We got Updated Pictures -- Prayers are Answered!

Lately we have been "DRAGGING" and have been more impatient than normal regarding the 'WAIT' for our daughter.  With the I-800 in process we should feel a sigh of relief but it really doesn't seem that way.  We simply want to hold her and want to do so now.  We want to laugh and cry with her and can't wait to try to figure out what she wants or needs since we will clearly have a language barrier... at least for a short while.  Our excitement is overflowing.  Our family is becoming more excited each day too.  Luke asks nearly every day "Have they called us to come and get my sister yet"?  We expected pictures about 3 weeks ago and never got them.  Delays happen but when you are told that you will get them and they arrive 19 days later... that is a little trying. 

The pictures came today.  I had JUST e-mailed the agency with my new e-mail address and within minutes new photos were received.  I immediately called my friend in Alabama to tell her I had pictures of  "our girls".  She was so happy.  She told me how she had cried in the shower this morning and was wanting some type of sign that 'things will be ok'.  She had been praying and now she has received her sign.  Albeit small  (in the grand scheme of adoption) -- it is GRAND in our HEARTS.  Just seeing how much they have grown and seeing that they are happy is an unbelievable feeling.  Many people don't understand how you can love someone that you have never met.  It is a love that is unlike any other.  We loved our daughter before we even knew about her.  Sounds weird but it is true.  When we decided to adopt again we knew we wanted a daughter and we loved her from that moment on.  We love her more and more each day and each day makes us yearn to hold her that much more.  We worry about her.  We pray for her.  We pray for her well being as well as that of her care takers and friends.  Maran's BFF is Alice.  Alice will live in Alabama.  How uncanny that our two girls are joined at the hip in the orphanage and once they start their lives in America they will be so close.  What a comfort. 

We received a video of Maran also.  It was the sweetest thing ever.  We now know how she walks which has been something we have wondered about all along.  We were told before that she had a "skip".  She is a SPECIAL NEEDS child who has club feet and so far has had one operation to try to correct her legs/feet.  We are relieved to see that she gets around so well and sad at the same time for her.  We have 100 percent confidence in our Ankle/Leg surgeon here in America.  We know that he will do what it takes to make her better and help her to have as normal a life as possible. 

Quite possibly she is the most beautiful little girl ever.  She has beautiful skin and a smile that could make anyone be at her beck and call.  How precious a gift we are getting.  It was meant to be that she is our little girl.  She became our little girl the morning she was born.  I know in my heart that her birth mother knew that she would be found and cared for.  We know in our hearts she is getting good care and is being loved but we can't wait to get her home.  We want to hear her voice and her laugh!  Children are a gift and although we are going about making our family in a 'not so traditional way' we still know that this is one of the best gifts ever.

Hugs ---

Maran is holding the Doll Luke picked out for her for her birthday.  We sent her this outfit too.

She has on her BFF's dress but the new sandals we sent to her.  Thankfully we guessed the 'almost correct' size.

"THE GANG's ALL HERE".  We have received a few pictures of Maran with her friends and the same children are in them.  They must all be inseparable. 

Lounging around with her Dora Doll.

Too cute for words... ALL OF THEM!