Introducing.........!!!!!

We are so proud to announce the newest addition to our family, a special little princess who is turning 1 year old TODAY!

We weren't planning another adoption just yet, but as always God's plans are so much better than our own!  When an agency contacted us about a little girl they felt would be perfect for our family, how could we say no?  We definitely had some reservations, but only because of the financial strain we are in from having completed 5 special needs adoptions in 6 years time.  However, while there were lots of verses in the Bible to encourage us and motivated us to proceed with the adoption, there was one passage that prevailed more so than all the rest:

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’  “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ - Matthew 25: 42-45

When presented with the opportunity to love and care for this precious little child, to make her our daughter, there were only 2 possible answers - yes or no.  To say no seemed to be saying no not just to this baby girl but also to God himself.  We have always said we go on faith, and since money was the ONLY reason we could find to say no in the end we realized we really had no reason!  We would just have to proceed on faith that God would provide.

So while we weren't planning to start another adoption until we were a bit more stable financially, once this precious angel was presented to us we knew that once again we were seeing God's plan in action, not our own!  While we are trying to figure out how we'll cover all the adoption expenses, knowing without doubt God will provide, we are also growing ever more excited about having another little girl in our home.  She is only 4 1/2 months older than Elianna (and her Chinese name is An Na!), so they will be "virtual twins."  Of course since we are just now starting the process it will be close to a year before we bring her home, but I am already eagerly awaiting the day I can finally hold her in my arms and give this sweet baby all the love she needs!

Happy Birthday, baby girl!  You are no longer an orphan waiting for a family, you are now our BELOVED DAUGHTER waiting to come HOME!!!!!!!!!!!

Our precious daughter, Zhou An Na.  Her special needs are listed as cleft lip & palate, hearing impairment, and an enlarged liver,  but we think her most special need is to be loved!