We have our referral! I kept watching for the new shared list to come out every month, thinking that at some point our little one would be on it, and being disappointed every month when she wasn’t. Last Monday evening another shared list was released, and once again we did not receive a match. I did not post about my disappointment again, because I recently learned that when I grumble, I am actually grumbling about God, since He is in control. Anyway, Tuesday morning I called our agency, and was told that they didn’t make any matches.
Thursday morning came and I found out that a long standing prayer had been answered. Ting Ting, a little girl we sponsor in China, had finally been matched with the family that had been trying to adopt her for some time. I was overjoyed by this news, but honestly, I was a tiny bit jealous.
A couple hours later, I was getting ready to go get a haircut. In my mind I heard the special ringtone that I have set on my phone for our adoption agency. I heard it a few times, and reminded myself that when I hear that ringtone for real, it will be Children’s Hope calling. Well, 20-30 minutes later I heard that ringtone for real. I froze for a brief second. It’s Children’s Hope calling! I ran to the phone, and very carefully slid the accept button. (I’m constantly hitting the
reject by accident.)
Then, I heard those sweet words that I’ve been waiting to hear, “We have a referral for you.” My response was, “are you kidding?’” She assured me that she wasn’t kidding. (Wouldn’t that be a cruel joke?) She then began to tell me all about our little girl. She is 13 months old. (We started the adoption process 13 months ago.) Her birth date is listed as the day before our daughter Emily’s.
After all my talk abut the shared list, our little one wasn't even on one. Her file was given specifically to Children's Hope to match, and since we were up next for a referral and she met our requests for age and special need, she was referred to us first. We definitely see God's hands at work here.
Since the call we have had her medical files reviewed by an international adoption doctor at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, MO. She suggested that we get an updated echo and growth data. (What we have was done at 6 months.) Those requests were sent to China Saturday. By now they should have been translated and given to CCCWA.
Monday morning we formally accepted the referral and sent our Letter of Intent.
So now we are waiting for updates as well as the preapproval from China. As soon as we have PA, we will be posting pictures, and sharing more of this miracle with you.
Lori
