Matched

How about just some words? It really is enough this time. I was just checking email Sunday night before heading to bed and before my last night without kids and with my good friend Kristin, in Laramie WY. When, to my amazement there was an email from my agency with a file of a little girl. I was shocked! Of course I looked at the file, and went straight to the picture. A sweet little girl with a toothless grin looked back at me. I was sure this was a mistake as we didn't even have our paperwork in yet. So, I jumped around and told Kristin and myself that this must have been a mistake. Right? They sent a childs file to the wrong address? Oh what poor stewardship it must be. Then I would have a glimpse of hope, maybe they did get it right? But I thought we were getting a boy? I thought that we were first on the list for a boy? What is happening?

Well, Mark was def sleeping, so I tried to do the same, but had to journal, and keep praying and trusting that if it was a mistake, that was ok. And if it wasn't, well, how cool would that be? An early match, and a little girl? All things I had hoped for, but was trying to hold loosely.

So, I flew from Laramie to Denver and as soon as I got off the plane, I called my agency and my rep answered with, "well, were you surprised?". I yelled in the airport,"you mean its not a mistake?" She laughed and explained that no, it wasn't a mistake, and yet she didn't exactly know how it happened. She knew that no one on the list above us would take the special need that this little girl has, a deformed right hand. And she knew that this little one was placed on the new "Special Focus" list, which means that you can lock in a file without having your paperwork done. So, it came to us!

Once you are matched you have 72 hours to decide and then lock in the file, or it will go on the shared list of waiting children and everyone will be able to see and lock in that file. We consulted two doctors, who both told us that
a. She is really small, but that is often true of children in institutions and Chinese babies
b. she is a bit anemic
c. its hard to tell how much use of her right hand she will have

Other than that everything looks good. Mark and I had no trouble deciding that yes, we would love to adopt this little girl. We said yes, and are now waiting for our pre-approval from China. Once we get that, and things are a little more secure, we will post a pic of the cute one.

The question we all have is, when can we get our hands on that girl? Seems like most people wait 5-7 months once(well I'm not exactly sure from when) so I'm just hoping its 5-7 months from now:) Maybe March? Maybe a 6th birthday present for Caroline in Feb?

Anyway, first things first.

I'm excited, and sobered. We decided 7 months ago to pursue and adoption. I've been working on paperwork for 6 months. And yet, the challenge this brings is not one that I'm taking lightly.

Praise God with us, and pray for us, and for her!!

Oh, and any help with a name is appreciated:)