Preparing for my Happily-Ever-Aster!

There once was a baby on the other side of the world

with a mommy who had to give up her little girl.
As she knelt on her hard dirt floor each night and day,
she noticed how her tears turned the dust into clay.
Reminded that her child was in the Potter's loving hands,
she prayed and trusted in the kindness of His plans.

There once was a mother on the other side of the world
who prayed and dreamed about her "soon-to-be-little-girl"
Wondering what she looked like; how her story would unfold,
She asked God to surround her with loving arms to hold.

Never imagining God would send someone she already knew,
The second mommy rejoiced - God had given
her child a future and a Hope (TerKeurst), too!
As the baby nestled in a teenage girl's loving embrace, both
mother's prayers were answered by a touch of God's grace.

A few weeks later, God gathered His P31 girls in pink
To celebrate a miracle no eye had seen nor mind could think
The story of a little girl soon to be Aster Swope
whose life would be defined by God's grace, redemption and hope!

Aster: a daisy-like, star-shaped flower with
petals radiating from a center disc.

A friend's prayer: May Aster be one who radiates the
love of Christ, to all around her, because her life
is centered on Him.

************************************************************************

Wednesday night before She Speaks, my very precious friends surprised me with the most beautiful baby shower I've ever seen. It was breath-taking! The decorations were flowing, frilly and all things girly! I was shocked and blessed beyond words as I discovered my friends, all dressed in pink, lining the walls of a huge conference room.

Funny how I hadn't noticed Leah, Holly and Lysa were all wearing pink to dinner that night.

That's LeAnn to the right. She's the mastermind behind the most beautiful baby shower I have ever been to!

LeAnn had each person write a prayer for Aster and then string prayer beads that will be her's forever!
This was one of the first gifts I opened. I laughed as I looked at this photo because my face shows that I was in shock. I couldn't process that we are actually going to have a baby who needs a teddy bear and maybe a harness tied to it.

At this point, we have gotten to cute clothes and I am doing much better mentally.

Oh, and cute purses. Now I can handle cute purses!

I love me some pink and chocolate brown onesies that say Little Sister!

The sweetest gift of all is the love and prayers of my friends!And their beautiful smiles, too!!

Tracie and Wendy P.

Sharon, Me, Van and Susanne

Micca and Wendy B.

Even my friend Cris from California got here in time. That's Suzie on the left and Ashley Whalen.

Look at that cute cake! A baby's bottom under a blanket with little feet poking out. Andrew had fun serving cake to all those beautiful women! (Joshua was in Florida and very glad he missed all the girly fun!)


The centerpieces (created by Samantha) had themes.

Bed time.

Bath time.

Meal time.

Holly, me, Van, Andrew and JJ

Glynnis, Charlene, Melanie, Me, Karen, Amy

Marybeth, Luann, Leah and Suzie.

Today is the day Aster's adoption paperwork will be reviewed in court in Ethiopia. Please pray with us that everything goes miraculously smooth and that if there are any obstacle they will be easily overcome before the courts close August 21st. We may not hear anything right away but we promise to keep our blog updated as soon as we do! Thanks ya'll!!