Those first few days after adopting Noelle were glorious shining moments.

Our stay in the Russian flat was comfortable but I longed for home.

There were still things to do.

So I cared for Noelle,

     enjoyed the  company of the sweetest young couple

         and waited.

One night the woman with whom I was staying spoke to me.

“Bath?” She pointed to my baby girl and then to the tiny room in the back of the flat.

“Da” I answered nodding my head.

Giving her a bath would be nice. I had visions of a sponge bath or something like that.

So I busied myself gathering towels, clean clothes, etc

    picked up Noelle

    and walked back to the tiny bath room in the far corner of the flat.

I stepped into the narrow room and glanced down at the old white tub.

The water had been run and it was full.

Very full.

Like almost up to the top of the tub full.

“Is it ok?” she asked in very broken English.

 I turned to the woman beside me and hesitated.

One the one hand the tub was ocean full and I wondered how I would comfortably

    bathe my baby in it.

But on the other hand I didn’t want to offend this Russian woman.

So I nodded my head

    and proceeded to prepare my baby girl for her very first bath.

I still smile when I remember  that moment of slowly easing her into the water

    all the while supporting her.

Big, brown eyes grew instantly as big as saucers.

What are you doing? she wondered all the while going along with me.

But I wasn’t comfortable with it either so I finished up quickly

     my daughter relaxed being out of the water again

         and I treasured that memory in my heart.

Never in my wildest dreams had I ever thought that I would adopt

   much less go to Russia.

But God leads us in sometimes different paths than we had thought.

Through it all He not only protected and provided

    but He also showered His Love in so many ways.

A huge tub of water. Not just a little.

Plenty to eat served by warm, friendly people.

Speaking a different language

    but coming together with the same goal.

To love these precious children.

Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers you have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40