Forever Ellie Day

The Lord replied: "Look and be amazed! You will be astounded at what I am about to do! For I am going to do something in your own lifetime that you will have to see to believe." 

Habakkuk 1:5

Today had to be one of the longest days of our lives!  We both woke up at 3:30 am and drifted in and out of sleep until about 6.  We got up and our hours of waiting began.  We took about a 3 hour walk around Nanchang and had an amazing experience but those pictures and that post will have to wait until later.  We are going to go right to the good stuff because today was Forever Ellie Day!

We felt the prayers of many today as we waited for our daughter.  There was an anxiousness all day with in us but also a calmness as the hours and minutes ticked.  Our sweet guide Mary found out they were about 15 minutes out.  We sat in the lobby of the hotel waiting for our daughter to walk through the door.  There is nothing quite like knowing any minute your daughter will walk through the doors and be handed to you.  A van pulled up and in came a flurry of people and I began snapping pictures ... nope false alarm.  Then another van pulled up and out came a group of people with a little one but it was another family's little girl, strike two. Our hearts and nerves were about done when finally, a van pulled up and there she was walking toward us.  The tears began to flow as we laid eyes on our daughter for the first time.  

Oh my goodness she took our breath away as the two orphanage directors walked toward us.  

As she was placed in my arms the tears flowed harder as I felt her very tiny body next to mine.  I knew she was right where she belonged, she was the little girl that God hand picked for our family.  

The first thing out of the orphanage directors mouth was that our little Ellie needed extra nutrition.  She said our little Ellie was behind because she was in the orphanage and that it was good she was with a dad and mom now.  She also told us Ellie had been sick for the last couple days with a stomach bug.  

They all were very worried about her and kept pulling the white bath towel she was wrapped in around her.  We kept taking every ounce of her in.  

It was priceless the way she looked at her daddy! 

Finally where she belongs! 

We asked our final questions as the orphanage staff left to bring one of Ellie's little orphanage sisters to her parents at another hotel. 

We then headed to our room with our little girl.  We carefully took her clothes off to check over every ounce of our little girl.  We then gave Ellie her first bath.  She was not a fan at all but calmed right down when she was back in her daddy's arm. We got her tiny little body clothed and warmed back up.

 We soaked in every ounce of her we could knowing that night would soon come and we would have to lay her down.  We quickly learned that she likes to suck or sort of chew on her thumb.  She is a switch hitter so will use either thumb.  

We also quickly learned that her fingers can often be found in this position.  

Daddy knows this mommy all too well and said, "how about a bow!" She was such a brave little girl but finally her little body gave in. Little Ellie laid her head on my shoulder and crashed for a little nap.  I can't imagine what her little body, heart and mind are going through.  

She woke up and we gave her some warm water since she had been fed right before we got her. 

When we are holding Ellie she doesn't like to be away from our body.  She quickly leans into us. 

We propped Ellie up on the couch for a little play time as we ate dinner.  I couldn't resist taking pictures of our little princess and a tiny glimpse of her little personality started to peek through.  Look at those sweet little lips and that little nose! 

We started to get a tiny smile.

But she soon turned into the shy little girl.  

She then got her silly look.  

Oh my goodness look into those big brown eyes! They are wrapped around our heart already! 

Eric gave her her bottle before bed tonight.  She kept reaching up to touch his face, it was precious.  

I took Ellie and she cuddled in and fell asleep.  Once again the tears flowed.  I am so overwhelmed that God would entrust this precious little girl to us.  Please pray for our little Ellie in the days ahead.  Pray for us as we care for her and love on her.  I felt her little tummy rumbling and tightening as she fell asleep on me.  I can't even imagine what her little body, heart and mind are going through tonight.  Pray for strength for her little body.  Her body is weak and her muscle tone is low.  We are trusting that God moved our paperwork at warp speed because he knew she needed to be in the arms of her mommy and daddy! 

Tonight our princess is sleeping peacefully in her crib next to our bed! Tomorrow is a big day of paperwork and she officially becomes our daughter.  Tonight there is one less orphan! 

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows- this is God, whose dwelling is holy.  God places the lonely in families. 
Psalm 68:5-6