Isaac's Dedication

     Baby Dedication is a special event in a Christian's life. Following the example of Hannah in the Bible, through Dedication, parents offer back their child to their Creator with a heartfelt dedication to raise the child to honor the Lord. Much like a wedding, it is a precious day and is very family centered. While it is the parents who are making the public declaration, at Northwest Church,  friends & family are encouraged to stand along side the parents & child as a public vow to speak Blessing and Life into the child's life. You can see from the photo below...ours was a PACKED stage!

Can you even find Isaac & I??

 

     Isaac was dressed in his traditional Chinese outfit (as were his cousins!), including his tribal Longevity Locket. We are almost certain that Isaac is from one of two ethnic minorities in China & both give silver Longevity Lockets to their newborn sons as a prayer for a long and healthy life. This is the single tribal souvenir I felt comfortable bringing home and joining with his customs of his cultural family I have prayed Jeremiah 29:11 over the locket & Isaac:

 

Isaac being blessed by Pastor Steve
(Thank you Cassandra for your sweet gift of photos!)

Momma being blessed....I was a crying mess.
 

     For the last 18months, trusting the Lord to bring Isaac home was the goal & focus of so many people in Isaac's life. Today in giving Isaac back to the Lord, there was a closing, in a sense, of that chapter of our story. Isaac's adoption as my son is such a small part of who he will become. It is my prayer that Isaac's life as a child of our Heavenly Father will be EVERYTHING that defines & influences him. Every Sunday Pastor Steve prays the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) over us as a congregation. It holds a powerful and special place in my heart so I was unbelievably excited when we "stumbled upon" an underground Christian souvenir shop in China and found the plaque below. Be blessed, sweet Isaac. In English, in Mandarin, in Hebrew, in Greek, in whatever language Heaven speaks to your heart...Be Blessed.  Happy Dedication Day!