Our Referral!!

This time around, EVERYTHING has been different in our adoption journey.

For the first year, all seemed well as we ran through all the paperwork and fundraising in pursuit of a little girl in Peru. The funding all came in before we were even ready to submit our application to Peru. It all seemed to be in place as we waited.  

Then we were denied,, Then our appeal was denied. Then our final appeal again denied.

Heartbroken and confused, we had only a few days to select another country. So we went back to what we were familiar with, . . Bulgaria. Again we waited. For 1 1/2 years, nothing happened. The only thing to report was updates on paperwork and more fees.

Late last year, we thought we had an opportunity with a little girl in Lithuania. So we frantically ran around to have all our paperwork switched over and paid more fees only to once again have her slip thru our fingers. So we continued to wait on Bulgaria.

December 20th, after 3 1/2 years of waiting, we got our referral!  

This season has been one of the most challenging times we've faced as a family, both emotionally and spiritually. We've had to continually battle to keep our hearts from becoming calloused. We've had to fight for faith when nothing was happening. We still don't know what to think of any of it, and really don't have any good answers as to why. 

What we do know, is that sharing the Father's heart for the fatherless, and seeing Him bring healing to this little girl thru our family is worth every heartache, every unanswered question, every prayer offered in weakness.

Below are some pics of the city where she is from. We will be staying there for five days visiting with our daughter.  Unfortunately this will only be a trip to meet her.  We will return in 4-6 months to bring her home.