He Loves Us

The love of a Father is a beautiful thing. It is one of life's greatest blessings. We all ARE loved by a Father. We all have a Father. HE loves us. Unconditionally. Whole-Heartedly. Nothing we do will ever turn Him away. He loves us. Forever and Ever. Amen.

Tomorrow, Ainsley will not only have the love of the Heavenly Father, but an Earthly Father, too. Tomorrow it will be 143 million orphans minus one. Tomorrow. 

To make sense of what is going on, I wanted to share a little bit more of Ainsley's story. 

On June 3, 2011 I {Ashton} found a little girl by the name Priscilla. Her needs were much more than my parents thought we could handle, but God makes no mistakes. He did not set Priscilla in our lives for no reason. We decided to pray. We owed this little girl that much. So we did. Every time we would get close to saying "No" God would say "Yes" 

We knew this was our child. We knew that when God formed this little girl in the womb she was made to be my sister. to be my mother's daughter. She was ours and we were hers. So we began. We dove in head first no regrets. As we continued into the adoption process, Ainsley's needs began to improve. We were told she may never stand. Ainsley is walking. God worked miracles through this little girl. The enemy has attacked. The God of the Universe has fought our battles. The God of the Universe chose our family for Ainsley. He does not make a mistake.

We could not be any more thrilled to welcome this little girl into our family tomorrow morning. We have butterflies in our stomach and a pink cupcake backpack with the name Ainsley embroidered in purple cursive. We have a "lovey" and a bottle just for her..too many bows to count and enough tutus to last a life time. We are ready. We are excited. 

God chooses ordinary, simple, nothing special people. He chooses people who have little to offer. He chooses people like Moses, David, Peter, and Paul. Nothing special about the. They just obey. He chooses the people who willingly say Yes. The people who agree to do and go wherever to fulfill His plan. Please, don't think we are good people or heroes. We aren't. We are just a family following His will for our life. Ainsley won't be blessed to have us. It will be the exact opposite. I feel that this little girl has already taught me so much more about life than I can ever teach her. She has taught me more about the love of the Father than I thought possible and we haven't even met...yet. 

He chose us. I am forever grateful for that. He chose you. He chose me. He chose us all. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." -Jeremiah 1:5 

Through His grace and our FAITHfulness a little girl will come into my arms tomorrow and I am never letting go. We are spending our last night without Ainsley. She is spending her last night without us. I cannot even put into words my excitement and thankfulness. 

The closer we get to Ainsley the more I feel His love surrounding our family and assuring us that He loves us and He loves Ainsley. He knows the plans He has for our lives. He cares enough to know the hairs on our head, which is something I cannot even fathom. He knit each and everyone of us together in the womb. And tomorrow, the next day, and ten years from now He is going to be there with us. Through every up and down. No matter what.

Oh, How HE loves us

Ainsley, 

Tomorrow sweet girl. I have longed for the day to snuggle your body against mine. To kiss your forehead and tell you just how loved you are. Tomorrow, another dream comes true. I cannot wait. Soon love. You will be here...and I will never let you go. 

Oh, Lord you are my God. I will exalt You and praise Your name; For You have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.

-Isaiah 25:1