Most of this adoption story (the best parts) have been kind of invisible until now. We have followed God's leading, and we could tell things were happening. We knew promises would someday be revealed, but it has mostly been steps of faith.
There has been a confidence in our faith, but it's been pretty tough, too.
As we changed to the China program in February 2016, I knew we were close to finding her. God led us in that direction, and I felt us switch to the fast track. We moved as quickly as possible, so we would be ready for whatever God had in store. There were a lot of tough decisions and some strange waits mixed into that paper-chase, but on July 13th we mailed all of our paperwork.
On August 9, we were officially logged-in with China.
Just waiting.
We knew we most likely had another several months to wait, but honestly I did not feel like it would be. I really felt like we would have her by Christmas, but I'm always paranoid that my desires are making me feel things.
My spirit became heavier and heavier. I thought I might be creating this in my mind, but it was so strong I felt like it was bigger than that. I literally felt like I was filling - and overfilling - like a water balloon. If God wasn't about to do something, I was a little worried about how I was going to make it much longer.
The week of September 5th-9th was the craziest build up I have ever experienced. I don't have words for it, but my spirit was intense.
So, Friday, September 9th.
It was a regular day, but I did not feel normal.
Reality said we would wait a while, but it didn't feel like it. I was wearing my "Transforming Love" adoption shirt, sitting at my desk near the end of lunch break.
My phone rang.
It said "America World".
My heart stopped.
Our agency had called Kevin first, but he couldn't talk at that moment.
They called me.
The water balloon busted. I cried and cried and tried to listen to every word.
I took notes.
She told me about a two-year-old girl.
She described some basics and mentioned that I might have seen her picture that they had shared previously.
----REWIND----
On July 13th, the day we took our paperwork to the post office, I saw a precious face on a post from America World. We had just finished mailing our package. I was in my car, and there it was.
This little girl's picture made my heart stop. Our agency shares pictures all the time, and each one tugs at your heart. This time my heart stopped.
I saved her picture in my phone.
----FASTFORWARD----
She tells me I might remember this little girl's picture, and she says the name that labeled that pic.
I knew immediately.
It was her.
Sobbing and sobbing.
She asked if I wanted to receive the referral in an email.
YES!
So,
Thankfully, this was a time in the day, when I did not have a class.
I immediately headed next door to the high school to find Kevin.
I'm crying, walking down those big steps, holding a laptop to get the email, thumbing through my pictures to find that pic I saved.
I knew it was her.
I walked and felt every promise coming true.
We read her file in shock and thankfulness.
It was so much to take in, and we had to take a serious look at her file and medical reports.
Then, we began a series of steps to make it all happen.
As we sifted through the details, we found her birth date was in November 2013.
We did the math and realized we had been praying for her since her tiniest beginning.
There was a very definitive day in February 2013 when Kevin knew we should adopt. God called him that day, and He was very literally placing this sweet girl in our family that day.
God has such an extravagant love.
He placed Sofi in our hearts, knowing she would be ours.
It resonates even deeper that the scripture that Kevin was impacted by that day was Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."
That scripture has been framed by our bed, and now there is a picture in its place.
Why? Why weave us together for 3 1/2 years, a world apart?
First of all, because no one else is capable of this level of tapestry. Who, but God can weave stories over space and time in such intricate ways.
Also, He knew that was the best moment for our family to come to that decision. The journey has blessed us and taught us in amazing ways.
And, very importantly, God intended for Sofi to be covered in our love and prayers. We don't fully realize the importance and power of prayer. Over time, we understand better and better, but prayer is God's will. We are invited to prayer, and we are called to prayer. God can work all things on His own without us, and He does at His choosing. But, in His wisdom, has purposed us to spread His love to each other. We are to pray for each other. We are to spread the Gospel. We are to love and care. Literally, He has intended for us to be the route of His love and power into the world - a blessing and a responsibility.
The Holy Spirit will lead us to pray for each other, even in times we don't understand.
--More about that in a moment --
So, after we received her referral, we continued the process by submitting a Letter of Intent (a request to China for her adoption) and then we waited for the Letter of Acceptance from China.
In the meantime, we received an updated picture and a few more details.
Our sweet girl had a cleft lip/palate surgery, and we had asked for the date and further info about the surgery.
----REWIND----
This post in May 2015.
I was overcome at that time with a very specific need to pray for our little girl. We have done A LOT of praying the last few years, some really big praying, but this day was different. I knew I was praying for something in particular, but I didn't know what it could be.
I documented it on the blog, because I hoped to find out one day how our lives matched up.
----FAST FORWARD----
Yep, that was the day.
That was the exact day of her surgery.
I prayed for our daughter through her surgery.
God has blessed us with some special confirmations of His promises.
He is so faithful.
His Love is so big.
We received our Letter of Acceptance, and now we are just in process to make it all legal and official.
Her Chinese name is Shu He.
We have decided to name her Sofi Shu.
Sofi means "wisdom". It's a short, four-letter name like our other kids.
Shu means "good, pure, virtuous"
This is only the beginning of Sofi's beautiful life.
She is loved by a great God, and we can't wait to bring her into all the love we have been saving for her.
You are part of that. You are part of this journey.
Your prayers and your love have been a part of God's plan for Sofi.
