the legacy.

My daughter's birthday is today.  My little girl is three years old today.

We had a wonderful, family-filled party to celebrate the anniversary of her arrival into this world and into our lives.  She received presents and attention and had a special day.  Of course, I reminded myself that this will be the last year she celebrates a birthday as an only child!  Next year, her birthday will be shared with a brother. 

Daddy helped opening presents with her. 

So much joy.  I don't know what our future little boy will think of all of this.  I just know he's never had a day as special as Chelsea did yesterday. 

Don't all children deserve this?  Whether they live in the United States, Canada, or some foreign land...don't they all deserve a time to dress up special and receive a gift?  Are you ever too old to remember your birthday?  Are you ever too disabled, or too ugly, or too....something?  No.  I don't believe that. 

The children that live in dark places without parents do not have these experiences, and they deserve them.  They deserve to be seen and loved in a family.  Maybe you are not a family that can step forward.  Maybe that is not your calling. 

But you can help the families who are stepping forward. 

We are so grateful to anyone who shares our story, our blog, and helps when they can.  You are stepping forward by helping us to step forward and rescue our future little boy; our special and valuable future son. 

The legacy of Chelsea's birth is that she has shown us how to parent a child with special needs.  God showed us, through the emotional birth of our daughter, that special needs can be manageable and full of triumphs.  The darling little girl you see has autism.  What you see in this picture is a delightful little child, dressed in a specially-picked pink tutu.

What you don't see is how she couldn't hear the song "Happy Birthday" sung to her (we chose an alternative song that didn't make her cry) or how my one niece asked, "Why does Chelsea repeat everything we say?"  (It's called echolalia, and it's part of the manifestation of her challenges).

But look at her.  She is a blessing.  She is a miracle.  Three years ago, she arrived with a croaky cry and was rushed to the NICU.  She spent ten days there, recovering from respiratory distress syndrome, and then she came home. 

Soon, her brother will come home too.  With your help - through fundraising, buying Avon, sharing our story, and most importantly praying for us, he will come home.  We are very close to learning the dates when we will meet him.  VERY CLOSE.  I hope I can soon announce when we will travel! And then we can count the days!

One of the legacies of Chelsea is her opening our eyes to special needs.  Maria - the daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman - left a legacy too, in spite of her death four years ago in a terrible accident .

You can leave a legacy of your own.  We are a family adopting in a horrid place, reaching out to a child who lives in sickness, malnutrition, and neglect.  There are other children who live in this place too.  Please.  See their faces here.  And see what love and care does for a child -  how it changes a child.  Because it does change them.  I know this will help change our future child, too. 

Thank you for your prayers, your thoughts, sharing our blog, making an Avon purchase, or donating to our Reece's Rainbow account.  Thank you for following our story!