To celebrate
our 3-year ‘referralversary’, I am sharing a special bonding moment between me and Eden that happened totally by
accident on my part several months ago.
One evening Eden was challenging bedtime as toddlers often do, asking to
read one more book, get one more drink of water, etc. Finally I said, “No more, lights out. Mommy will tell you one more story in the
dark then it’s time to go to sleep.” At
that moment, I had no idea what story I would tell, just something made up
about princesses or the like. Then out
of my mouth, I blurted, “Once upon a time, there was a girl named Gina…” And I
proceeded to tell her our story off the top of my head in a simplified manner a
child would understand. Every single
night since then, when I turn out the lights, Eden has said, “Read me
Gina”. I know that God planted these words on my tongue to share with my
sweet girl night after night:
Once upon a time, there was a girl named
Gina. Gina was lonely, and every night
she would pray, “God, please bring me a baby I could love forever, and we could
be a family.” And one day, God answered
Gina’s prayers and said, “Gina! I found
your baby! She’s in Ethiopia!!” Gina was sooo excited to know she was finally
going to get to be a mommy and couldn’t wait to meet her baby girl. As soon as she could, she got on a great big
airplane with Aunt Angie, and they flew and flew and flew all the way to
Africa. When they reached Ethiopia, a
white van pulled up next to Gina, and in the back seat was a teeny tiny baby
wrapped in a pink blanket. And Gina
said, “Oh my goodness! Is that MY
baby??” And they said, “Yes! This is baby Eden!” Gina was sooo excited to finally hold her
baby girl, and they hugged, and they kissed, and they laughed, and they smiled. Then they spent a beautiful week in Ethiopia
becoming a family. Some of Eden’s
friends were there, too – there was Bristol and Jack and Christian and Chloe.
Then it was time for Gina and Eden and Angie
to get on the great big airplane, and they flew and flew and flew all the way
to Nashville. When they got to the
airport, all their friends and family were there to greet them and meet baby
Eden for the first time. After they gave
hugs and kisses to everyone, Gina and Eden got in their car, drove to their
house, and from then on, they lived happily ever after.
