One year ago today-- 10/24/09

On October 24, 2008, we received an e-mail from Living Hope Adoption Agency, letting us know that a new waiting child list was available. Eagerly, I entered my password and clicked to open the webpage. In the top left-hand corner, I saw the picture of a beautiful baby girl with big brown eyes and a small patch of hair in the middle of her head (to be lovingly referred to by Emmy later as a "mohawk"). The baby sat in a high chair with her toy duck (see right side of this blog). "Kristin" (the English name given to her by Living Hope) was only eight months old, and her eyes were so beautiful yet heart-wrenchingly sad and questioning. My heart yearned for her ... yet, after reading her health conditions, I realized that they seemed to extend beyond what we had agreed to handle, and I continued to scroll down the page. In that moment, one year ago today, I met the little girl who would become our daughter. As I gazed into her eyes, God planted the seed in my heart, and I praise Him for nudging us to trust Him and to allow Him to guide us to our precious Ellie-Kate. Thanks so much, Father, for helping us to step out in faith and for blessing us with such an amazing (and healthy!!) baby girl :) I will always cherish October 24 as a very special anniversary of one of the most important moments of our lives!!