Rachel's Smile

For 8 months, we waited to meet our Ghanaian children.

For 8 months, we received pictures ... and we tried hard to see into their hearts through their smiles ... and through their eyes.

Jacob's smile was expressive and his eyes bright.

Sarah's smile was sweet and her eyes warm.

Rachel's smile was ... hardly every seen, and her eyes ... filled with fear.

In a short video clip from last summer, that we watched over and over, we saw a very short glimpse of a carefree child with a smile. However ... the majority of pictures that we saw of Rachel (over the course of 8 months) only showed fear.

On the day that we picked the children up from the orphanage, we were told of some of the tough stuff that Rachel had encountered in the past couple of years. We were also told that the orphanage workers were most worried about Rachel ... worried that it would be difficult for her to open up ... worried that it would take a lot of time for her to respond to our love ... worried that with so many children in the home, Mama might not have enough time to show the love that this little girl needed. We listened closely to the concerns, but they did not diminish at all the love that the Lord had already given us for this precious one, and the knowledge that the Lord had chosen our family to bring this little one through the tough stuff ... it would be our privilege to watch her open up and bloom into the beautiful little girl that God had created.

During our time in Ghana, we again saw very short glimpses into the beautiful smile ... and heard occasional laughter from her ... but the majority of our pictures from our 6 weeks in Ghana, still are void of a smile on Rachel. So much so, that friends looking at my scrapbook comment on the lack of a smile.

However ... now, after being home for 6 weeks, this little one has begun to bloom and blossom. She loves to jump onto my bed in the morning to "snuggle" before I get up. ("Snuggle" was a new word for Rachel to learn.) She loves to hide from me and giggle. She loves to sneak behind my computer chair and crawl under my desk while I am working. She loves to play "Monkey Baby", where I bend over and hold her onto my stomach as I walk around the house (just as we saw the monkeys do at Mole National Park). And, she loves "Tickle Chats".

Not only does Rachel smile with me ... but with the whole family. Rachel loves to run around at the park and play with Elijah. Rachel loves to jump on Papa. Rachel loves to ride bikes with Josiah. Rachel loves to listen to Hosanna read to her every night when the 3 girls go to bed.

Rachel ... loves life.

Rachel's ... eyes sparkle.

Rachel has found ... her smile.