Forever.

On February 13, 2006, my Uncle Dennis, Aunt Barb, and their 2 sons- Paul and Kevin- met the new addition to their family. They had traveled to China a few weeks prior and finally the day that they had been waiting for had come! Little Leah was finally in their arms!
Now, 5 years later, it seems that there was not a day that Leah was not a part of our family. We all love her so very much and can't imagine life without her. These 5 years have flown by and Leah has adjusted so well. I took a trip back in time today to take a look at some pictures and blogging of my aunt and uncle's trip to bring Leah home. You can view their story by following this link.

This is the first picture that any of us saw of Leah
(age 14 months).

this was an updated picture that was sent a few months before the trip to China.
She was 23 months old at the time this was taken. 

Ephesians 1:5, a verse that many of us are familiar with, says "He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will." Today is Leah's Forever Day. For me, it's a wonderful reminder that I am forever a child of Christ. In comparing our adoption as sons and daughters of God with Leah's adoption, I find the wording of this passage wonderful. The passage doesn't say "because you measure up to all of His standards, God has adopted you." If that was so, none of us would be good enough to be His. But instead, the passage says that we were chosen through Christ according to the purpose of His will. He chose us before the foundations of the earth to be His own dear children. Leah had done nothing to gain the love of her family; they loved her even before they knew her. She was brought into their family because she was helpless and abandoned, and they wanted to give her a Christian home and family. In the same way, we have done nothing to deserve God's love. We are nothing without Him, can do nothing without Him. But that's what makes this love so amazing! It's unconditional love! No matter how we fail, He will never abandon us. And just as Leah never seems to have not been a part of our family, so it is for us when we are grafted into God's family. No matter what age we are when we are brought into this family, it's as if we had always been there.

Previously in the 1st chapter of Ephesians, we read "In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. 13In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory."  Just as the little child, Wu Ke Fu, now bears the name of Leah Kefu McMichael, showing that she is a part of our family, we are marked with a seal of the Spirit. We are no longer who we once were; we are now heirs to the convenant in Christ Jesus! Praise the Lord for His great mercy!!!! 

Leah, Grace, and Ian <3

Leah and her family :D

Opening Christmas gifts.