This is part 1 of a series of videos that we are making about the adoption of our daughter, Ellie Pearl. After being oceans apart from her for a year from the time we first saw her picture, we now find ourselves oceans apart from each other.
I planned to write blog posts during our time in India chronicling the experience, but quickly realized that we needed to be fully present with Ellie while we were there to bond with this precious girl. However, we captured many hours of video during that time and Michael has just now finished the edit of this first part.
We are making this video mainly for our family’s memories, so that when Ellie is older we all can relive the experience of meeting her for the first time. Even though she is totally blind, we will be able to watch these videos as a family with her and we can describe what she cannot see. Of course, we also hope that all of you that prayed and encouraged us in the process will enjoy seeing this in-depth look at the final leg of the journey to bring our daughter home.
I sat and watched this while getting ready for work this morning. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story about Jesus’ love. I’m so excited you finally got your sweet girl home and I can’t wait for the next video. Hugs friend ❤️
Such a beautiful video. Thank you for sharing the India adoption experience with us and Ellie Pearl, Her adoption is one of God`s miracles😃
Thank you for sharing this record of your adventure to bring your precious Ellie Pearl home. I look forward to your daily updates on instagram and seeing the beautiful progress Ellie is making now that she is surrounded by the love of her family.
It probably shouldn’t amaze me each time God is faithful with even the tiniest details, but my faith is strengthened yet again hearing about the family you sat with on the plane and the help they provided to you. God is ever so faithful and gracious to us.
Isn’t it so awesome how God shows up in those moments when we are not sure what to do! Thank you for sharing your beautiful story! Looking forward to Part 2. I was so sad that Micheal could not go with you but thrilled that he could join you & you could meet Ellie in person together!
Thank you so much for sharing this part of your life. I have such joy in my heart watching Ellie become your daughter. God’s love has no boundaries!
I’m so happy your family is finally all together! It’s amazing how God can work things out when it’s His will.
I’m so thrilled to be able to follow along with your family and get to see you with Ellie after following you for years on Instagram. I deleted my account after their latest privacy changes and have missed you guys! Thank you for sharing and I’m praising God you are finally with your daughter!
What an amazing reminder of all the Good He has done! ❤️
My heart is so happy to see the gospel shared through another adoption and sweet life and lives! My heart is so happy to see Ellie Pearl home! Brings back so many memories of Gods guidance, provision, love, mercy, presence in travel, his growing us through it, teaching us Hus way rather than ours, drawing us to Him! Happy homecoming!❤️❤️❤️❤️
Chills!!!❤❤❤
I sat here watching this with happy tears streaming down my face. God is GREAT, faithful and loving. Thank you for sharing your gift of the adoption of Ellie Pearl with us.
The man/angel God provided twice in your time of need brought me tingles.
I can’t wait for the next “episode”! I love you all💜. Happy Lord’s Day!! In Christ, Cindy F
This is beautiful! I am in tears!!
So very happy for your family to be “growing” by 1 more! Can’t wait to meet the sweet new daughter!
God sent you ahead but knew your husband was joining you and you went in faith and it is hard to keep a mommy from her children. I look forward to part 2 🥰.
Beautiful!! It means alot to watch this as I had been praying for your family and Ellie during the adoption process. God is good! Thank you for sharing it has touched my heart.
How truly awesome God’s unfailing love is for us. I know that you don’t really know me other than a name of a person that has been following your Instagram posts and then your blog. But you can rest assured that we are part of the family of God through Christ Jesus. I can’t wait to watch your journey continue to unfold as you continue to seek him and his precious plan for you and you dear family. your sister in Christ, Debbie Fletcher From Michigan
This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing your story with us! God is good! I can’t wait for the next video! 💕
I Closed my instagram account down a number of months ago, but I really enjoy to keep up with your new posts. What an amazing journey so far, God has met with you every step of the way. Looking forward to the next video!
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow”! This is a lovely video sharing your story, thank you.
Thank you SO much for sharing these videos from the beginning! What a blessing this is for all of us to witness! God bless you and your family.,..
Thank you so much Sara and Micheal for taking us on this beautiful journey of faith and love with you! Welcome Ellie Pearl! I cannot wait to see the next video!
Much love and prayers, Cynthia
Coming soon
Thank you for sharing the journey that the Lord has you on Sara Jo as you head to India to be with your dear sweet daughter Ellie Pearl.
I LOVE the fact that a few of gods angels were with you as you travelled there alone. I also love the end when Micheal is able to go be with you for this magical moment in your daughters life!
I also really appreciate your blog as I used to do IG for a few years and no longer have that, and your family was one of my favourite- I always was drawn to your posts as a new Christian and encouraged by how great GOD is!!
Blessings and health to you and your beautiful family, and I look forward to so many more blog posts along the way🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you so much for adding this to your blog. I’m no longer on Instagram but think of your sweet family often. Your post here is beautifully done. Looking forward to the next one.
So thankful you have Ellie Pearl home! Praise God! I, too, closed my Instagram account due to its attack on free speech, so I really appreciate that you reignited your blog posting! Love the smiles on the girls! I recall the love I felt the first time I held our child, it was so strong. And then I realized that God loves us a million times more than that! Wow…hard to imagine! ❤️
Such an amazing story and that video is so professional. Thank you for sharing your story and faith with us. I have just loved watching Ellie bloom with your love. ❤️
It’s been such an honor to be able to follow this journey. Every post and every update has led me to tears- not of sadness but of JOY! To see Elliotte’s smile has been so captivating. Hearing the story of your flight reminded me of one of my favorite verses-
Hebrews 13:2
“ Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Blessings to your family.
Rebecca
Flying V-S Farm
Yes, I thought of that verse many times after arriving in India. I get goosebumps when I think of Navine and Mukta. They actually gave me their phone number in case I needed help in India. I never called, but after we got custody of Ellie Pearl I texted them to thank them and send a picture of our family together. It said, “This number is not available.” More goosebumps
Michael did a fabulous job with this precious video record. What a treasure for your family. It’s also nice for us to be able to see & share in this journey. Thank you!
Yes he did! I’m so thankful to have this record of our daughters entrance into our family to share with her when she grows up.
I have been blessed to have found your IG account & follow along for part of your journey but to be able to see the in-depth faith you displayed is nothing short of amazing courage! May God continue to bless you & all your family☮️💟✝️
This is so amazing. I’m in tears. Thank you for sharing this part of your life. You don’t have to and it’s such a gift. I always thought adoption was for people who struggled with infertility. Because of you (as we’ve talked about) you have introduced adoption and in hand with that the possibility of fostering into our lives. Thank you! Ok so happy for your family ☺️
I’m so glad! James 1:27 is a powerful verse that talks about God’s command to care for widows and orphans. It’s really something we all must do, but how we get involved can look different. There’s adoption, foster care, mentoring, volunteering at an orphanage, sponsoring a child, or helping another family fundraise for their adoption. No one is too young or old, too poor or under qualified. He calls us to all care. What better way to use our God given blessings! I know you will also be blessed when you jump out in faith to pursue how God wants you to get involved.
This gave me major goosebumps. God is so good! Thank you for sharing your journey.
This is so special. Thank you a million times over for allowing us to share in your joy. There is always good and always hope and joy. We just have to search for it.
Such a beautiful story. I love how God is in all the details, and that you see it. 🥰
This is such wonderful news! I am so thrilled for you guys and love to hear the ways in which God has been working this out for you all! I will be praying for you guys as you have embarked on this incredible, life changing journey of finally having your daughter home with you!
I love hearing your open heart. May God use Ellie’s story to reach other people for Him. This will touch our whole family and people will be blessed. I’m so glad for Ellie’s adoption and for my own into the family of our God. Love you Sara and Michael!
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s such a reminder in times where everything of the earth is so loud, that God still shows up and He always will. We just need to look past the noise. I used to follow you on Instagram(I no longer have) and your story is such a reminder of that. Your family is such a light in this world and I’m thankful that you share here so I can still follow along. Blessings and prayers to you, Michael and your 3 beautiful girls.
This is such an amazing video, beautifully done! So thankful for the hand of the Lord helping you through each milestone of this journey! Looking forward to the rest of the videos!
I started following you on IG prior to any discussions of about adoption on your feed or on your blog. It’s been incredible to have been able to watch your beautiful family on this path, heartbreaking at times, and so humbling. Thank you for sharing such sacred, raw moments throughout the process of bringing your daughter home.
Sarah thankyou for sharing this part of your journey. It was so wonderful how she connected to all of you immediately. Your whole family is such a blessing.
Wow wow wow. That was such a beautiful video and gave me tears. Can’t wait to see your next video and what a powerful journey. I am speechless
Thank you for sharing your story and for allowing all of us to share in your joyful journey! God provided for you from the beginning and He will continue to!!! I LOVE looking at your photos and stories and it warms my heart to see your beautiful family! As a mom to 5 and grandmother to 10, I know that my heart enlarges with each child that God entrusts to me and my family as He does to anyone who seeks to do His will. One of my favorite verses is “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4. I know your desire was to adopt and God graciously granted your petition. As a bonus, to us readers, He gave many others a chance to see how adoption changes lives through YOUR story and that is such a blessing. I will continue to pray for your beautiful family!
I enjoyed your blog about traveling to India. I was touched by your God moments. He is so great!
This is so beautiful! It reminded me of the story in the Bible when the disciples asked Jesus, “why was this man born blind? Because of his sin or his parents’ sin?” Jesus then replied that it was so that, through him, God would get glory.
God made little Ellie Pearl perfectly and her story is already bringing Him glory by your unashamed testimony of love and sacrifice. Thank you for being so open with the gospel! She’s beautiful and I look forward to seeing her grow with your family! ❤️
Yes, that passage in the Bible is so beautiful and encouraging.
I’m fighting this virus still and realized you had posted about your overseas trip to get your princess from India and so I watched the two videos and I’ve been so blessed by them. God is so good and his infinite care in all the small details of our lives makes me love our creator even more! Thank you for sharing these videos.❤️Jennifer and family
I have been following your family and Ellie Pearl’s story. Truly inspirational xx
i finally was able to watch this and I thank you for sharing this journey with everyone. Your faith is so inspiring! God is Good! I love how sweet your other daughters are and how they are happy that you are bringing Ellie Pearl home finally. God Bless you and your family always!