WELCOME HOME AVA!

We're home sweet home! We arrived last night about 5:30 to find the house decorated and family and neighbors coming to celebrate with us! For those of you who don't know my and Ben's story very well, let's just say that we've waited for that moment for a very long time. I almost wanted to freeze time and the expression on everyone's faces and the tears in my eyes and just take it all in.

We had a great drive home, except for the major diaper episode at Wendy's! Ava seems to be adjusting really well, and our cats and one dog are still trying to accept that they are now second in line for attention.

I need to try to post captions under the pictures, and I'm working on learning how to do that. Until I get around to that this weekend, I'll just post captions in order.

I spoke with Sabrina today, and we had a wonderful conversation. She feels like a sister to me, and we just talked about Ava and life and her future ahead of her. Sabrina will always hold a very special place in my heart, and I know God has chosen her to be a part of our every unfolding story of adoption.

As the celebration begins and family and friends gather, I can't help but think about the way God feels about us as His adopted sons and daughters and how He chose us and how much He loves us. Our Father's love is boundless and unconditional, real and personal. His plan is always for good in our lives even if we can't see it and have to walk through the valley to get there.

I've described my emotions as being right under the surface. I just laid in bed in her room last night at about 11:00 remembering and reminiscing the past eight years of my life. Recollections of the pain and struggle surfaced only to be replaced this time by wonder and joy. How I've been waiting for the return of my joyful spirit. Each day will leak out a little bit more emotion for me I'm sure, and those wounds of old are healing with the Father's touch. He knows just where to find me every time.

Today is the end of day seven out of eleven of the wait. At the end of Tuesday, Ava Faith will officially be our little girl. Until then, no fear, no anxiety - I must trust in the words I've said to others for so long. "He will go before me and be my rear guard. He will make the crooked places straight and the rough places smooth. He will bring my feet out of the miry clay and set them upon a rock. He is my Shelter, my Comfort, my Peace, my Strength and the Lifter of my head...

You are faithful, Oh, Lord. My heart trusts in you and praises you in this moment. Help me as we walk the road of joy and expectancy ahead hand in hand.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

I'm going to give Ava a bottle, and I'll be back to post some captions....

Love and joy to everyone!

Here are the captions - sorry it took so long to get them on here!

1) Ben and I are loading the car and are ready to leave Tyrone, GA to come home!

2) Entering our home state of Tennessee!

3) Our first family picture at home.

4) A picture with Mimi and Papa on the porch.

5) A grand celebration of family and neighbors.

6) Great-grandmother Ruthie visits with Ava for the first time.

7) More special time with Ruthie

8) Ava meets her great-aunts, Jill and Sydney

9) Emily's side of the family gathered around Ava. Back row left to right: Great Aunt Jill, Great Aunt Sydney, Great Uncle Lonnie. Front row l to r: 2nd cousin, Katie, Ava Faith, Emily and Ben. Uncle Rick and cousins Lacy and Wes are missing but will see her soon!

Ben's family is coming down very soon to visit, and I look forward to posting those pictures too!

Ava Faith Is One Week Old and Coming Home!!!!!!!!!!

Great news! The GA attorney just called Ben, and we've been cleared to come home!!! I'm stunned as I really didn't think it would only take four days! We were told to expect up to 10 days for our paperwork to clear both interstate adoption councils.

The 10 day waiting period ends on Tuesday because of Labor Day and is separate from our paperwork clearing. Ava will not officially be ours until the end of Tuesday. At that point, she's ours, but the TN adoption can not be final for six more months.

The plan is for Ben to drive back to Tyrone to pick us up tomorrow morning, and then we'll likely drive the short distance to visit my college roommate, EmK, who lives in Peachtree City. We'll likely be home late afternoon tomorrow.

Mom and I took this picture this afternoon, realizing that she is already one week old. Boy, did time fly this week!

We hope to see everyone very soon after we return to Tennessee! Again, thank you SO much for your prayers,love and encouragement throughout this entire journey. I am still amazed at how this happened so quickly! We're bringing home a baby!

I'll continue to post more pictures once we get home.

Love,

Emily

Day 5 Into the Waiting

Ava Faith. I still have to pinch myself when I'm holding her and saying her name out loud. Today is day five into the waiting, and we're trying to remain calm and not be anxious or fearful. The last of the GA forms we had to sign were faxed to the interstate GA council today. They'll then be overnighted to TN, and then we can hopefully go home. I wish I knew when all of that would be completed, but there's just no way to know at this point.

Please continue praying for us, that our hearts will be at peace the remainder of this time. I know the Lord is working everything together for good. I've always believed that even in the darkest night of my soul and the valleys of suffering and grief.

For months now, I've been praying that the Lord would bring me out into a spacious place. There is a verse that has been very special to me as I've walked this journey.

The verse if from Psalm 18:19 and says, "He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me."

I have a special daily devotional book that has brought me so much comfort in the past year. It's Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman. I hadn't picked it up since last Thursday when Ava was born. When I turned to August 21st, my heart swelled. The devotion scripture was, you guessed it, Psalm 18:19!

As I kept reading, this is what it said: "What is this spacious place? What can it be but God himself- the infinite Being through whom all other being find their source and end of life? God is indeed a "spacious place."

I have felt this spacious place in the midst of waiting for a baby and now that we are caring for Ava. No matter what the next five days hold, He will remain my spacious place.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. These were taken over the weekend and the first part of this week. Just to catch you up on what we've been doing!

In order,

* Mom and Dad seeing Ava for the first time

* Taking Ava on her first big outing to Franks Italian and Greek restaurant. We're pictured with my folks and Brian and his little girl, Jennifer, our hosts who are so gracious!!

* Mommy and Ava

* Daddy and Ava on the back deck.

* Ava sleeping peacefully

* Friends, Madeleine and Beth, surprise us with burp cloths and a hooded towel.

* Rejoicing together!

* The Bishops and Milhollins, and Patty, who introduced us to Sabrina and who was a
vessel God used to speak to us.

* Kristie and Eric Arendale surprise visit on Saturday morning!

* Ava's first card and little girl in the neighborhood here in Tyrone made for her.

* Bringing home Ava to Patty and Brian's home in Tyrone, GA.

* Ava's first bath!

* Mommy having special cuddle time with Ava

* Those first moments with friends, Beth and Madeleine Love everyone,

Emily

What a Wonderful World...

Hi, everyone!

I'm sitting here during a quiet moment in the day. My parents drove to Atlanta last night to help us, and I finally got some much needed rest. Thanks, Mom! So, now that I'm thinking somewhat clearly, I finally have a little time to post an update! To bring you up to speed, the above pictures were taken last Friday when we brought Ava "home away from home" from the hospital. After all of the craziness of waiting all summer for details on the baby's progress, Sabrina's health, the call to drive to Atlanta for the delivery, the delivery itself, navigating through the legal logistics, and flurry of activity and visits at the hospitl, suddenly, Ben and I found ourselves alone in the parking lot putting Ava in her car seat! We both just looked at each other in amazement! Here we were with a baby! I will say that our hearts are still trying to process the weight of this, and our emotions are just under the surface as we walk through the next few days.

Today marks day four in the ten day waiting process. Sabrina and Josh have 10 days by GA law to change their minds. Ben and I are aware of this, but we're not letting it rob us of our joy. We're just living moment to moment and enjoying this time with Ava and loving her.

The 10 day waiting period is separate from how long we are required to be in GA. Our time is GA is dependent on our paperwork clearing the GA interstate adoption council and then the TN interstate adoption council. We are told this could take 8-10 days. There's a slim possibility that we'll be coming home this weekend! I'll let everyone know for sure later this week!!

Ben had to return to work yesterday in Tennessee, but he'll be back on Thursday or Friday night to be with us. We really miss Daddy!

Here are a few highlights from our adventures the last four days.

* Just hanging out in the delivery room talking to Sabrina and Josh before Ava was born. This was such sweet time together that I'll never forget.

*The moment Sabrina handed Ava to me, and the moment that Josh handed Ava to Ben. We got pictures of those moments, but out of respect for Sabrina and Josh, we've chosen not to post those pictures.

* Getting an arm band as an adoptive mom to visit Ava in the nursery after she was born and watching Karen, the nurse, clean her up for her first day in the world.

* Sitting for hours on end in the lactation room holding Ava and wondering at how this happened to us in God's perfect timing.

* Josh giving us a guardian angel bear he bought for Ava to have right after she was born.

* Being in the room with Sabrina and Josh when they signed the papers to give Ava to us.

* Taking Ava to her first pediatrician appointment yesterday morning. I won't tell that I was well supplied with formula and burp cloths but that I forgot diapers and wipes! Yes, she did have a poopy diaper when we got there, so we had to use paper towels! I think that was the night I got 1 or 2 hours of sleep! I had to laugh.

* Reading the letter today that Sabrina wrote to us over the weekend after Ava was born.

* Going out to eat (yes, I took her out to eat after four days!) to Franks, here in Tyrone. Great lasagna!

* Spending time with James and Beth Milhollin and Madeleine and Britt Bishop last Friday night as they were in Atlanta waiting to board a plane the next morning for Guatemala! It was Roberto's first birthday on Sunday. He is the little boy Beth and James are adopting from Guatemala. Pictures of them with him are a few posts back.

*Waking up to see our dear friends, Kristie and Eric Arendale in our bedroom on Saturday morning! They drove four hours to visit with us and prayed over Ava before they left.

*Ava's first bath today with my Mom helping.

I have lots of other pictures of some of these moments, but I need to upload them hopefully sometime today.

We know that there are many people praying for us, and can I just tell you that we can feel it!!

HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT! May God have the glory for this entire journey! He did this- I can see his fingerprints in this as we've walked this surprise adoption road this summer. Thank you, God. That just doesn't seem like enough. Father, you know my heart of hearts.

I'll post again soon hopefully with more pictures! We're on our way home soon!

At Last! Pictures!!!

Introducing.....

Ava Faith!

We've taken so many pictures, but here are just a few that we can post tonight! We're posting from the lactation room here at the hospital amdist a flurry of activity and visitors and phone calls! I promise I'll post more when I'm thinking more clearly! It's been one crazy day here at Southern Regional. Let's just say Ava has had a BIG day! More details to come once we've left the hospital. We're hoping to leave tomorrow if everything goes according to plan. It's mostly legal logistics from here.

Thank you, everyone, for loving us and for standing in the gap with us. We love you.

Ben and Emily

It's a girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am honored to announce that Ava Faith arrived at 1:56 am today (Thursday, August
21st). She shares Emily's grandmother's birthday! She weighed 8 lbs, 15 oz and is 20 inches long. All are well. Emily and Ben were able to spend time with Ava in the nursery, and at 4:45 am they were preparing to give Ava her first bottle! Continue to pray for peace (and rest)! More updates soon! Kristie

At the hospital!!!!!

Emily and Ben are now at the hospital in Atlanta. The birth mother, at last check, was 5-5 1/2 cm dialated, and is planning to deliver vaginally. Remember the estimation is that this baby (girl OR boy) is 9 1/2 pounds!! The nurse says that the baby will be born "tonight", which means that by 7 am, when the nurse's shift ends, this precious miracle should arrive! Emily realized the coincidence of this date just a while ago. Emily loves her grandmother and has cherished every moment they have been together. Her grandmother has Alzheimer's, and Emily left her a note that says she will be a great-grandmother soon. The beautiful thing is that tomorrow is her grandmother's birthday!!! Isn't it wonderful that this new life could share the birthday of someone who Emily cares for so deeply! How truly God knows our hearts!

Pray for Emily and Ben tonight--that God's peace would cover them. Pray for the birth mother and father (who Emily and Ben have now met)--that their minds will also be at peace. Pray for the doctors and nurses who will bring this miracle into the world! Most of all, pray that God's will be done. He will be glorified!

I promise to update as I hear from Emily and Ben!
Ceaselessly praying--Kristie

It's Time!!!!!!!!!!!

We just got the call at 3:00 p.m. that Sabrina is on her way to the hospital, and they plan to induce labor. It could still be several hours away, and because the baby is 9 1/2 lbs, they are thinking about a Cesearean.

We're on our way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please pray. God is good and faithful no matter what. I'll post with pictures just as soon as I am able.

Thank you, whoever you are out there right now for following our journey and for your prayers!

Now, what do I put in the car first? Think, Emily, think!!! I'm still waiting for Ben to get home from work....

Breathe.... just breathe...

Waiting for the Call...

*** Final UPDATE for tonight! Ok, everyone, we have some news, and it's big news - literally! Sabrina went to the doctor today, and the doctor estimated the baby's weight to be.... deep breath here... 9 1/2 lbs! I wasn't expecting THAT! They sent her home at 1 cm dilation with contractions coming every three hours. If she doesn't go into labor before Friday morning, she'll go to the doctor and they will schedule her for a C-section Friday afternoon! So, we're busy busy packing- I'm actually putting a chicken casserole together to take with us. We'll get the call on our cell phone which has become part of my hip lately. Ben and I are planning to drive to Atlanta on Friday at this point.

PLEASE pray for us and for Sabrina, Josh and the baby. The hard part is just beginning, and you can imagine what all is going through this emotional girl's mind right now! GOD IS IN CONTROL! I KNOW that. I just wish all of my feelings would get on board with that, too!

The plan is to blog as soon as we hear something- I'll let you know when we're on the way! If we have access to a computer in Atlanta, I'll blog with pictures from there. We'll have to play this by ear, but I promise I'll post as soon as a I'm able.

They have 10 days to change their mind, and the baby will be with us a friend's house in GA during that time. We may get to leave GA before that 10 day period is up - we're not sure.

Ok, I need to go wash dishes or something. Let's see, I also need to schedule our FBI fingerprints for China! All in good time, all in good time.

My heart forever is wandering, and I have to return to the Lord on a daily basis, as sometimes I stray and fears and anxiety take over. Today, I was a crumpled mess - can't put my finger on exactly why- I just was. I stumbled on the first song on the play list today, and I wept as I listened to the words and how they met me right where I am.

Stay tuned - oh, and we STILL don't know if it's a boy or girl!

Love and peace to all tonight,

Emily

*** Update 3*** 6:00 We're still waiting to hear something...

**** Update 2*** - I just found out that Sabrina's appt. was at 2:45, so she may just now be getting out. We'll wait to hear something hopefully before 6:00.

***** UPDATE***** It's 4:15, and I just got home from running around town like a chicken with its head cut off! I won't tell you the details of dropping my sour cream and it busting on aisle 2 of Food Lion. I think I may still have some on my leg - all a part of the drama right now. We still haven't heard anything via phone or e-mail from Atlanta. I'm getting ready to call and see if I can find out anything. Sabrina's cell phone has been turned off, so I need to call another number. There's a chance she didn't make it to the appointment for some reason - that may be why we haven't heard anything. Again, I'll post as soon as I can find out something!

Sabrina has a doctor's appointment this morning, and I'm waiting for her to call me to give me an update. We're not sure what time the appointment was/is. We're supposed to find out how much the baby weighs today!

Seeing as how she only has 5 days left until the 40 week point, the doctor has said that they may have to schedule her for a C-section. We'll hopefully know something about that today.

If you're reading this, please pray. I'm feeling spiritual attacks in every direction right now as this is drawing closer. I know that God is in control, and these feelings of anxiety and fear will pass, and that the enemy will not have the final say.

I have to run some errands for a bit this morning, but as soon as I get home, I hope to post an update!

Thank you for praying and for your encouragment!!!

Back on Track!

Get your free online pregnancy calendar from WhatToExpect.com


Hey, everyone!

I apologize for not posting last week. Ben and I took a short vacation to Nags Head N.C. to visit with his family, and I took a break from my blogging. We're home now, and my attention is turned once again to our adoption journeys.

Much has happened while we've been gone that I'm excited to share!

First, CHINA DATES HAVE ROLLED! They are completely through the month of January! Praise the Lord! We're on to February now, and talk in the adoption community is that things may pick up, especially after the Beijing Olympics. The CCAA is averaging 5-6 days per month in their processing of referrals. This means that we can reasonably estimate our referral to arrive sometime next summer or fall. I just updated our journeytomaia site if you'd like to check that out. The link is on the right side of the blog. We remain committed and hopeful to bring Maia home next year! Every day is a day closer to her, and to see movement is good for my heart.

Our domestic adoption journey took a leap forward this past week when we got the call that our birthmother is now 1 1/2 cm dilated. She's going in every week to check on the progress of the baby and estimate her delivery time. The due date is still 8/24/08. Today is 8/15! Only nine days left! When did that happen?!

We still don't know if it's a boy or girl and likely won't know until the baby is born. We're told it's in the correct position for delivery, and we're waiting to hear how much the baby weighs now. She'll call us again next week and let us know. I know God holds this child and is taking care of him or her. No fear, Emily, no fear...

Where is my heart right now? Well, I can say that it's pretty much all over the place. I was in line at a Chic-fil-A yesterday and forgot what I was going to order because I was so focused on an adoptive family with a four year old Chinese daughter in front of me. My mind is trying to grasp what it will be like to finally hold Maia in our arms! She's always with me, and a fierce love for her has grown in my heart.

At the same time, I'm keeping a close eye on my cell phone to make sure I haven't missed any Atlanta adoption calls. My heart is all over the place with this adoption. Trusting, trusting, trusting... I have this mental picture of Jesus holding me in His arms and telling me that everything will be ok - that I don't have to go this alone. Even when I FEEL lost and and alone, which has been more often than not lately, I'm not. He's always with me. This is truly the only thing that keeps my heart afloat in these days of uncertainty. Thank you, Jesus, for never leaving me. I long to see you face to face and have a conversation with you about these years in my life.

I'm returning to you, today.

More updates to come soon, I'm sure!!

With Hope

Many of you maybe heard about the Good Morning America interview with the Chapman family. It was aired yesterday morning at 7:00, and I missed it! Later in the afternoon yesterday, I did get to watch it on the Good Morning America site. Just in case you missed it, here it is! I hope you're blessed by watching it.

I'll post soon about our domestic adoption update and hopefully the China referrals update!

The Beijing Olympics begin tomorrow! I always love watching the gymnastics part. I'm going to try to catch the opening ceremony if I can figure out what time it will be. Have a blessed day and peace to everyone. If you live in the Knoxville area, the opening ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. on WBIR channel 10! So exciting!

Our Ordinary, Their Extraordinary

Pause the playlist music to hear the video...

Today is just another ordinary day for me. I've done some laundry, worked on photos, cleaned the house and paid some bills. Even though today is just ordinary to me, it's been extraordinary for others.

The pictures and video above have something in common- children who need hope.

The pictures above were taken during a trip in February to Guatemala. My heart will never forget these beautiful children who found joy in such simple things as having an ice cream cone or hunting Easter eggs for the first time.

To them, these things were extraordinary.

I walked in a stranger with blond hair and a funny Southern accent, but you would have thought they had known me for a long time. They gave immediate hugs (the best I've ever had, the kind that holds on and doesn't let go.) I walked in a stranger and became like family by the time I left. The baby in the pictures is Roberto Cezar, who is being adopted by our good friends, James and Beth, pictured with him. We're walking this road of international adoption together to bring both Roberto home from Guatemala and Maia home from China.

The video is by Bring Me Hope, an organization co-founded by Steve Bolt, an adoptive father to a little Chinese girl. After bringing his little girl home, he felt called to help those orphans in China who are left behind and often forgotten. He wanted to do something to enrich their lives and let them know that they are loved and important and not forgotten.

Many orphans in China have been experiencing the extraordinary this past week at a summer camp that Bring Me Hope leads. They have had a blast - many feeling the love of family for the very first time. Camp time comes and goes, but the memories of fun and someone reaching out and caring for them live on in the hearts of these children. They are all waiting for hope.

These are a few of the comments made by the children who have attended camp this week.

From a volunteer about the child he spent the week with:
"I showed my little buddy the pictures of my four girls and wife. Billy stopped, looked at the picture and then looked at our translator, Andrew, and said "Two Chinese?". Andrew told him how we adopted both of them to give them love. He then said that I was a good person with a big heart to adopt two girls. Billy stopped again and said with a serious but sad face, "Why has nobody adopted me?". There was no way I could hold my tears back so I put my head down to hide them. I heard Andrew tell him that I was praying. I lifted my head and said, "No, I am just sad". Billy could see the tears on my face. He paused and then said, "Don't worry, God has adopted me".

From the kids to us:
"Katie, I’m a boy with few words. I lost my parents when I was young. I never feel the warmth of a family and stay at the orphanage. Though the time we stay together is very short, I have felt the love and warmth. I felt very happy. At last, hope you happy every day." Tom

"I’m sunshine. I am very happy to stay with you and form a family. These days I feel the true love from you. It is like the mother’s love. I will become a good child and go to visit you."

"Dear Uncle, I really appreciate your kindness. It is you that make me feel more love. You also make my life more colorful and meaningful. These several days will be my permanent memory. Thanks a million Uncle. If it was possible, I will return to your kindness and love." Love yours, Zheng Yuanyuan

"I’ve been having a feeling of being happy and having a home! Although we have only a short time together, we learned a lot! For example, we make the “suncatcher” together, we swim together, we play in the waterpark together, we have meals together, etc... All of these have given me a home! You know that we are from the orphanage and we grow up there. So thus, we have no home actually. To be honest, this is the first time I’ve been feeling with family." Yours, Qi


With the recent slow down in China, Vietnam and Guatemala, I fear that some of these children will be left behind because the wait is too long and the paperwork too involved. The countless children are still there, and there are many many more to come. Children all over the world need people to advocate for them and tell the world about their hope for a family and a future.

I stumbled on this video in 2005 while we were deciding to adopt from China. On our journey to Maia site, I spoke of a video in "Our Story" that mentioned the poem, "Dance of the Starfish" and its significance. Today, I stumbled on this video again and wanted to share it with those of you out there who will stumble upon this blog. There are still so many children who are wishing for families. I'm sure there are some of you out there visiting this blog that I don't know, and who knows, maybe you're feeling the call to adopt internationally or domestically. The road is long and often difficult and your shoes will walk many miles, but I wouldn't have missed this for the world, because I know God has chosen the children He wants us to have. If you're searching too, I wish you courage and the faith that God will fulfill the desires of your heart by giving you the desires of His.

God cares for the orphan's plight and longs to give them a hope and future.

Today may be an ordinary day for me, but I know it's extraordinary for those children in China and Guatemala who laughed and danced and played this week - who loved and let their hearts be warmed.

We expect China referral dates to roll this or next week!

The baby in Atlanta is due in three weeks time! The birthmother just reached 37 weeks.

A Cup of Cold Water

My heart is thankful today and truly humbled by the number of people who have stood by our side during this journey. I wish I could recount in this blog all of the times that a kind word, a hug, and tear on our behalf or a petition before the Lord was offered for us and all of the people who have left indelible imprints on my heart. There are so many. They are the body of Christ, His arms and His hands to this traveler. I can not name all of you here, but I know God has seen what you have done for me and for us, and it's priceless and not forgotten. Thank you from the depths of my heart.

I truly believe that the Holy Spirit has prompted these folks along this journey to encourage me, because, oh how I've needed a kind word and encouragement. Often, I would run into someone or receive a note in the mail or an e-mail that was so timely. I believe that God puts people in our path to lift us up. I also believe that they have been vessels for Jesus to speak to me saying, "I'm here, I remember you, and you're not alone in your suffering." I want to share just one here today.

I opened the mailbox this past week to find a three-page letter from a dear sister in Christ who has stood beside me through the ups and downs of miscarriages, countless fertility treatments, surgeries and just plain old bad days. She is now in Johnson City, but she'll forever remain dear to my heart. Her writings to me began in 2002 after our first miscarriage. On any ordinary day, I could find a note from her in my mailbox lifting my spirits and urging me on to discover the children God has for me and Ben. I've tucked these notes away- every single one, and throughout the years, I've looked at them and remembered the kindness and compassion of this friend.

This week was no different in that I found a stuffed envelope in my mailbox addressed to me. It was from Johnson City, and I immediately knew who it was from. It contained three pages of writing and some coupons and such she thought would be helpful in the months to come.

Truly, she has a servant's heart, and I want her to know how much her words and just her remembrance of us has meant to me. When I've been thirsty for encouragement, she has been faithful to give me a cup of cold water.

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'

"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

Thank you, Karen. I can see Jesus in you.

You are loved and appreciated so much. Great is your reward for your faithfulness and your giving to my heart. It has made a difference.