When you ask Ella Grace what her name is, she says, “Lella Paa” (trans. “Ella Pass”). Here is the little princess painting her toenails.
Summer provides more opportunities to have friends over to play. This is our friend Mikayla and Katy doing a “show.”
Snow White. Too much.
On June 8, 2005 Allison from America World Adoption Agency called me. It was around 11 am and I was getting ready to go somewhere and as soon as I heard who it was, I knew she was calling to tell me she may have found Ella Grace. In all the world, the child she was calling me to tell me about might be my daughter, Ella Grace, for whom we had been looking and waiting and praying for almost a year. Minutes later, she sent us pictures of this little girl, in an orphanage on an island that we had never heard of (neither had our agency!) in the South China Sea. Frank saw her first and called me. I said, “what does she look like?” to which he replied, “I think she looks like Ella Grace.”
My Daddy ’s eyes welled up with tears as he looked at her picture later that night at his kitchen table. I explained that, even though it appeared that she was “the ONE,” I was having trouble being sure because I was so prepared in my heart for a younger baby and that I needed to really take some time and pray it through. Daddy said, “are you kidding me? Look at those red shoes! GO GET HER!!”
And, you know what? It WAS Ella Grace! The next day, we called the agency and accepted her referral. Now that scared little girl, who was standing on the staircase in an unairconditioned Social Welfare Institution in a third world country has a mommy and a daddy and two sisters and a whole big family. She has a church where she loves to play with her friends. She has a bed with HER animal friends to snuggle with. She has more clothes than she will ever wear-all for her!
She has a last name.
God, in His infinite wisdom and divine providence, found her and brought her home. May His name be praised!
“Behold, what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we may be called the children of God!”ÂÂ
Alladin with the girls in Epcot
Giggily girls sharing a seat
Two prissy ladies
Ella Grace, back in China?! Not quite!
Meeting the Mouse!
Holding their breath–”under the sea” with Nemo
Dancing with Daddy in Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage in MGM
Bippity Boppity Boo!!