"Vision of God"

This is the meaning of Ashlyn's name. We chose this name for our adoptive Chinese daughter 8 years ago. At the time I figured she'd be a baby. Little did I know, she'd actually be 13:)

There are so many scenarios that have played through my mind over the course of the 2 years we waited for Ashlyn. (as I type this, she is at my side, hanging on my every word) One of them is truly a vision. I pictured her on our swingset in the back yard, loving the swings. This morning that vision was fulfilled. I looked out back and there she was, flying high to the sky on the swing. I tried to catch my camera to capture the moment but it came and went too fast. In that moment the Lord whispered to me and reminded me of that vision I had so long ago. And then He reminded me of the meaning of her name. She is truly a vision. If only she knew. As I sit here typing, she is sitting on the floor next to me.

Matt came over and showed her the short video he had on his iphone of Averleigh's birth. She smiled and looked up at me. I, of course, had crocodile tears in my eyes. She tilted her head as if to say, "what's wrong" and I told her via translator that they were happy tears. She smiled. I told her that I have cried many happy tears over her too. She smiled and seemed to really like that. I told her that just like when a mom is pregnant and has to wait a very long time, I had to wait a very long time for her too. If you could see the love in her eyes... She is the most precious gift. I can not imagine our lives without her. What if we had never taken that leap of faith? We almost didn't...

If you don't know our whole story, please take a few minutes to go back to my very first post from February 2011. It's miraculous, what God has done.

More to come...

Blessings,
Rebecca