I’m not quite sure why Bella holds such a special place in my heart. Maybe it’s that she so beautifully embodies a theme I love so dearly:  recognizing the exquisite value in something formerly undervalued.

This precious gift was an orphan for the first two years of her life.

[Although she was well cared for, they wore what clothes were available at her orphanage in China, which left this very girly girl in boy clothes for this photo.]

I love that her adoptive mommy and daddy recognized the treasure she is.

“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3).

Here she is the morning after her forever family “gotcha day.” I love that pure joy smile.

This beautiful little girl had a cleft palate/lip and has undergone several surgeries. So brave and strong!

“For You created my inmost being;
    You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    Your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from You
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in Your book
    before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:13-16).

So after her latest surgery, I asked her sweet mommy, a friend of mine, if I could bring her a little get well gift. Flowers? Candy? What would mean the most to her?

Melissa said nail polish or lip gloss or a purse… MY KIND OF GIRL!!

I instantly knew just what I wanted to do! So I sorted through my fabrics for her favorite colors and sewed a special little tote bag for her. [They’re so easy to make: see my simple tutorial here!]

Then I added a very favorite button from my button collection. Lovely! I adore a good button! I’d been saving this one for something special!

[I simply tucked in the ends of a bit of elastic before I sewed the final stitch on the tote, then sewed the button to the front of the tote when done.]

Then I filled up Bella’s bag with bright nail polish in two of her favorite colors, glitter lip gloss, princess stickers, and some gummy bears candy.

HUZZAH!

I got this photo from her mom later that day. Alternating pink and green with polka dots!! So cute! I think Bella approves of the gift!

Did you know a simple gift can mean so much to a child? Whose life can YOU speak love into today? Wheeeee!

…And whether or not God has placed adoption on your family’s heart, there is something you can do to speak hope and life into the world of an unadopted orphan, a waiting precious one. Check out the short-but-incredible video over at Orbie For Orphans by clicking here or the Project 99 sponsor link to the right.

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Giving gifts is something I love to do… You can check out a whole bevy of gift ideas in my “little happies” category. Enjoy!