Referral Day!

One year ago we got "the call". I had waited so long to hear our those sweet words from our case worker. "I have a little girl to tell you about." She said that she was a bit older than the other babies but still within our parameters. I didn't care. "She may have a slight delay." My heart sunk but it didn't matter, I knew that this was the child God had chosen for us. As she continued, it was only more and more certain that this was the Lord's hand. Olivia was a little behind, and may have some slight developmental delays. That was ok. Jackson was a little delayed in walking. We were well versed in the ways of ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) and we knew how to handle it....we knew the Lord would see us through. We knew that whatever child they called us with was our baby no matter what.

Thankfully, a few weeks later some friends of ours traveled to get their baby and had great news to report. Olivia was the life of the orphanage! (or the princess of Hannah's Hope Orphanage as Almaz the director likes to say about her!) She no longer showed any signs of delay or not communicating her needs. Knowing her now, I know her little heart was just grieving. She had only been there a week when they called us with her information. She is definitely shy and withdrawn until she feels comfortable, but when she does, look out! I see these same non communication and "delay-like" signs when she is sad or in trouble, but since being home it is less and less. Even her strong will is becoming more compliant. She is such a happy girl even though she tries to test us sometimes. I know that her heart will always hurt, but I also know that the Lord is healing her every day that she is home with her family.

Here are some of the first pictures we got when we got the call!











Two weeks later, these were taken by a friend traveling to get her child:







Hannah's Hope does such an amazing job loving on these precious kids! Here is a photo of her now after being home almost 9 months.