibs and diapers and snacks. The boys and I had just gotten down our boxes of summer clothes, we would be needing them in the warm weather of Rwanda. My mom was making a list of the things we would need to do in order to leave- run to Wal-mart, go to the bank, go to the drs, and of course pack for two weeks away from home.

The next two days were spent in packing, franticly running errands...and well, everything else that comes with leaving the country for two weeks. And that Friday morning we boarded a plane in Raliegh NC, at 6:30 am, with our stomachs in knots, we took off for a journey that no one was prepared for, because it would be the best and hardest two weeks we would have ever experienced.

To be continued....

~Bailey

And then we saw her...

We saw her face for the very first time. I remember it vividly, we were rushing around the house getting ready to leave for classical and we had been anxiously awaiting the email with her picture. With my hair still wet, and my dad had just pulled out to go to work, my mom got the email, the one holding the picture of our precious little girl. We all starting freaking out, my mom called my dad and told him to turn around and come home. When he got back, we stood around the computer and slowly opened the email. "Sonia Uwamahoro, April 14, 2008" And then we saw her face. Two years ago we saw her face and we all said, "She is beautiful, but look how mad she looks!"


The little girl I had prayed for almost my whole life, there she was. 18 months old, tall, just like her big sissy(who is now 5'8"), beautiful, but she looked so mad. You would not think my little sister is the same little girl in this picture. She is now probably one of the funniest people you will ever meet, she loves our dogs, she is full of life, talks all the time, she loves our whole family, makes a new friend wherever she goes, and she really just loves life all together. I could go on and on about how much I love her...but for now this will have to do. As the months of November and December go by you will get to experience the two year celebration of having Sonia Grace with us through many stories and pictures!









Sonia Grace- I love you more than you can imagine, I can't wait to see what God will do in your life as you grow up. I will be there for you no matter where God takes us. Love- Bailey.

Das not funny friday: Sonia Moments

So- yes, it is Saturday but I have some funny moments from this week to share. Here it goes:
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Sonia- "I put dis in your pocket."
Mom- "What is it?"
Sonia- "My banana."
Mom- "Okay, I would love to have a banana in my pocket."

5 mins Later:

Sonia: "Mom I'm hundry."
Mom: "Here, have the banana in my back pocket."
______________________

Amanda and Nick were over Sunday night and Sonia and Nick were throwing ball in the house, why? I have no idea. Nick threw the ball at Sonia and she yells, "MICK BOWDERS!"

Yeah Sonia, he is part of the family, but his name is Nick Land. haha
______________________

My dad recently got home from a mission trip to Guinea Bissau, ever since he returned Sonia has been loving on him immensely.
Every five minutes: "Dad I love you." Followed by a kiss.

Today she was talking to dad in the kitchen and she again says, "I love you dad."
"Yes Sonia, I know you love me." Then he said to my mom, "Man, she is like a middle school girl with a boyfriend. They don't know what love really is, but they say it anyway."

Too funny.
_______________________

Anyway- That's all for this week. I hope it made you laugh. Have a good weekend- Bailey

12 days till Christmas

This morning I told Sonia that it was only 12 days until Christmas, she responds with, "NO WAY!!" That little girl cracks me up. Another thing...when I woke up my parents had wrapped all of our presents and put them under the tree! Sonia was looking at every one of them and if they were hers then she would pull them out and look at the wrapping paper. Anyway, just something to cheer you up this morning. ~Bailey~Psalm 56:3