A Photo ... She Said

One year ago, Lily Grace Xing Green gave her mommy and daddy the most wonderful news ... that God was going to bring her a little sister a lot earlier than mommy and daddy were expecting. That was the evening that Lily Grace told us she wanted a picture of her sister for her birthday, perhaps having already been told by God that one would be forthcoming the very next day. Such a simple request. No problem. Er, mommy, what should we say? Of course, God never leaves His promise unfulfilled and so on the very next day, less than 11 hours later, mommy and daddy did indeed get a picture of Lia Faith ... and Lily Grace had her birthday present. Actually, we got three pictures of Lia Faith, known at that time as Dang Xurong, along with a biographical description of her short little life.

There was, to be certain, no question that this little girl would turn Green, Party of Four into Green, Party of Five. All we had to do was get all the paperwork in order, plan a trip to China, and bring her home. So, just like her big sister, Lily Grace, did in 2006, Lia Faith turned our 2008 into the most wonderful, miracle filled season we ever experienced. It seemed that God just wanted to show us the power and might of His will and His plan for our lives.



We have spoken often of the miracles that we have seen and experienced as a result of Lily Grace and Lia Faith becoming part of our lives. We never miss a chance to give God the glory in this and are humbled each and every day when we think of what these two little girls have been through to be where they are today. Their little personalities are perfectly fit to our family and each adds something a little different. Lily Grace, she's the drama queen, while Lia Faith is the clown. Everything's a deal to Lily and everything's funny to Lia. Salt and pepper. Oil and water. Sugar and spice. There is no lack of human drama and emotion on any given day with these two little miracle angels.



As for how things might have begun for Lily Grace and Lia Faith, consider the following exerpt from "The Heavenly Man," written by a Chinese Christian, Brother Yun:

"Although we were traveling a lot and were very busy, our home life was also experiencing a lot of challenges. As I traveled around China, I met many Christian families who were facing tremendous difficulties because of the one-child policy. The government was trying to force many Chinese mothers to abort their second pregnancies. Some sisters were forcibly sterilized to ensure they wouldn't get pregnant again. Families found with more than one child were fined huge amounts of money and had certain government privileges removed, such as health care and education benefits."

Brother Yun and his wife adopted many of these children, raised them, and placed them in Christian homes. They had no money, but a tremendous Faith in what God would do for them, if only they took care of His orphans. What a privilege it is to have also adopted two of these children ourselves. Being a part of their lives is especially pleasing when we think of their beginnings in China and what might have been for them.

Brother Yun's testimony also raises some interesting questions for us, as parents, about the birth parents of our two little angels ... Were their mothers and fathers Christians who had to give up their children? Were they also persecuted for their beliefs and for having a second child? Obviously, these are questions that remain unanswered ... for now.

As for us, we are just thankful and grateful for a little prophesy by a little angel last June that lead to a "Picture" and a little sister and another sweet baby girl to brighten our days and warm our nights. Two sweet baby girls, a sweet pea and a sweet tater, bookends for a wonderful, Godly son. Life is good, praise God!



Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith
Green, Party of Five