Here is a photo of our little Ellie when we first got her (March 2010). When I look back at the photos I have of her from the first few months she was with us, most of them look like this--flat, void of emotion, indifferent. It is honestly hard to look at them sometimes as it is a glaring reminder to me of all that had transpired in her little life in the months leading up to her arrival with us. However! God has done an amazing work in her and in all of us and we have some exciting news to share! From the day we got Ellie, we said we would adopt her if that ever became an option. We attended every meeting at DSHS we could, were present at every court hearing regarding her, and have known for quite sometime that adoption was "likely." In court last July, the judge changed Ellie's "permanent plan" to adoption, but we also knew that we had to let the case run it's course and that there were no guarantees. We had court again just last Thursday and although we were confident the judge would not be returning Ellie to either biological parent, a little "snag" knocked our case back a bit and we were discouraged that it would still be many months before she was legally free (officially 'available' for adoption) and another year or more after that before our adoption was finalized. Then, in nothing short of a MIRACLE, we were informed that she is legally free, um, NOW!!! I cannot even begin to express how overjoyed we feel! Both parents have relinquished their legal rights and Ellie will be part of our "forever family" just as soon as we can have our adoption homestudy completed! We are seriously so baffled that this happened so quick! It is definitely NOT what we had expected!
I love how God works. I love that He knows the desires of our hearts. I love that He knew the timeline all along, and chose to bless us and surprise us by expediting the process. I love that our little Ellie is growing, thriving, showing empathy, smiling, learning to obey, fun, energetic, full of life, and becoming teachable.
(Ellie-Spring 2011)
We love you SO MUCH, Elliana Joy. We are thrilled to be your family. You have already taught us so much about love, grace, and redemption and we are honored and humbled to be your Mommy and Daddy.
6 comments:
Love that girl! So glad you decided to name her after me. ;)
So when do we find out her "other" name??? I've been waiting!!!
Wow...what a journey! We are so glad to hear things are working out. Miss you guys.
TEARS!!!
God is good!!!!!!
WOW you guys!! That's SO fantastic!! Noah cried when we explained she was a foster child and what that meant. We all love her so much and are SO happy we don't have to give her back!
I am so thankful to God and to your family for giving that beautiful child joy in her life! I haven't been keeping up on the blog, and I knew things were going well, but I am oh so glad it is finally at this stage! Tears doesn't quite say enough about the emotion I am experincing now...Thank you, thank you and thank you some more for loving Ellie in ways she would never have known otherwise!
Post a Comment