And then we saw her...

On Monday,April 22, 2008 I logged on to our adoption website like I normally do. I clicked to see if any additional waiting children have been posted....and WHAM....13 children were just downloaded...

I scanned through the pictures and I saw HER...I just knew it was HER...I scrambled for a pen and wrote down her listing number MA268. (MA stands for multiple agency).
I knew I had to move fast. Every agency was looking at her and I was bound to lose the chance of getting her. I filled out my request form and hit the send button with such force.

I reached for the phone and called Ann (director) at our agency. She comfirmed that I was the first request form that was received (there were many more after me). As she gathered my information another agency locked the file before my agency was able to.I called Ann back and she was just as upset as I was. How can this of happened? There was no way this other family would let her go. I didn't believe that there was a remote chance of the file being unlocked. I cried for hours.

Ann convinced me to still follow through and write a letter of intent to China stating my desire to adopt her. I didn't know if I had it in me. I didn't want to pour my heart out into a letter about a child and connect with her. But I was already connected, so the letter flowed with ease. Ann sent my letter to China and had it translated in Chinese.She asked me to follow through and meet with pediatricians and put a nurture and medical plan together. I went from doctor to doctor making sure that she had the best physicians who would be prepared to handle any medical condition that might arise.Thanks Dr. Levitt, Dr. Wicina .

We submitted our paperwork and moved ahead with getting our fingerprints re-done at Immigration in West Palm Beach. We are going through the motions but we still don't have a child.

On Wednesday April 23rd at 3:30pm my phone rang. I saw on the caller ID that it was my adoption agency. I picked up with hesitation. I heard Ann's voice and knew immediately I was on speaker phone. She shouted "Congratulations, she's yours". Well you can never be prepared for "THE CALL". I started screaming "SHUT UP" ...I fell to my knees. Funny how I found myself on my knees, the same place I originally started when asking God for a child.

Ann explained that after an agency locks a childs file they have 24 hours for that family to submit all the required paperwork. If all the paperwork has not been received, then the file becomes unlocked. Ann stalked the computer all day long checking to see if it would become unlocked. And it did. And she was prepared with all my paperwork. Our letter of intent was submitted and Myah's file is LOCKED!

We're running to you Myah......We're coming.....