And She is a Smith!!!!

We have waited 10 long months to be able to say those words.  Meet precious Jasmine.  The saying that "Good things come to those who least expect it" applies to us.  Last August, only being home from China adopting Katy for 4 months, we offered to be a respite family for her.  She was adopted from China in Nov. 2010.  Only one month before we traveled to bring Sam home.  I knew her family. As a matter of fact I saw her first photo that they had of her.  I was very excited because out of all the orphanage she could have been in it was Sam's and Katy's.  I helped celebrate her arrival and encouraged the family before they left for China.  One of Jasmines toys that she played with on the day they got her was a toy I had given to them.  After their return I was so excited to meet her and see the family.  Jasmine struggled quite a bit in her months home with her family.  Lots of tears and sadness for her and hard, hard days for the family.  When we said yes to bring her into our home I was so hoping we could be a place where Jasmine truly could let go of her sadness that she had held onto since being adopted and really her whole life.  Now many are quick to judge a family that can just hand over their child for a few weeks much less what has turned into a lifetime but I think we are thinking in human terms and not God's terms.  God had a different plan than what that family or our family could see.  Her first family was the family that stepped out in faith and brought her home and gave her the first taste of a family.  They loved her as much as Jasmine would allow them to and they had all of her medical needs attended to as well as teaching her so many new things.  Even with all of that Jasmine was unsettled.  She came to our family and miracles started happening in Jasmines life.  Having 3 Chinese girls just like her was huge for her.  She slept in the same room with them all which provided much comfort and allowed her to be able to sleep through the nights which she was rarely able to do.  She had several weeks of tears and tantrums and who wouldn't.  She slowly settled in and was able to relax and truly find some peace.  After a few weeks in our home the family decided it would be better for her to be in another family and they prayed it would  be us.  I tell you that out of all our adoptions we really struggled with saying yes to this.  Looking back over 10 months I wonder what that was all about.  She is the spark in our lives.  None of us had any idea how fun it would be to have a 5 yr old running around again.  Everyone has loved her from the beginning.  Right at first the kids would randomly ask if Jasmine was going home the next day.  They feared I would say yes.  When I said "no" they would cheer.  Joel, told us many times that she needed to stay with us.  As I look back over the yr I see a beautiful handprint of God right in the middle of it.  We can't imagine life without Jasmine.   She is beautiful, smart, funny, loving, gentle and very brave.  I just smile in happiness and the special gift God just laid at our feet and there was nothing we had to do but accept it.  Sounds a lot like the gift of salvation that God also lays right in front of us.  There is nothing we have to do but accept it either and when we do our lives will never be the same.  A lot like Jasmine.  Our lives will never be the same again.  She has left her mark on our hearts and she is now Jasmine Janelle Smith.  Janelle is Scott's mom's name that she would have been so proud to have shared with such a sweet little girl.