Wednesday, November 19

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!

Today at 11:10 we got our call from Duni with the news of our baby girl. I was walking out the door to pick up Kole from pre-K and almost didn't get the phone.

"Hello"
"Danielle, this is Duni. Congratulations. Today is the day!"

Duni went on to tell me her age and name and a few other details. After trying to work around a meeting with Karl, I hopped in the car with Owen and Brenna (the little girl I babysit twice a week) and went to get Kole. He was in shock when he stepped into the van and I told him. He kept saying, "No you didn't. No, mom, you DIDN'T. MOM, You didn't get the referral." I wasn't sure about his reaction so I asked him about it to which he responded, "I just wasn't ready. I didn't know it was coming today!" I think after SO many months of waiting, it just felt so unreal that today was actually the day!!!

Well, I got almost to Crossroads (app. 25 minutes away) and realized I needed to have Braden to share the family moment, so I turned around and went 20 minutes back to his school. Then, he had just gone out for recess, so we had to go find him there. Then, he didn't want to come until after recess (Does anyone see how much of the real world this is?!? I don't know why I always build scenarios up in my mind :)) So, FINALLY, we headed to Karl at around 12:15. After a stop through McDonalds drive-through, we got to the church. It then took about 15 minutes to figure out how to rig the video camera. FINALLY, at 1:30 (I'm not kidding you!!!!) all five of us sat down at Karl's computer. First, Owen accidently hit Braden in the face (Owen was reaching for the computer and I went to bat his hand away and it hit Braden would be the more accurate description). Braden starts bawling. Then, after we try to deal with this, I start to read the e-mail and just as I'm starting to click for the picture something happens and the ENTIRE E-MAIL disappears. No joke. We can't find it anywhere. We even went to Karl's e-mail to see if there was another copy sent to him. Nope. We search awhile longer and find it was mysteriously taken to another folder. Now it is about 1:40.

@ app. 2 hours and 30 minutes after getting the call, we see our little girl for the first time. She is so precious. She is so tiny. She is our little gift from God. We can't wait to let everyone meet her. Thank you for your prayers.

People always ask, "What now?" America World tells you to expect 6-8 weeks at this point for travel. This will happen if you pass court in Ethiopia the first time. This is a huge if. Many families do not, and there's a myriad of reasons from paperwork not being right to paperwork not being where it needs to be to someone taking a day off work. Who knows? If we don't pass the first time, usually you're scheduled for a new court date a month later. And then a month after that...and so on and so forth. But, we will be praying for a smooth process. Everything has been so smooth so far and we feel incredibly blessed. Please pray with us that we can bring this little one home in January. That is our heart's desire. As Kole said, "I wish we could just go get her today!!!"

Rejoicing......

24 comments:

Kristine said...

Josh had my cell phone so I got the message from him!!! I can't wait to see you tonight!!! I'm with Kole, after so many months it's sureal that today is the DAY!!!

Love You.

Susan said...

Congratulations!!! So happy to see the referrals coming for those of you who have waited so very, very long!

Love you! Susan

ethiHOPEia said...

Oh Danielle!
This is music to my ears! Praise God that He has made known to you your little girl! Maybe we'll meet after all! Come on quick court dates...
with love,
Hilary

Andrea and Peter Kidd said...

I am soooo excited for you guys I can barely stand it!!! I need to see if I can find your number. I need to call you and hear your voice. Oh, this is a glorious day!!!! God is so good and you deserve all the blessings of this miracle.

Love to you,
Andrea

shell said...

WWWAAAAHHHHHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jen said...

Schman, tears are forming in my eyes over the joy I feel with and for you. Congratulations. I hope you all were able to do something extra-special to remember this extra-special day. Love you!

Tisha Alexander said...

This is wonderful news! Congratuations. I also hope that your court date goes smooth!

the Steiger's said...

We are so HAPPY for you. Congrats.
love, the steigers

Renee' said...

Your referral story was cracking me up! So happy for you guys!!! Congrats on your sweet baby girl, can't wait to see her face!

Anonymous said...

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Such amazing, wonderful news!!! Yipee!!! :) Seems like it will never come and then WHAM! it's here! And YES! we have a very crazy, similar, referral day story! LOL Get ready though, court passing day was ten times "worse"! LOLOL
So excited for you guys & praising God with you,
Amy & Dietrich

Mary said...

YEAH!!! YEAH!!! YEAH!!!

I just happened to check your blog and YEAH!!! I'm so excited for you. I can't wait until you pass court and can post pictures!

Blessings to you and your family,

Mary

Anonymous said...

YEAH!!!!! SO EXCITED FOR YOUR FAMILY!!! I know you have been waiting so long for this day! Can't wait for her to be in your arms and truly part of your family - though I know she already is :-)

Hugs from Okinawa,
Jessica

Rob and Candy said...

Congratulations! Rejoicing with you!
candy

Jeff and Amy McKissick said...

Praise God!

Britney said...

I am so excited!! Am I remembering correctly that you would announce her name when you got the referral? I'm so curious!

Liana said...

Schmann, I'm so, so, so excited & happy! I cannot wait to hear more!

Anonymous said...

I agree with Britney. Do we get to know the name????

Anna said...

I am sooo excited for you!!! What joy!!!! We will be praying with you through the next wait and hopefully taking lots of pics of her soon! ....I wish you could go now too! :-)

love,
Anna

jill coen said...

Did I hear some shouts of joy coming from over here?! Woooo hhhhoooooooooeyyyyy! Can't wait to meet your precious baby girl! Rejoicing with you!!!!
love, jill

Kelly said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Christina said...

Congratulations!

jeny said...

God IS so good!! We are rejoicing with you too, and cannot wait to see her little self in person.

love you!

Anonymous said...

Hurray! I'm SO, SO happy for all of you. I think your name is perfect...I can't wait to meet her. She is a very lucky girl to be joining such a wonderful family. Hugs to all of you...I miss you. Lori Cloud

E said...

Hurray & Congratulations! I've been out of town lately & am just now catching up on blogs! Anyway...what happy news...and a very amusing tale of finally getting to read that email!

So happy for you guys!!!

Also, so glad you chose Joy over Jezebel. You know, I actually met someone once who named their daughter Jezebel. When the name was shared I thought they were joking...then I just had this dumbfounded expression. Cringe. Anyway...Selah Joy (Something) Black is lovely. (We, too, ended up going with 4 names...why not?) Can't wait till we can see the pictures!!!

XOXO
Erica