The Family that God Built!

So if you would tell me 20 years ago, where I would be when I was about to turn 37, I honestly would not believe you! Married for going on 19 years, 5 kids and counting....and a stay at home mom!!! Well, I honestly would not believe you! But I am BLESSED BEYOND IMAGINATION and I would not change a moment in time of the adulthood I have had thus far! My husband and my children are my life and my God is the roots that ties it all together. When Chad and I experienced the miracle of life when we had our son Ryan who is about to turn 15, I thought nothing could surpass the joy and love or at least equal the precious gift we were given...after years of fertility and finally able to carry and deliver are miracle, Marissa 10 years ago, we were finally seeing that no matter how many blessings you are given, love just grows and grows. Nothing prepared our hearts for the blessing of adoption and how our hearts would open up to 3 children who grew inside my heart, not under it! It is called unconditional love and I truly feel an honor that many don't get to experience....the privilege that I 100 percent believe that God planted a seed (well 3 seeds) and when Mya, Mariah and Noah became orphans, God chose me to be their mommy! I TOTALLY would never believe when He would secretly plant another seed and my heart would bloom once more for our dear daughter Estella! Words can not describe how much I already love that little girl and how much I can not wait till I can finally touch her skin, smell her hair, and kiss her tiny little cheeks! There is no doubt in my mind that she is meant to be in our family....no matter how big our family seems to grow! Every member of our family is who they are meant to be!

But what happens next was totally unexpected, and I am still questioning God's plan, His intentions, and His path for our family. Although I have ABSOLUTE PEACE in what I am about to reveal in God's story for our lives, I have truly had to give it up to Him, pray on bended knee and and totally LET IT GO, THE LIFE I HAVE PLANNED FOR ME! But I trust His faithful hand and I am honored that He is so close to our family that He sees the love and compassion that we have for each other and He has given His trust to me, as a Mother! A Mother of 7!

No, you did not read incorrectly! When we go to China to bring Estella home, we are bringing home Emma too! Both Chad and I have taken on as a couple to pray for the 13 year old children who in 2011 will become 14 and will not be able to be adopted. It breaks my heart that a child could go the rest of their life, not knowing the love of a family. We never thought that while we were praying, that God was showing us that we would be opening our hearts and home to another girl. But that is exactly what He did!

I have to also tell you that I had my doubts that this was suppose to happen, that this is what God wanted for us! I have actually argued with Him, reasoned with him, cried out to Him and He just keeps giving me the same command. He has been beyond faithful to me, my husband and my family that I could not turn Him away from what was being asked of me! WHO AM I ANYWAYS to say No! Well, we are not saying NO, we said YES and although this brings on HUGE challenges and enormous unknowns, we are not any less excited then we were going to get Mya as an infant in Taiwan 4 years ago!

So here is our daughter, Emma Faith Yang Jie Hecky! Emma will be 14 years old on August 9 and by Chinese Law would not be eligible for adoption any longer. Although Emma's is currently in a wonderful foster family, she still would not be granted many things such as health care, schooling and job opportunities as an orphan. It is unfair, but the way it is! Emma has been raised by the orphanage director and his wife since she was brought into the orphanage 13 years ago. They have loved her, educated her in the best schools, and have watched her grow into a beautiful teenage girl! Unfortunately the foster mother was diagnosed with cancer and she lost her battle and died. So not only has Emma lost her birth mother, she also is grieving the loss of her foster mother as well. Single parenting in China is very much frowned upon and it was decided that Emma would be placed for adoption. Her touching story is so hard for us to understand but we know that she does want to be adopted, and her only request was that she was adopted into a family with a Father and a Mother. We have learned that she also has an older foster brother and she loves little children! She loves to read and loves to be on the internet! (OH GREAT! WE HAVE ENTERED THE WORLD OF TEENAGE GIRLHOOD!) Our whole family could not be more excited! We actually went to Ryan and Marissa first with the idea of bringing home an older child and both were without hesitation! I LOVE THOSE KIDS! I think Ryan is excited that he will have someone his age to "show the ropes" and Marissa is so thrilled to have an older girl to share things with, including her bedroom!

We are the family that God built! He handpicked our family to experience adoption, he has provided beyond anything that we deserve financially so we in return could bring His fatherless home, He has remained the biggest "CHEERLEADER" for us, as when we ever feel doubt, He is right there, cheering us on, showing us His plan in clear vision!

So I ask that you please PRAY for this lost girl, who will obviously be grieving, be scared, be so confused. I can't even imagine! Pray that she would open her heart to us, that she will some day understand the plan that God has for her and that leaving everything behind in China will bring her a family that will NEVER NEVER NEVER give up on her! She will always have a place to call home and a Mom and Dad waiting with open arms!

Here is our new daughter Emma: