Referralversary

For those of you who follow my blog, you've probably already heard most of this story, but I just can't pass up the opportunity to reflect again on how God always knows my heart, and always does what is best for His kingdom.   I'll admit, it's not always what is "easiest" but He knows that too!

For the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts  (1 Chronicles 28:9)

 3 years ago today, we were given a referral for this little beauty, Geneme, decked out in her green thermal footie jammies and fuzzy little hair (believe me, I've studied this picture from front to back and can close my eyes and still see it):

 

 

 

 

We were originally told that we would most-likely be referred an infant, but to our surprise, we were referred a sweet 14 month old 'toddler.'  Our Agency had told us that we didn't have to take her.  What...? I was confused . . ?  They explained that many families do not want toddlers, rather they prefer infants.  

 

But you see... even before we knew her name and face, this sweet 'toddler' fit perfectly into our Family, and God knew that! 

 

Back story 

 

When began our adoption story nearly 6 years ago, we began to call our future child, Baby "E."  She was "Baby  E" because of our silly alphabet family (Angie, Brad, Colton, Dylan).. and the next letter was E.  I must admit, I was a little nervous starting over again, and a bit worried about not having a play-mate sibling for Baby E, like Colton and Dylan had each other.  But we had plenty of friends with wee-ones, so everything would be fine. 

 

As we planned, and waited for Baby E, God gave us a little surprise nearly a year into our wait . . . a bio pregnancy with Baby F!  Among other things, my OCD kicked in when I realized that our silly little name game was going to be out of order now.  Baby F would most likely be older than Baby E (still assuming we would be getting an infant).  "Oh well," I thought . . . "It will make an interesting story..."  Little did I know! 

 

As excited as I was for our pregnancy, I still felt a loss, since our adoption would be put on hold until our baby was 6 months old. 

 

As my heart grieved for Baby E, God knew she wasn't yet born.  Baby E was born just a few days after we found out about Baby F.  [of course we didn't know that at the time] 

 

As my heart ached that we were leaving an orphan waiting, God knew she wasn't even in an orphanage yet. 

 

As my heart grew anxious for a referral, God knew her paperwork would be complete, the day our name came up for a referral.   

 

And most of all, God knew Elliana Geneme Jayne would even fit into our silly little name game.  She is 7 months older than Baby Faith. 

 

  -- Now, mama, on the other hand, wasn't so sure God's plan was going to work -- going from a family of 4 to 6 in less than a year . . . but that's a whole other story . . . --

 

And what's more remarkable, God knew 2 little girls in our family of mostly-boys would explode our emotions and melt our hearts with things only little girls can see, say and do . . . and He knew these 2 little girls would be forever sisters.  They both know they came from different mommy's tummys, but that doesn't change the fact that they are 100% sisters. 

 

They are the chip to each other's dip, the cheese in each other's macaroni, the flip to each other's flop . . . and the milk in each other's cookies.  Their personalities are complete opposite, but yet compliment each other . . . and God knew that. . .

 

. . . and I can't imagine one without the other! 

 

 

 

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Psalm 37:4

 

 

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord.  "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts" 

 Isaiah 55:8-9

 

 

So blessed to have you in our family, Princess Ellie.