Today is a pretty big day for us. Our agency reps are on their way to China now, and with them goes our care package (and the care packages of many other waiting families as well!) to our sweet girl and one family photo of us. It's our first "hello," so to speak, to our daughter.
While we have been waiting and dreaming of her, the reality is she does not know we are coming, that we even exist, or that her life will be changing forever so soon. She has no concept about what is happening. I pray often that God prepares her innocent little heart for all the changes that will upset and rock her world.
These changes are, as we are able to understand as adults, changes for the better. She will be an orphan no more. Soon, she will be a treasured daughter, sister, granddaughter, cousin, and niece with a large family, extended family, and church family who are eager to meet her. She will have access to amazing medical care (we are just a couple of hours from one of the best specialists in the country for her special need). Every year will be full of holidays, celebrations, togetherness and laughter. She will never be alone again. She will never again have to say goodbyes to the people who care for her and love her. She will have a family of her own.
But to her, this change will feel like yet another loss. This will be one of a series of events in which she will be moved and expected to start anew. This is the reality of the not-so-beautiful side of adoption. To heal, we have to bring temporary hurt, and hurt that a toddler just won't be able to understand. We already know she is brave...braver than most, and we have to ask her to be brave yet again. We are trusting that God will work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28) and most of all for HERS.
Now, as to why I titled this post "Day 95." Today marks the 95th day since we saw Rosemary's face for the first time. (We cannot WAIT to share her with all of you as soon as we are officially matched!!!) So it's very much on my mind that soon, Rosemary will be seeing OUR faces for the first time. Her mother. Her father. Her brothers. Her sisters. Her family.
Though she is still oh so small, I pray that just looking at our faces and seeing them through this far-off introduction will create in her a small sense of familiarity when we arrive in China in the upcoming months to bring her home and make her less afraid in the future. We put our picture in a bendable plastic frame that hopefully she will be shown to look at from time to time. I pray that the funny looking lady with the blonde hair won't terrify her too much if she's become familiar with the picture. If you're looking for a way to strategically pray for the adoption, please pray that God continues to prepare her heart for us and ours for hers and that our faces will become familiar to her!
It was truly God who led us to this amazing girl. I cannot wait to tell in detail about that story but feel it won't be done proper justice without being able to share her picture. We hope SOON we can do that. As soon as her file comes in and we are officially matched, we will let everyone know.
Thank you all again so much for your love and support. We truly cannot express just now much we appreciate each and every one of you on this journey with us. Your prayers and words of encouragement mean so much.
