Look who is turning 4!

June 24th is Kate's special day... she turns 4 years old. She has been in our home for only 7 months, but in our hearts for much longer. I have said before that when I left China three and a half years ago with Meigan I felt that I was leaving part of my heart behind. When I left China last November that missing part of my heart came home with me. She is an absolutely amazing little girl, and in so many ways I feel like I am just getting to know her. We have made much progress in the last seven months... I can't wait to see where we are this time next year. So in honor of her 4th...
Four Fun Photos...

Four of My Favorite Things....

- Kate is an amazingly resilient child. She has been through so much in her four years, and she has come through it with a spring in her step and a smile on her face. She was given Chinese name Kai, which means "victorious." The Lord has certainly had His hand on her, and because of that she is certainly "victorious."

-Kate lets nothing hold her back. She may not hear, but she has not let that be an obstacle to her in any way. She is outgoing and fun loving. She plays hard and loves to learn.

-Kate is so expressive. She shows the spectrum of feeling on her face. When she is excited her eyes light up like no child I have ever seen, and you can't help but be excited. When she pouts her eyes certainly tell all, and the lip... oh, my the lip. She also uses her facial expressions to get you to laugh, she loves to make people laugh.

-Kate is the ultimate girly girl. She loves her dresses, heels and jewels. She watches me carefully and imitates precisely. The other day she was shaving her legs with the ladder to her doll's playground set... she was so careful.

Four prayers for the coming year(s)...

-I pray that Kate's implant surgery will be successful and she will receive the gift of hearing. I pray that the transition to the world of sound will be smooth and without fear. I pray that she would enjoy the world of sound and spoken language and that she would make quick and steady growth in understanding as well as verbalizing language. I can't wait to hear words like: mom, Meigan, and Jesus. She works to say "I love you," and I can't wait for her to hear me say "I love you."

-I pray that she will begin to understand who Jesus is, that she will receive Him as her Savior, and that she will love Him with all her heart and be passionately devoted to Him for all her life.
-I pray that she will understand that she is wonderfully made by God and be content and confident in the way that He has made her- physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
-I pray that she grows spiritually as quickly as she does physically and mentally.

Kate has been a part of our family for just seven months, but she has been loved by us for much longer. We love you kiddo! Happy Birthday, Kate!