Sania’s Baptism

God is so good.  He is so very, very good.

Somehow, someway…He brought together an orphan girl from Latvia to a family of 5  in Kentucky.  

When I look back, I can hardly believe it is our family’s story.  It wasn’t anything we had planned, but it’s very clear now that it was God’s plan all along. 

Little did I know that when I attended a blog conference in 2014, that I would walk past a vendor table about a hosting program for older orphans.  And never in a million years would I have guessed that we would have ended up hosting one of those orphans the following summer…and even better yet, adopting that same orphan within a year.

I seriously could have never imagined. 

But God’s word says…

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or imagine.”  

Ephesians 3:20

He knew that Sania needed us, and we needed Sania. 

Although our adoptions story is a beautiful one that God has written, I don’t ever want to paint the picture that it was perfect and easy.  Adopting Sania has been the hardest experience of my life, besides losing my mom.  

There were so many hardships and struggles we had to go through those first few years because Sania had a lot to work through.  I never wanted to air her problems on the internet for all to read, but I want to be transparent enough to tell you that in the beginning, it was such a struggle.  Truthfully, one I didn’t think our family would make it through.  

BUT GOD.

But God gave us the strength to endure the hardships, and He began to heal Sania’s broken parts.  It has been an absolute miracle to watch God work in her life and bring her to where she is today.  

It has been worth every heartache and every tear.  God was not only rescuing Sania, but He was rescuing us as well.  We are not the same family we were before adopting Sania…we are better…more whole. 

God has taught us SO MUCH through our sweet Sania, and we cannot imagine life without her!

When we were in Latvia in 2016, going through the adoption process, Sania’s foster mom gave her a special gift for a special occasion…her baptism.

(Sania and her foster mom, Anita)

I’ve had that special gift for 6 years.

And two weeks ago, I gave that gift to Sania at her baptism.  

Sania has had Jesus in her heart for a while, but she has been begging to be baptized.  So when we were in Kentucky for my dad’s birthday two weeks ago, and Luke was in town, I asked my sister if we could baptize Sania in her pool.  Of course, she said yes. 

Her baptism wasn’t anything fancy.  It didn’t need to be.  It wasn’t about us, it was about Jesus and what He had done in her life.

So we surrounded her with love and celebrated the gift of salvation and eternal life for our sweet Sania.  It was one of the most special days of my life.

I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

3 John 1:4

 

Because you have been with our family on this journey, we wanted to share this very special day with you.  

To God be the Glory!

 

Friends, I pray that Sania’s baptism was a blessing to you and a reminder of how much God loves us all.  If you have never received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, but feel a tug on your heart to do so, please reach out to me.  It would be a honor to share His love with you.  I can always be reached at traci@beneathmyheart.net, or message me on instagram

May the Lord bless you and take care of you;
May the Lord be kind and gracious to you;
May the Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

 

62 Comments

    1. Well your Buddy and I cried tears of joy from beginning to end.. Precious and no doubt her life will touch many lives.. Yes God is so good!🙌🏼

    2. I’ve been reading your blog for years- long before your journey with Sania. I prayed so hard for this little girl to be a member of your family. I cried in the beginning when it looked like that hope may not come to pass. I cried with you when it did. I’m crying now over this most beautiful baptism… the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Congratulations to your sweet Sania, your sunshine girl, on her baptism. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this.

  1. As I watched this, tears were streaming down my face. You are such a beautiful family and an inspiration. God Bless You and Your Family.

  2. This is the most beautiful thing I have seen. The love y’all show for one another and for God is so inspiring and real. Thank you for sharing this.

  3. OMG. Sitting at my desk at work just bawling my eyes out. I remember the struggles with Sania’s adoption. I didn’t realize so many years had already gone by. What a beautiful story! My heart is filled with joy this morning listening to your boys speak from their hearts. God is so good.

  4. Oh Traci,
    I have just finished watching the video of Sania’s baptism. Thank you for sharing that. I have been following you since before Sania came into your life. We also adopted a little girl from South Korea and I understand what you are saying about the impact she made on your family. Everyone would say how blessed our little girl was to be in our family and we would tell them that we were the ones who were so blessed to have her. The love your family shares is beautiful and reflects the love of Jesus. Isn’t God good! Even through the hard times He is there.

  5. Oh Traci! What a beautiful story of your family. Of course, I cried, but they were happy tears. God is so mighty and He is in full control of our lives. All of you are blessed indeed! Thank you for sharing this with us. I pray that if there are those out there that don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, they will reach out to you or someone they trust, to change that. While our lives as Christians isn’t always easy and smooth sailing, we know that God is taking every step with us, and that our faith will get us through every situation. God bless y’all!

  6. This warms my heart so much to see how wonderfully she has adjusted and fits perfectly into your family. God bless you all for opening your hearts and home to her. Congratulations to Sania!

  7. Gods has written a beautiful story and continues to add chapters. I don’t know how anyone could watch that video and not cry. Thanks for sharing!

  8. Congratulations to Sania! And welcome, precious girl, to the Family of God. I cried many big, happy tears watching this and I thank God for the gift that you are.

  9. Oh my goodness… I cried like a baby through the whole video here at work. People kept coming in and asking me if I was ok! Bless your whole family…what a beautiful ceremony. It is quite evident how much that little girl is loved and adored not only by you and your husband but by the entire family unit. I love when it was mentioned about her “servant’s heart.” What a beautiful gift she brings to not only your family but to the world who will know her. I know God is so proud of her and how far she’s come. She is growing into a beautiful, strong, loving servant of Jesus. God bless you and your entire family and especially Sania as she continues to grow into a young woman. Much love to you all. Thank you for sharing this with us. Beautiful video from start to finish!

  10. What a beautiful baptism! I couldn’t hold back the tears while listening to your sons and husband talk to Sania. She is blessed to you all, AND you all are equally as blessed to have her. Tell her that we said she baptism was beautiful and we are so happy for her, please.

    Blessings to all of you!

  11. To God be the glory!! This is one of the most precious things I have seen in my whole life! I have followed your blog from the beginning and it has been such a blessing to me! I wish I had the words to express how much of a blessing watching your journey with Sania has encouraged me! Thank you so very much for sharing! May the Lord continue to bless and use you all for His glory!

  12. Oh my goodness, tears of wonderful joy. Even though I only “know” you via this blog, ANY time a child (or anyone for that matter) gives their life to Christ….what a WONDERFUL day!!!!! God Bless Sania and all of you, her family, for reminding us that child like faith is what it is all about!!!

  13. The love your family has for God and each other shines through so brightly. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful moment with us.

  14. I’m crying…. I did through the whole baptism video. I can’t even tell you how it touched me. I thank God that he chose your family to take Sania and that you obeyed. He is so GOOD and He always blesses us beyond all measure and I know he has done this for not only Sania, but for all your family. I can’t thank you enough for sharing this video with all of us. I don’t know your family…..only from your blog, which I found because of your sister, Cyndi who I follow. Even though I don’t personally know you and your family, I feel like I do and that is because of our LORD who connects all believers in a way only He can do. I look forward to the day we can all meet in heaven and I KNOW I will want to hug Sania and the rest of you too. :) This was a very special baptism and you may never know how many others, through this blog post, may find the LORD and accept Him as their Savior, because of the testimonies in this video and the witness your family has been of His LOVE. Please tell Sania I’m so proud of her and know God is going to continue to do GREAT things in her life and I can’t wait to hear about them. Love and Blessings to you all, Kathy S.

  15. You have a beautiful family. This is my first comment since I started following you over 2 years ago. This post had me tearing up from beginning to end. I truly feel blessed to have been able to witness the profound love you have for one another, especially Sania. Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt post.

  16. This was so beautiful! Her brothers expressing such genuine love for her even got me teary eyed!! Thank you for sharing this with us!

  17. There are no words that are poignant enough to describe your lovely family. No one has to reiterate to you how wonderful your children and husband are; I feel fortunate to have your sweet words, videos, and family to view. God Bless your incredible journey!

  18. Oh my goodness! What a wonderful video! I have followed you through the adoption process and watched this precious girl grow and thrive in your family. God bless you all! Thanks for sharing with us❤️❤️

  19. Oh. My. Goodness! I watched this in tears. This is beautiful! What a testimony and display of God’s love for us. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. WOW!

  20. Thank you for sharing your family’s story, Traci. What a beautiful testament to Sania and all she has brought to you. God blessed us all xo.

  21. That was so touching. I’m having a hard time seeing my keyboard right now. What a lucky little girl. God bless your family.

  22. Oh Traci, this is such a testimony to God’s goodness and faithfulness. I’m just crying my eyes out watching this beautiful video. The way your family loves Sania is such a beautiful picture of how Christ loves us! Hearing you, Cy, and your boys speak of the blessing and gift of daughter/sister just got me so choked up. Pure love! We, too, have an adopted child (a son) and can relate to how you feel over these precious lives! All our children are such a gift! Our son is now 16 and was also baptized this summer. It was such an incredible moment to watch, one that we had prayed specifically for. So very thankful! God truly is sooo good!

  23. Wow…..Just wow………..Could not watch this without tears. Have been following along on this story since before she came “home”, to the United States. God is indeed so GOOD!!!!!!

  24. Oh, my goodness what an absolutely beautiful story. It has blessed my soul today. I am adopted and know the love that my adoptive parents showed me. It was so special to hear your boys speak of their “sister”. Thank you for sharing such a personal story. May you be blessed!

  25. If you have dry eyes after watching this beautiful story of how this little girl brought to this family by God’s love changed them all you don’t have a heart. I have watched Santa’s story from the beginning. You are all so very lucky to have found each other. It WAS God’s plan for you all.

  26. Thank you so much for sharing this. It was so beautiful and tugged at my heartstrings. I love that you share your faith. God is so, so good! Much love to you whole family. ❤

  27. You should be one very proud mama! Sania has those boys wrapped and that is so amazing! May God continue to bless and watch over your family. Thank you so much for sharing.

  28. What a beautiful story. I am a blubbering mess listening to your sons and husband speak of their love for Sania. what a beautiful picture of God’s wonderful love and grace. You have a beautiful family. God IS so GOOD! Thank you for sharing with us.

  29. Watched this precious moment with tears of joy. Thank you for sharing this special day with us. I still have my “ “ Just Trust “ T-shirt & I always think of her when I wear it. What special big brothers she has.

  30. Sania,
    You are a beautiful child of God! You are so blessed to be loved by such a special family.
    Thank you for sharing your very special day with me!

  31. Precious, precious, precious. This was such a wonderful post and baptism. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
    God has shed so much love in your hearts. I am blessed for watching this video.
    Hugs,
    ~d

  32. I am so grateful that you shared this with us. I have followed this whole journey with Sania joining your family. God is so good and He is in control. Tears of joy were shed with each of your boys sharing the impact that she has had on the family. How fortunate you all are to be her forever family. ❤️

  33. Oh my goodness! How awesome this video is! Sania you are a beautiful child of God! Thank you for sharing this special day with us! God has placed you with a very special family.

  34. This is beautiful! I’m so happy for Sania and your family! I cried the entire video. Such a beautiful family and testimony! ❤️

  35. I can’t imagine a dry eye after watching the video of Sania’s baptism. What a beautiful story and an amazing family you have.
    We adopted an 8 year old boy from Mexico who he is now 29 and loves the Lord. How blessed we are that God has entrusted us with these precious gifts. It wasn’t always easy but now we can look back and see God’s plan in it all.
    I look forward to watching Sania and your family as you all serve the Lord. Thank you for sharing with us.

  36. Wow – really beautiful thank you so much for sharing; little Sania and her brothers – the definition of love; may they all be blessed in many ways :) what a gift

  37. ok now that I have cried my eyes out! So special and I’m so proud of Sania and love the bond she shares with her big brothers. She is one lucky girl to have found such a wonderful family to love her. Thanks so much for sharing with us! I can’t wait to see how God continues to work in her life.

  38. Traci- I have been following your families journey since day one. I am too introverted to always comment but I have loved following. And especially because I was raised as a church kid and asked Jesus to be my Lord at a young age. This video is exceptional and embodies what a family is. Bumps and bruises; love and care. It is a blessing to see how your boys have grown into God fearing men, strong and loving. And beautiful Sania – what an amazing story. She and Eli are my son’s age so it has been so neat to watch them grow. Thank you for sharing the Love of Jesus in such a real way. He truly is the answer and the hope of our lives. Congratulations Sania!

  39. Let me wipe my tears so I and send you this email Traci……what an amazing God/Love Story….

    Our God is so good to us and I am happy to know he Saves!

    I Love You All,

    In Christs,
    Blessings,

  40. Traci, I wept tears of joy as I watched Sania’s baptism. It touched the core of my soul, because Sania’s story is a powerful example of what Christ’s death on the cross has done for all of us. Christ is truly the only ONE who saves and heals the brokenhearted. Have you considered writing a book about Sania’s journey? I believe God would use her story to bring many people into a relationship with Christ. I will be praying for God to guide you in the coming days and months.

  41. How beautiful! But I thought you were a family of 6 before adding Sania? I know Aunt Cyndi and your dad are going to enjoy seeing your house and hearing Jonathan sing tonight!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *