Little Did She Know

March 25, 2013 was a moment in time that forever changed my heart as a mom.  But it was the next 48 hours that would change our life as a family...forever. 

Once our adoption agency shared He Tong's file with us on that memorable March night last year, we had a mere 48 hours to decide if we wanted her as our daughter.  Those 48 hours were filled with pressure, prayer, and ultimately peace. 

Pressure to talk with doctors about He Tong's medical condition and understand what her needs would be once home.

Prayer to our Heavenly Father for wisdom to know His will for our family.

Peace knowing God was with us and desired this precious little girl to be in our family...forever.

On the night of March 27, 2013, we submitted our Letter of Intent (LOI) to Lifeline, stating that we wanted to adopt He Tong...another moment in time I'll never forget.

But little did she know that a family thousands of miles away wanted her and trusted God for her.

Did we have all the answers about He Tong's medical condition?  NO.

Did we have all the answers about He Tong's family history? NO.

Did we have all the answers about He Tong's care in the orphanage?  NO.

Did we trust God with all of these unknowns?  YES!!!

We could not lean on our own understanding.  We had to choose to TRUST.

And here we are, March 27, 2014, one year later with one happy girl!

 

Has it been easy to trust?  NO.

 

Is she worth it? YES!!!

 





God, there are so many unknowns in life...so many unknowns with adoption.  Thank you for being faithful, for showering us with grace and peace amidst the unknowns.  AMEN.

A Moment In Time

There are moments in life that you seem to never forget, when one moment in time can change the course of your life forever.  Some of these moments in time are difficult and painful.  Other moments are pure joy! 

One of these moments in time was a year ago when I saw my daughter for the very first time.  March 25, 2013 will always be the day that God changed my heart as a mom.  Even though Jenna's face was on a computer screen because she was thousands of miles away in an orphanage in China, it was love at first sight. 

I vividly remember being so nervous on March 25th last year because that was the day that the "shared list" was to be released.  This is a list of precious children needing families that all adoption agencies that work in China have access to in order to try to match children with families waiting to adopt.    I tried not to get my hopes up but as the day went by with no call from Andrea at Lifeline, our wonderful adoption agency, I have to admit I was sad.  I was SOOOOO ready to see our daughter's face, to know who she was.  But as the hours passed, it looked like it may be longer for that moment in time to happen...

Then at 10:07 PM, not only a call but also an e-mail came from Andrea.  She called to say that she'd sent an e-mail with a file of a little girl that she wanted us to review. 

I. WAS. SHAKING. 

I remember praying, asking God, "Could this be our daughter?" even before we opened up the e-mail. 

And as soon as I saw her picture, God answered my prayer.

"Yes, this is your daughter."

A moment in time that I was forever changed as a mom. 

I had been so afraid to adopt, wondering if I would be able to love a child as much as the three that I had carried in my womb.  And in that one moment, all fear was erased as I looked into the face of our Jenna Jean.

God, thank you for changing my heart and teaching me so much about you through a little girl that needed a family.  I pray that I will be the mom she needs me to be and that she will know deep in her heart that she is wanted and loved by her family and mostly by you.  AMEN.