Happy Birthday Girl

So we have some

I’m the kinda girl who likes to start with the bad so we can just move on to the good already.

So here is the bad news.

This precious little girl we’ve come to love over the past few months

is NOT our daughter.

WHAT!?!
I know what some of you are thinking but hang with me here and you'll understand why.


We received this photo from a friend who was traveling to Qingdao. We told her about Lia and her disability. We thought she would have no problem picking Lia out of the crowd of little ones.
Well...


We were wrong.


She did in fact meet a little girl with what looks to be the same disability as Lia and sent me these photos.

Looking back we did have our reservations. The little girl in the photo looked older and had lost her chubby cheeks. But we figured our referral photos were just very outdated and decided to pushed those reservations to the side.


This JUST HAD to be Lia. I mean what are the chances that there were TWO little girls around the same age, with the same disability, and living in the same orphanage in China. SERIOUSLY! You've got to be kiddin' me here.


WHAT. ARE. THE. CHANCES???


It makes a girl start to wonder.


I can’t even begin to go there my husband might just run away now


I am a strong believer of everything happens for a reason.


I’ll be the first to admit I do not know the reason for this one but I’m VERY INTERESTED to see how this story will play out.


I will continue to pray that this precious little one will find her forever family soon. Have you fallen in love with her? Could she be your daughter?


I’ve been so moved to find out what happens to this child.


After all for the last three months I thought she was Lia. I'll keep you all posted as I find out more information.



Now on to the good news....


We’ve sent two care packages to China for Lia. We didn't know if she was receiving these packages but sent them anyway in hopes that the orphanage would give them to her and she could begin to prepare for her transition into our family.


We were told that Lia’s orphanage was very confidential and not to expect any new pictures or information.




Do you understand now why we were so excited to find a friend visiting Lia’s orphanage. Oh how we hoped that she would met Lia and just happen to snap a few treasured shots of our girl.


Well last night I was all to aware Lia was celebrating her 5th Birthday in China without us.


I was trying to keep my mind occupied. Buzzing around doing the usual after school thing. You mom’s know what that looks like homework, laundry, dinner….. add to usual craziness taking care of my patient. (Yes Jason had his knee surgery yesterday. It went wonderfully and he is quickly on the mend. Yippee!)


I thought I was doing pretty good. No tears YET when something HIT me and my whole night changed.


I opened my e-mails and there it was, the most wonderful thing, the most adorable sweet face of my little girl eating the cake and holding the teddy bear we sent her for Christmas this year.

The timing with this one is just two much of a coincidence. Don’t ya think? We NEVER thought the orphanage would send us pictures of Lia.

All I can say is God answers prayers! He has shown up in such a big way this last week I can’t even begin to explain all the very many ways. I’ll save that for later.

For today I am lost somewhere on cloud nine and I think I'm going to be up here for a while!

Today we will celebrate Lia's birthday by eating cupcakes and singing "Happy Birthday" to our girl who is half a world away. We can't wait to celebrate with you at your next birthday, precious girl.

We’ve waited so long to see your precious smile Lia. How we long to hold you in our arms, kiss those precious chubby little cheeks, and tell you just how much we love you. We’re coming little one. Mama and Baba LOVE you!!


Just look at those cheeks!


Now there is no mistakin' That's my Lia!!


We are just so smitten with this little girl.