AUGUST 13, 2008 - OUR MIRACULOUS REFERRAL DAY

Exactly one year ago, on August 13, 2008 our dreams finally came true. Our countless prayers were answered on that miraculous day. It is a day that will be forever etched in our minds and most certainly in our hearts. I still get chills when I think back to this miraculous day.

My Mother-in-law was staying with us for a couple of weeks and I am so thankful that she was able to experience this day with us. Tony and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary on 8-8-08 and I was very depressed that we didn't receive our referral on that day. I was very sad and beginning to lose hope. Having my MIL with us helped keep my mind off of the depression.

On August 13, 2008 we had a bunch of errands to run. Our first stop was the A&P to pick up some groceries for dinner. We were in the medicine isle looking at aspirin for my MIL. We were trying to find the best deal...you know more pills for less money. Then my cell phone rang and I knew it was my agency by the phone #. My heart sank, I looked over at my MIL and she was smiling from ear to ear. Brian from our agency said the most glorious words, "Deanna we have a beautiful baby girl who is almost 9 months old for you. She has a tiny hole in her heart that is very common here in the states. Would you like to review her file."

Would I like to review her file? YES, oh YES. We went over some more details like which orphanage she was in and her name and birth date. My heart was racing...could this be our daughter? Brian's last words were, "I'm going to e-mail you her file now, she really is such a beautiful little girl."

After we hung up the phone I quickly called Tony and said, "Are you ready to be a daddy?" He yelled, "What! Are you serious!" I told him everything that Brian said and told him the e-mail should arrive shortly. Both of our hearts were pounding a mile a minute. Is this real? Is this finally happening? We hung up the phone and promised to call each other the moment we saw her picture.

I asked my MIL if she thought that this little girl was Halainah and she exclaimed, "Yes, and I'll tell you why!" Secretly my MIL prayed that the only thing she wanted for her birthday was for Halainah to be joined with our family. God answered her prayers one day after her birthday. In fact on the day of her birthday August 12th our agency called the house. But it was just a paperwork question. She secretly asked God if that was a joke because it was not funny. She prayed once again in her daily morning prayers to let today August 13, 2008, 1 day after her birthday be the day. Halainah's lifebook is chock full of chilling stories like this that truly reflect God's power of prayer.

My MIL and I grabbed a few quick things and checked out via the express line. Our hearts were racing. It felt like the 5 minute drive home took an hour. We pulled up to the house and ran to the front door. My hands were shaking and I was having trouble opening the door. We flew into the house and ran upstairs. I turned on the computer. My MIL and I were jumping with excitement. We opened up the e-mail and we saw the most beautiful little miracle I have ever seen. We were in complete tears...I can still feel how full of joy we were that very minute.

About 2 seconds later Tony called. He had tears in his eyes too. I could tell by the cracking in his voice. And we both said in unison..."That is Halainah...that is our daughter." Our prayers were finally answered.

Halainah Grace, Happy referral day! You have filled our hearts with so much love and joy. You are our little miracle and we thank God for you every second of every day.

This is the very first picture we saw of our daughter exactly one year ago today. We knew that split second that she was our daughter.