why she is a miracle girl

well, now.  back to where this all started.  last november, we attended an adoption sunday service at our good friends' church.  you know who you are LOL!  the sermon was titled 'love one more'.  looking back, there was a brief second where i felt a movement in greg.  i think it was in that moment that God touched greg's heart and said that He was changing it to make his heart open to adoption.  after five years of saying "nope, we are done. we are old and i'm retiring.  nope, don't even pray", it all changed that quickly.  amazing, absolutely amazing, how He truly turns the king's heart whichever way He wants (proverbs 21:1)

that very night as i was washing my face before bed, he hollers out to me, "we are probably too old to adopt, aren't we?".  and i think it was in that moment that i knew 'here we go again'.  honestly, my first thought wasn't joy!  it was 'oh the paperwork!'

and then He just kept opening the doors.  vietnam was back open to international adoption with the U.S.  holt, my favorite agency of the five we have used, was one of two agencies who was piloting the re-opening.  our age and retirement status weren't factors.  and then i saw a picture of an tam.  another family also had her file.  after interviews with holt, our family was selected to be her family.  and in that moment, i knew she was our sixth daughter, our miracle girl.

listen :)

What's better than an email with pictures popping up in your inbox?  An email with a video clip :)

july 31 video clip :)

june 9 video clip :)

getting closer

We received another picture of Esther AnTam today.  Always love seeing those emails pop up!  Here she has her package with a nightgown, coloring pencils, and sketch pad.  She is a tiny thing, much like Hannah was at age 10 -- about 42 lbs.  We know she is nervous about learning English, and probably many other things that her mind can only imagine at this point.  The final countdown is underway with only a few more steps to clear.  Best guess is that we will leave around the first of November.  Hard to truly get my mind around.  Each time, my biggest hope is that we are the family she has dreamed of having.