HAPPY EASTER!
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The Smith's - Est. 1998
NO
I am sorry I have not posted in a long time. I know many of you have been waiting to hear from us! There has been a lot of jet-leg, adjustments, & doctor appointments in the last 10 days when we stepped back on US soil. We are so appreciative of each of you that words cannot describe!
This Easter was different from any of the others because we have a teenage daughter in our home! We are beyond grateful for each of you that made this Easter special by allowing our family to unite! As I think about Easter and the meaning of it, I can not help but think about how much our Lord loves us! He loves us so much that He allowed His only begotten son to die so that we can live. I continue to think about how grateful I am that in time our YaYa will be able to know about His love for her! This was unlikely to happen in China. Because of YOU, YaYa will know how Jesus loves & died for her, you, & me!
Eventhough, this journey has not been easy, I without a doubt, would NOT change it! We never followed this road because it was the easy route! We followed this road because it was the path chosen for us! We will go back after another precious child if God calls us again. We feel we must pay off all our adoption debt from the last 2 before we can start on another one. However, if it's God's will, I have no doubt He will drop that money off in the least expected way so we can provide the love & forever family for another child. We are humbed that God has chosen us out of ALL the other people in the world to parent the 4 children we have now!
Do you think it was easy when our Lord made the decision to allow Jesus to die on the cross? (Luke 23) Do you think it was easy when Moses was chosen to lead the Israelites out of Egypt? (Exodus) Do you think it was easy for Noah to be criticed for building an arc or for Noah to preach for over 100 years without converting a single person? (Genesis 5) And the list could continue.......
The examples of hard roads for other Christians often dwarf anything I've done!
I have to admit that I've learned that even though I "thought" I knew how to LOVE like our Savior, I've realized I have a lot of work in that departmet! Loving others is not only verbalizing it, but it is a verb, an action, something you must do! Love is the greatest commandment thus I believe it is hard to give 100% true LOVE as Christ LOVES us! Think about it! Would you do ANYTHING for another that you would do for yourself, your child? You may quickly say "Yes, I'd give the shirt off my back" However, we often have another one in our closet. Love is the greatest gift & the hardest commandment to follow if you really think about it!
We appreciate all of your prayers & everything else you have done for us more than you know!
My prayer for each of you is that if you do not know our Savior, then you will come to know Him! He LOVES YOU!!! He wants YOU to come to Him! If you do not know how to become a Christian, please feel free to contact Phil or I at anytime! There is NO greater LOVE than the LOVE Christ has for us! If you are saved, I pray you find your path that God is calling you to! I pray you will love as Christ loves us!
God Bless each of you my special friends!
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