Our auction closed raising $455 towards the adoption. We realized we put too many items in the auction... it's a learning curve. $455 is nothing to shake a stick at though, it helps us get that much closer!
Then on December 1st we learned that we were FINALLY matched with Milanija! This was the big push because not only does that mean nobody else can adopt her first, it also means that we can communicate directly with her. We'll be Skyping, talking on the phone, we can send her gifts, pictures, clothes... whatever we want to send to our little girl.
A side note: December 1st is (was) my grandma's birthday, her name was Honey. Honey was very special to me, as many of you know. Here's the amazing connection, Milanija's name means Honey, as in Sweetheart. Things like this touch my heart so deeply. God is so tender. Her name could've meant anything, but it didn't. It means something so special to me personally.
This Friday is Milanija's birthday and guess what we get to do!?! We get to TALK TO HER!!! I've thought of little less since hearing this. Our beloved lawyer and friend, Reda, is going to the orphanage for her birthday party and will be calling us with her. She will have been told she has a family the day before by Silva, our other beloved friend and representative in Lithuania. They waited a few days extra to tell her about us so that it could be done for her birthday. They are thoughtful and incredible ladies! (I would passionately recommend anyone to adopt from Lithuania!)
Our next step with the adoption is receiving a "Proposal" from the Lithuanian Central Authority for Milanija's adoption with all of her extensive social and medical history.... essentially asking, "With all that's wrong with her, are you sure you STILL want her?" (Not in those words, of course) We, of course and without delay, will accept said proposal. Then comes the second portion of the I800 immigration forms.
I remember with JP our agent, Cathy, made a personal phone call to me making SURE that we were walking into this with our eyes wide open and not romanticizing the idea of adoption. This is wise to do because it's easy to imagine all the wonderful things we'll be doing and showing these kiddos. I think she (and maybe some of you) was concerned because Rich and I were being so positive, as we are with this adoption. Here's the thing, we FULLY understand what a huge and heavy choice we've made... if we don't start out being so positive and confident in God's path for us we would surely crash and burn 2 months into it. Especially having a year under our belt, I'm here to tell you that there are some very hard days, some mildly hard days, and then there are those days when I've entertained the idea of a glass of wine at 10am. (not really.) BUT with those days come amazing days! Breakthroughs in development, realizations of progress, and blessed connection. There is balance and more so even leaning towards goodness.
For anyone who questions our sanity... Never once have we ever second guessed our choice. Not even on the hardest days. This isn't like the possibility of buyer's remorse or regretting a bad couch. These are people. Small, innocent, vulnerable people. Please do not mistake our JOY for naiveté. We do not take this lightly. Be joyful and faithful with us!
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