From Four Months to Four Years

On August 11, 2006, she was left at the entrance to a hospital in a crowded, cold city in northern China. Not quite 4 months old, she was left to find her own way, all alone in a world too often characterized by harsh, bitter circumstances. No one knows this better than she, having lived it, and yet survived it. Unable to walk and not capable of explaining herself to anyone, she was totally dependent on God. A note said she was born on March 26th, 2006, but offered little explanation for the reasons she was here. A last communication from her parents, provided in hopes that someone, somewhere would one day celebrate March 26th with this sweet baby girl.



But for now, she waited. Waited for someone to answer God's call to lift her from the pit and put a crown on her head. Someone to do something for her, anything, to comfort her in her time of need. Does anybody hear her, can anybody see? Whether or not she cried, or for how long if she did, is not known by anyone who knows her anymore. Tears that perhaps soaked the clothes she wore are long since forgotten by anyone who was there, who might have given second thought to her plight. Four months old and making her own way, pleading, perhaps, for someone to help. That she was born with or developed a frightening condition left her even more alone, becoming an intimidation to anyone who might otherwise step in and lift her up, dust her off, and take her home. Alas, however, "a report of the common people" notified the authorities of a female baby who had been found alone, with no one else around.



She was taken in to the hospital, where doctors determined that she had a condition known as meningocele, perhaps the reason for her having been left there in the first place. Since the malady didn't seem to be a threat to her physical condition, and since she was otherwise healthy, she was placed under the care of the authorities and began her journey through life anew, the lump on the back of her head a constant reminder of her past. The records are sketchy, at best, but seem to indicate alternate periods of living with foster families and orphanage friends over the next twenty-nine months. Never really becoming a part of a family, and probably not celebrating March 26th, perhaps not even aware of the significance of the day.



But then one amazing day here in Alabama, a family who had just submitted paperwork to bring home a little sister for Austin and Lily Grace got the surprise of their lives. When Lily Grace asked for a picture of her sister to be, Lia Faith, her family processed the request and responded with all they knew - no response. It would be at least a year before that would happen. Not so, says an all knowing God - I'll send you a picture tomorrow sweetheart, He must have been thinking. And He did. And just like that, this sweet baby girl found by herself on the streets of a cold, dirty city became a part of a family. And that family began doing everything it could to get to China to bring her home before another March 26th came to pass.



By Christmas of that year, God had worked out all the details and introduced Lia Faith to her new family, fully three months before the next March 26th would come. A four month old baby, all alone in the world had suddenly come full circle back in the loving arms of her 'new' family, ready to celebrate a lifetime of March 26th's. Her first March 26th home in 2009, she didn't even realize the significance of the special day, she just knew that the cake tasted good and lots of people seemed excited about something. She was three then and had become such an important member of her forever family that a birthday was the last thing on her mind.



And now, yet another March 26th has come and she's four. Now she knows! Seeing the smile on her face and the brightness of her gaze lets us know that to her, this day, March 26th, is now a special day - it's her birthday! And more important than any presents, or even her daddy's homemade birthday cake, she has someone to celebrate it with! A family!

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl. Mommy, Daddy, Austin, and Lily Grace love you very, very much. And from now on, March 26th will be a special day for all of us. Thank you for making it so!

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