I usually sit down to write a blog with the topic in mind. However, today I am here really just to kill time before Little Bug’s next feeding (which is only a few minutes from now) and I don’t really know what I will end up writing.

I’ve written a lot of posts recently about how challenging bringing Little Bug home has been. I think it is time I write a post about the complete JOY it has been to bring Little Bug home.

Before I even knew about Little Bug, I would think about what my baby would look like. I would wonder if she would be petite like me and have her daddy’s eyes or her daddy’s smile. I always pictured a little girl that looked like me when I was little … blue eyes with blonde, curly hair.

Being that Little Bug is adopted, it really is amazing that she looks like she could really be biologically half me and half Dave. She has gorgeous blue eyes and a mixture of brownish blonde hair. She is so petite and little.

Not that it really matters in the least bit that Little Bug look like us, I find it very interesting that she really does look like she is biologically related to us.

At night when I wake up with Little Bug for those middle of the night feedings, I bring her out to the living room so we do not disturb a sleeping Daddy who must get up and go to work the next day, and sit with her in the chair. Her little mouth and tongue are moving signaling to me, “Mommy, I am hungry.” I make her bottle and as I am shaking it to mix formula with water, Little Bug’s cries stop for a brief moment because she knows it’s coming! I lay her on the arm of the chair, put the bottle to her mouth and she begins sucking. Sometimes, she sucks vigorously and other times she sucks slowly. Her little hands are balled in a fist and are usually resting on her chest as she sucks away. So cute! I need to get a picture of how she does that.

I enjoy feeding Little Bug in the middle of night. All is quiet and it is just my hungry little baby and me. And sometimes, Pup. She will wake up and come out to the living room with me and sleep on the couch when I feed Little Bug sometimes. But that is usually only when she has the desire to chew Little Bug’s burp clothes. I have to take the burp cloth with me when I go to change Little Bug’s diaper or else Pup will be chewing on it when I get back. Weird little dog!

At night when I am feeding Little Bug, it is a good time to think about what God has planned for Little Bug’s life. I know He has wonderful plans for Little Bug just like He had wonderful plans for her mommy. I look at those little hands balled in a fist and wonder what those little hands will be doing in service for the Lord when Little Bug grows up. I see her tiny little feet and wonder what roads God has planned for Little Bug to walk.

Maybe this week I am beginning to emerge from “survival mode” because I’ve been thinking today about the importance of praying for Little Bug every single day. Praying for her future. Praying that she will one day realize her need for a Savior and surrender her life to God. Praying that she will have a tender, compassionate heart willing to be of service to the Lord. Praying she will have an obedient heart. And praying that she will learn to trust in the Lord for her every need when she finds herself on a road that is very difficult to walk.

Not only is it my responsibility to meet Little Bug’s physical and emotional needs but it is my great responsibility to bring her up in the Lord. It is my great responsibility and privilege.

God has entrusted her to us. I pray we will be found faithful in raising her to love the One who gave her to us.

- Elaine