It was one year ago .....

March 31, 2009....."referral day".....the first day we saw Elizabeth's face.......

John was home and got a phone call.....from our social worker...he blogged about it on our first blog. Here are his words about March 31st.......

It seemed like a day like any other. I had taken Mac and Langley to school, Gray was at Mustard Seed. Later that afternoon, your mother was at Gray’s preschool with your sister and brothers to get their pictures taken. I had been working on my presentation for a new job at Vanderbilt for several hours and was taking a nap. I was awoken by the phone ringing. It was Rebecca with Children’s Hope. She was the social worker there. Your mother had spoken to her several times before, but I rarely did. I could sense excitement in Rebecca’s voice. She started right to the point. She said that there was a 16 month little girl who was on the multiple agency list. She explained that you were on the special needs list and that Rebecca thought of us because this precious girl had minor orthopedic problems. She told me you had brachial plexus injury and wanted to know what I thought. What did I think? All I could think of was that God had sent us a wonderful little girl. You were a gift that your mother and I did not expect for a long time, if even ever. Yes. I told her. I asked anxiously. “Can you lock the file?” This meant that no one else could look at you and that we could hold on to you. Rebecca said yes. I told her that I needed to share this with Shannon and that I would call her back. Rebecca said she would send me your file and picture right away. I could not wait to see what you looked like. Now, fully awake from my nap, yet somewhat feeling this was a dream, I called you mother. Just like me, she was stunned by God’s hand bring you into our lives. We were expecting this at some point, but when it actually happened, it still seemed surprising. I know that your mother and I will feel this way when we see you for the first time – brought to our knees by God’s awesome presence seen in you. Your mom was overwhelmed. She was in “the zone” gathering your siblings together, trying to get their picture made at Gray’s preschool. I told her briefly about you. “Yes, absolutely, yes.” That was her answer. Soon she called back once things settled down. By that time, Rebecca’s email came through. I got to see you for the first time. You were beautiful. I read about you at the orphanage and with your foster family. I looked at your picture again. Tears welled up in my eyes. You were to be a part of our family forever. I called Rebecca back. I wanted to make sure. Yes, she said. From this point on, you were ours.

I blogged about it as well:

On March 31, 2009 a miracle occurred. John was taking a nap when a call came from our social worker. She described to John a darling 16 month old girl. John asked her to "lock" the file immediately so we could review her paperwork. John called me ( I had the 3 kids and was in the midst of getting their photo made) So I now a photograph of the siblings the moment our family grew! We were also juggling conversations with our realtor about the contract we put on a home less than 24 hours prior!!! Eventually John and I got to speak on the phone and he read to me her special need and what was written in her paperwork. He saw her photo and said "she is really, really cute" pause pause pause "yep, she is adorable". I drove to my sister's house since it was closer than going home and got on her computer so I could she the referral myself. I fell in love when I saw her photo. She is beautiful. She has soft features, round face, lots of black hair. Her ears tip at the top like my side of the family! John had to go to a meeting so he and I still didn't have a chance to talk. While my son was at soccer practice I spent the time googling her special need. The more I read the more comfortable i became. I consulted with my dear friend who is a pediatrician as well. She pointed out to me that I had blogged in June 2008 that I felt God speaking "November" to me. Well....guess what.....she has a November birthday, my Aunt's birthday. Basically as I just let it all soak in I just knew we had been given a tremendous gift. Her special need is not one we had previously researched but we know she is ours. We didn't know who she was but God did and He brought her to us. We are so grateful. Finally, late last night John and I had a chance to sit together and talk about this little girl. Usually you consult with specialists about the child's special need, etc. With John's training we felt we had some basic insight and realized we just needed to discern if she was our daughter. And God revealed to our hearts.....yes indeed this is your daughter. So before we went to sleep we email our agency our LOI and prayed together thanking God for our new baby daughter.