Referral Accepted

We have officially accepted the referral! That means that we are accepting the child that they have matched us with.... just a formality.... but still, fun to think about. On another note, my heart has been focused on the word orphan lately.... In fact, probably for about the last month. It all started when I was reading our local paper and there was this very small section with very small print, smaller than any of the print in any part of the entire newspaper. It stated 'Petition for Adoption' at the top and then went on to detail the court proceedings of a local child that is being legally adopted. The words used in this statement were so cold. They really cut me like a knife. As I read the paper while eating my lunch that day, I came to tears.... all by myself in the lunch room at work. It essentially read as an advertisement to the birth father, letting him know that they have explored all options in trying to contact him and that unless he came to the court hearing of the child, he would be giving up all rights to this child... And that he would never have a say in this child's future, ever. It was so definitive, so harsh. In light of our journey, I think of this orphan that is to be ours... and her birth parents.... the circumstances that have led them to relinquish all rights to this child... This unbelievably beautiful, precious child. The government of Rwanda specifically states that they have exhausted their ability to contact any relation and that this child is truly an orphan. Wow, not one person. We are unaware of the events that have led up to this child coming to home of hope.... But we cling to the God of the world, and trust in his infinite wisdom and abiding love. The song from Chris Tomlin keeps running through my mind....

A refuge for the poor, a shelter from the storm
This is our God
He will wipe away your tears and return your wasted years
This is our God
A father to the ORPHAN, a healer to the broken
This is our God
And he brings peace to our madness and comfort in our sadness
This is our God
A fountain for the thirsty, a lover for the lonely
This is our God
He brings glory to the humble, and crowns for the faithful
This is our God.

It's a Girl!!!

We saw her today! I was at work, getting ready to eat lunch.... I was looking at my phone and saw 2 or 3 new email messages! When I realized who the one was from, I called Dan immediately... (we had promised that when the time arrived to see anything from the Ministry in Rwanda, we would be together and see it for the first time together) The email started out with "I hereby forward the files and photos of __________ , who has been attributed to your family"... with 5 attachments following. I started to shake and couldn't believe what I was reading. I told Dan that he needed to get to my work as fast as he could... and after what seemed like forever, he pulled in the parking lot, we stood together and started to open the first attachment.... not having wifi at work, it took awhile. The first attachment was all typing... i went to open the second attachment, and that's when we saw her!!!! She was absolutely perfect!!! In the most adorable dress, looking right at the camera! I broke down in tears and laid my head in Dan's chest. After all this time, we finally had a picture of the baby we have been praying for! Praise be to God!

Just Waiting

Well, I had kind of been thinking that we would have heard something by now..... It's funny how when we have expectations and they aren't met how disappointing it can be, versus not having any expectations! But, that's how life is. Anyway, it seems like I expect to hear things on Fridays, so as another Friday passes... I don't really expect anything until the following Friday. I don't really have any rhyme or reason for that.... just the fact that we learned of our approval on a Friday! I am starting to definitely think more towards getting a packing list started and moving in that direction. I am compiling as much info as possible from all of the other families that have gone before us. We are becoming more and more anxious, and I am sure that once we actually see our baby's face, it will get even harder to wait!