We have a daughter!!!!!!

I am still in shock to share our news, but oh so happy!!!! I have not been able to share what has been happening in our adoption world until now! About 6 weeks ago, I came across a website of Holt International and happened to see they had a waiting child list. I had never even seen their website before and till this day am still just amazed as to what would have made me click on the site. Well of course God had his hand in my actions, and it is just another walk of faith for our family and a testimony to all to see that God does live in our lives and walking with him in control just makes every day even more amazing then the last! So I click on the waiting child list and the very first child description that I read is a 4 year old little girl. There was no picture, just her story, a story of a little girl who can count to 50, who is helpful with caregivers, and has a ready smile. I read that paragraph over and over and I could just feel my heart telling me, this is your little girl. There was only one minor detail that I was a little nervous to mention to Chad, she is in CHINA!!!!!! not Taiwan where are hearts have been leading us, where we sat patiently waiting for the call. I decided to try to get more information about her, so I filled out an application required to get her file. When Chad got home from work I read him the paragraph about the little girl and I was quite surprised that he was feeling what I was feeling. We need to find out more about this little girl who can skip and jump, and write some numbers. Did I mention she is in CHINA?? A few days later we get an email with all her medical history known and two pictures of a Chinese Pixie with the brightest smile and sparkling eyes! We were in love! But very confused. I have never prayed so hard in my 34 years of life, just praying for guidance, direction and clarity as to what we should do. We knew in our hearts that if she was meant to be our little one, God would make that happen. And today He has moved mountains and without hesitation, with happy hearts we accepted her referral.

It has been amazing to see how Ryan and Marissa both played a huge part with their faith and seeing how they both prayed for a little girl they had never met. It has been especially precious because Marissa came up to me yesterday and said "Mommy, I prayed to God that He would let her be my sister" and knowing that she can go to her Father to ask what is in her heart is priceless. I know she will remember that prayer forever and seeing how the Lord answered her hearts desire. Almost like she feels "responsible" for us being able to adopt her new sister. I know she knows the Lord, but I don't think she has ever "relied" on the Him, and now I know she has realized that He does answer our prayers. Priceless!!!!

So now with smiles on our faces we have to completely start the paper process once again. Completely new Homestudy, all new forms, everything!!!!! UUUUGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!! But in the end when we hold her hand in ours and bring her home, all that "Paper Labor" will be a distant memory and our family will be complete. (Well for now) (ONLY JOKING!!!)

Sadly we can not share pictures or her personal information with everyone until we are officially approved for her adoption. But I can tell you her birthday is October 15, 2003 and she speaks Cantonese. She is very tidy and neat and loves to perform singing and dancing. She gets along very well with younger and older children too! I will post any updates that I get!!!

We just want to say thanks to all of our family and friends who have supported and prayed for us! We feel so blessed to know so many amazing people!