Our Leap of Faith ~ One Year Later

On July 21, 2008, our Agency Director called to inform us that he got our contract paperwork and $check$. He wanted to know what our interests were in the type of child we would like to adopt. Initially, we said "a girl, 6-30 months" but after talking to Brent and learning that the wait for a girl could be long (up to a year), we said "either gender, but girl as preference."

Forty eight hours later, on July 23, 2008, I received a call from Brent indicating that he had a referral for an 18-month old girl but wanted to talk to us. The girl was located in Ekaterinburg - a region known for a tough judge, a lot of additional paperwork (which means more moola as more paperwork has to be notarized/apostilled, etc.), and long waits between Trip #1 and Trip #2. Other families had declined this referral for the simple reason that they didn't want to travel to Ekaterinburg from what they had heard.

I sat there in the locker room at work while on a break and telling Brent "go ahead and send the information and we'll call you back within a day." Brent sent an e-mail containing the medical information and a picture of Kristina. I waited until Jon got home that night before opening the e-mail and seeing her face for the very first time.

Kristina's referral picture taken at 18 months old.

I remember that moment like it was yesterday. It seemed like it took Jon forever to get home and then the dang computer took such a long time to upload the picture. I sat there with Jon behind me and then her face appeared. She looked so serious, very stoic! But look at that blonde -- white -- hair. Jon had the same hair when he was little! A child not adopted because of a judge? Some additional paperwork? We've waited 12 years trying to have children ~ what's a few more months?

The medical information was scarey but we were prepared as we had heard that it's common in Russian Adoptions that the medical information may be exaggerated -- this way justifiable as to why the child is in an orphanage and up for adoption.

We didn't have to talk it over very long. We just stared at her picture and knew, this would be our daughter, God-willing. I truly feel everything happens for a reason. Other families were "scared away" from Ekaterinburg so that this little girl could find her way into our hearts and family.

Picture of me staring at Kristina's photo after receiving her referral last July...something I did day-in, day-out until we brought her home 10 months later.

I thank Brent for matching us up. I thank Jon for supporting me in my endeavor to be a mom. I thank our families and friends for being there this last year, even when we couldn't be there for you. I thank God for bringing Kristina into our lives ~ she has brought with her so much joy, love, and laughter. Life is good.