A Birthday Fully Enjoyed

June 13, 2012 cl/cp, heart defect, Laine, radial club hand 5 Comments

I remember 5 years ago on May 26th, 2007. I was at my niece’s graduation camping experience with my entire family. We were having the time of our lives. Biking, hiking, roasting marshmallows, swimming, talking, sharing…it was a wonderful day!

Except for that deep void I felt in my heart. That sadness that made me want to cry, despite the fun we were having.

I was missing somebody that day. Someone who had captured my heart and who God had made to be my daughter.

She was in a foster home in Wuhan, China. And it was her 2nd birthday.

I had so wanted to be able to have her in my arms on her birthday! My heart ached!

Thankfully, just two months later, I DID have her in my arms…sweet Kimmie. (and her brother Quan!) and of course, God’s timing was perfect.

So on May 26th, 2012, we celebrated Kimmie’s 7th birthday, and her 5th birthday with us. And let me tell you, I treasure our birthdays with Kimmie just as much as I did the first year we were together!

I asked Kimmie if she wanted me to wake her up extra early, when the sun woke up. I told her we could go on the beach together, just the two of us, and hunt for seashells. She was DELIGHTED.

At 6:20 a.m. on her 7th birthday, I gently shook her to wake her up, and immediately she grinned a HUGE grin and got right up. We had a special time together…momma and daughter and Jesus. As we walked along the shore, I couldn’t help but reflect on this amazing girl God has given to us. She picked up the smallest of seashells with ease, despite her radial club hands. She is my child who dreams of being an artist when she grows up, and truly she shows incredible ability in that area. She has shown such perseverance this year as she has learned to tie her shoes, as well as crochet her little heart out.

I’m so thankful God gave her to us!

No matter how many birthdays we celebrate, rest assured that each one is even more precious than the last!





5 responses to “A Birthday Fully Enjoyed”

  1. Stefanie says:

    Happy Birthday to sweet Kimmie! And what a perfect way to celebrate the blessing that she is in your family 🙂 I so know that sense of feeling overwhelmingly blessed – God is so good to us, isn’t He?!?

  2. Happy Birthday to Kimmie! We just celebrated our daughter’s first birthday home with us and it surely was one of the sweetest days! God Bless your girl!

  3. Monica says:

    Happy Birthday, sweet Kimmie!!!

  4. Dani says:

    Beautiful. My eldest just turned 7 too! And my youngest was born with a radial club hand as well. It’s amazing what he was do and I’m always so encouraged to see what older children with the same difference are doing. I’d also love to hear about any treatments or surgeries Kimmie has had.

  5. Amy Kratzer says:

    Happy Birthday, Kimmie. Laine, you know I love hearing stories about Kimmie because I see my four year old in every picture and story. Just yesterday Madelyn was decorating a tiny piece of craft jewelry with tiny little sequins. It is sometimes overwhelming what she can do. with her her hands. God is amazing. Thanks so much for sharing.

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