and we love

There is something unique about the international adoption community ~ specifically the SN group. It is not uncommon for us to sacrificially give to help raise the ransom for our children. We celebrate with one another during each step of the process and especially when our children come home. Yet with great joy comes deep sorrow and unfortunately, sometimes we have reason to grieve together with families we may never have even met in person.

I think I speak for everyone in this close-knit community when I say that our hearts are broken for Stefanie and her family in their grief over sweet Esther. We are all yearning to come alongside her to show her love.

Just two weeks ago there was joy in LOAs coming much more quickly than expected. And we all celebrated with Stefanie and her family. Just a few days ago the final count for the so Loved campaign was announced. And we read the numbers in awe with her and thanked our Heavenly Father for the generosity of this community.

Today? Today we sit in shock with her, grieving a child that none of us had the chance to meet, yet that we loved from afar.

It is so hard to process this loss. So very, very hard.

Stefanie loves really big. Her testimony on her blog has touched so many. And Esther is loved VERY BIG. By her family and so many other people....

Esther's little life mattered much. She is a testimony to how great our God is! Just look at all of us who will wear our 'So Loved' tee and remember the reason we bought the shirt...because of a loved little girl on the other side of the world who had a family that was fighting for her.

Yes, today we grieve. Yet there is hope and even some joy when we recognize how much love was spilled out from our Father in this journey. Esther's life placed an imprint on our hearts. A lasting, permanent imprint.

She is loved. Stefanie, your family is loved. We are holding you all up to Him. And as we do, we recognize that there are countless others out there who have experienced similar loss and heart-break. Our hearts are broken with you and yet we hold on to the following promise beautifully expressed by Steven Curtis Chapman:

“Out of these ashes

Beauty will rise

And we will dance among the ruins

We will see it with our own eyes

Out of this darkness

New light will shine

And we'll know the joy that's coming in the morning”

...from “Beauty Will Rise”

As a community, we stand beside you, encircle you with our love, and through the pain watch with you in anticipation to see the beauty that will rise.

[I would have despaired unless I believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord…Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage.] Psalm 27:13-14

Laine and Kristi