Proverbs 25:25

"Like cold water to a weary soul, is good news from a distant land."

We have indeed gotten good news from a land 7033 miles away! We received a referral for an 11-month-old boy and a 2-month-old girl! Our boy is the same little boy that we were led to decline in July. God had a plan and knew that we were waiting for his sister. A month after that referral, our little girl was born. The children are not biologically related, but they will soon be brother and sister. Praise God in his leading and for giving us His patience. Over the past few months, I have prayed for this little boy and secretly wished he would be paired with another child and referred to us. As Paul says in Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

My mom communicated my excitement best when she said that she is ready to hop on the plane to Ethiopia with us to bring them home. While we can't share the pictures of these two until after our successful court date (when Ethiopia says that we are these children's parents), you'll just have to take my word that they are the cutest kids in the world. I'm sure I will need to bond with them when they come home, but I already love them. I wrote this letter to them shortly after we submitted our dossier:

March 4, 2007

Dear children,

I cannot explain it, but I have felt it. I love you. I know that I do not yet know you. You are thousands of miles away, but the fact still remains that I love you. A woman with a child in her womb loves her child even before she knows him. I too love you. You are not in my womb, but you are most definitely in my heart. God has a plan for us to be together. He is a great and powerful God who knows all a loves us so deeply. He gives us good things and He will make us a family.

The Chinese say that we are connected together be a red string. Metaphorically, it gives the words to the feeling that I have for you. We are connected even now. You may not be aware of the connection, but it exists. Soon, I will be able to hold you and tell you how much I love you. Until that time, I ask God to watch over and protect you until I can come and get you.

With Love,
Mommy

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." ~ Helen Keller

We hope to welcome home our two bundles of joy by Christmas! I couldn't think of a better present.

"May your unfailing love rest upon us as we wait in hope." ~Psalm 33:22