Dear Bryan & Ellie,

Today is Easter Sunday. All over the world, people have been dressing up in pretty dresses, hiding and hunting for colored eggs, and celebrating the easter bunny's visit to their home. All of that is fun and fine to do. But I wouldn't be a very good mom if I didn't stop to tell you what Easter is really all about. So, this is my Easter gift to you.

Easter is the reason we can celebrate. Without Easter, Christmas isn't complete. As followers of Christ, this day is the day that allows us to live with joy and hope and security, no matter what is going on all around us. Jesus, who was completely human and completely God all at once, willingly died on the cross. It was a cruel death. He was beaten, His body torn. He was bloody and gory, and if truth be told, we probably wouldn't have wanted to look at Him then. Sometimes we make the Cross seem less horrific than it really was. I want you to understand the great lengths that He went to for you and for me, for the world.

They killed Him on that Cross. That was their plan all along. And He knew it when He walked that road towards that hill, carrying that Cross on his back. Scripture tells us that the sun stopped shining and the curtain of the temple was torn in two, breaking the barrier between God and man once and for all. It must have been scary and magnificent all at once to have witnessed that moment.

But, if the story ended there, we'd have no hope. We'd be like others who serve a god that has died and lays entombed still today. No. That's not what happened at all. They put His lifeless body in a tomb, but 3 days later, He arose out of that grave fully alive!! THAT is the reason we celebrate. We serve a Savior who has conquered not only life but death as well!

Bryan, I know you are a believer. I remember the day you asked Jesus to come into your life. I am so excited that you know Him! I pray that you allow His resurrection power to work freely in your life. I pray that you take advantage of the fact that you can go freely to God at any time and for anything. He loves you, even more than your dad and I do (that's hard to fathom!). I pray that you trust that the blood He shed for you is still at work within you today! It NEVER FAILS Bryan. It can get you through anything, even when things seem impossible to you. I love you so much Bryan. I hope that you see me living as one who knows that I serve a Risen Savior every day. Forgive me for those days that I haven't done that.

Ellie, I pray right now that you are surrounded by people who know the Lord. I pray that today they told you the story of Jesus' resurrection. I pray that you are hearing that He loves you each and every day. I pray that one day you will understand that His love for you is bigger than you can ever dream or imagine, and that He died on that cross for you! Just as we are adopting you into our family, God wants to adopt you into His family, Ellie. One day you will understand this, I know. Your coming into our family is a beautiful picture of what God does for us... He finds us in our need, loves us just as we are and where we are, and He will go to any length to bring us to Him. He's always had you on His mind Ellie. Until you understand that for yourself, I will trust Him for you.

I pray that both of you celebrate Easter every day. He IS risen...

I love you,
Mom

A letter...

Deal Ellie~

Tomorrow morning we celebrate Easter- the celebration of our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. He conquered death so that you and I can live with Him forever. Oh how I pray that whoever is caring for you now knows Jesus and is telling you of His goodness and mercy each day! So many times, when there is talk of Easter, you only hear of the easter bunny and easter baskets, easter dresses and even easter eggs. But the real meaning of Easter is a celebration of Jesus who was all man, but all God. He lived a perfect life here on earth, then died a horrible death on a cross as a sacrifice for our sins. There is no greater picture of love than that! I am praying already for the day that you will know Jesus personally and follow after Him.

There are so many things that I look forward to celebrating with you Ellie. There are traditions that we will teach you, and I am sure that we will make new traditions once you are here. But we will never teach you anything as wonderful and as important as the Grace and Mercy of Jesus. He loves you dearly, Ellie. His death was for you too. He knit you together in your birth mother's womb, and He has made you perfectly. His plans for your life are perfect. He is making it possible for you to be with us here someday soon, and we give Him all of the praise for that blessing!

I pray that you are safe. I pray that the celebration of Easter surrounds you even now. I pray that you know you are dearly loved and already missed! We cannot wait to meet you, and we pray it isn't long!

Happy Easter, Ellie!

Love,
Mommy