God has always loved me. It wasn’t until two years ago did I fully accept God’s love for me. I am adopted. It has always been a vulnerable topic for me because well it’s just different, it’s special to me. It never helped that some people didn’t understand it and others were just ignorant and said/asked stupid things. Yet, I’ve learned to find joy in my story and be thankful for the moments I have to tell people about it. I was adopted from China around the age of one. There were nine other girls who were also adopted at the same time. We call ourselves the Fuzhou 10 (which is the name of the Province we are from). Growing up, all 10 families from around the U.S. would get together over the summer for a reunion. Being surrounded by these people have been such a blessing. It is a bond that can never be broken.This past summer we even celebrated our 20th anniversary in Nashville.
God has been watching over me my whole life. He knew that I was someone special. He knew that Norman and Susan Armentrout were going to be my parents. That I would find my forever family with them in Ohio. That I would be adopted and loved by people who love the Lord. I am a Christian first and an Armentrout second. I love my funny, awkward, loving family. They have played such a huge role in shaping my personality and love for life. At times I can be so sarcastic it borders on the line of plain sassy. My kind of comedy is when people trip or do something embarrassing (bad trait for a future nurse, I know, but it’s only cause I can relate to it). Sometimes I forget that I just met people and can be a little too blunt. I don’t like being in the spotlight but I love being on the sidelines and cheering people on. I love you all and wanted to give a shout out to my family for adopting and loving me. Forever Blessed!
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My friend posted this quote on Instagram:
“To think you can love God without being changed by Him, is to think you can jump into the ocean and not get wet. To really love Him, you must understand that your life is going to be wrecked by Him, and built again into something beautiful, something lasting.”
God loved us even when/are still sinners. He sent his One and Only Son to die for us that we could spend eternity with him. Experiencing God’s love is true and all consuming. I want to show others how loved they are by the Father. I want to share his love. You’d think that since I am only 3 weeks away from receiving my 4 year degree in nursing I would feel more secure about my future. But I’m not. I know that I can be a great nurse, but can I be even better at something else? Is there something else God has planned for me?
During the World Race I will no longer have the comfort of clean water, indoor plumbing, a bed, heat, air conditioning, etc. I won’t be able to contact my family everyday. Not gonna lie, it will be an adjustment. My faith will be tested. My body physically and emotionally will be put through trials. And I am still 100% sure and comfortable about going on The World Race in October. Undoubtedly God will wreck me. He will change my heart, my desires and future. I am learning to be ok with this because of his promises I find in his Word.
Exodus 15:2 ” The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”
Isaiah 40:28-31 “The Lord is the everlasting God, The Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:10 “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
John 13:7 “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
I am excited to see what the Lord has planned for me and to see what else God will add to my story!
Since I won’t have reliable internet or a cell phone when I am gone. Please feel free to email me ([email protected]) or Facebook message me. It’s always nice to hear from people 
Just talking to others has already been such an encouragement. Thank you to everyone who has been partnering with me through thoughts and prayers! I have already passed my second goal of $10,000 by September. I have bought my plane ticket to Atlanta, GA where I will be participating in Training Camp for 10 days in August. Make sure to subscribe to my blog here or friend me on Facebook to hear more about how the Lord is working in my life. Love you all!
