Ashton In Africa: December 2013

two years ago we met a tiny little girl in xi'an china.

it was probably one of the hardest days of my life. it was also one of the best.

we went up to the sixth floor of a dimly lit building and walked into a shoe box sized room that was already filled to the rim with other families. all there for the same reason, to meet their babies.

when we said "YES" to Ainsley, we knew she came with many needs, and that was ok. we were prepared and thankful that God would choose us to be her family. but nothing, and i mean nothing, could have prepared us for the day we met this little one face to face.

she was scared. she was tiny. and she broke our hearts.

we spent about thirty minutes studying and watching this little one. she shook and cried and she was terrified. when she was finally placed in my mom's arms, it didn't get any better. she cried. my mom cried. dad cried. i cried and it was just a big hot mess.

we got back to the hotel and discovered we had been given a very tiny baby girl. she weighed about 12lbs and struggled to hold her head up. we cried. prayed. and decided to love this little one to pieces because she was desperate for it.

we spent three weeks in china loving this little girl to absolute pieces. and before our eyes miracles started happening. it started with a smile, a laugh, eye contact, and noises. then to eating real food and getting too chubby for her 9-12 month sleepers. and this was just in china. it was beautiful to watch.

once home from china it got really good. before our eyes she transformed. she formed a personality. conquered the "impossible" and amazed everyone she met. the little girl that was never supposed to walk or talk was running after being home three months.

God was so gracious to us.

Adoption is a beautiful picture of redemption. it's the gospel in our everyday lives and Ainsley is the most perfect example of that. God truly loves the orphan and He fights for them.

Today, Ainsley weighs 30lbs. is the sassiest thing you will ever meet and truly loves life. she is sweet and loving. she is fierce and a fighter. she loves to cause trouble and she will almost certainly call you a peacock. she is my heart and my little best friend and she reminds me daily of God's faithfulness.

we celebrate the miracle of you, Ainsley. you are the most beautiful fighter i've ever known and i thank Jesus daily that he allowed me to be your Big Sister. you rock my world and you are my hero. thank you for teaching me what life's really about and for teaching me what love really means. thank you for the passion you've brought to my life.