SO Many Unknowns

Things are pretty exciting at the Pierce house these days. It is quite a daunting task to pack for FIVE for a sixteen day trip in another country!!! I have tried to pack a little each day for the past week. We have two Christmas trees up and lit.....one with several decorations, and one with none. I actually have gifts wrapped to go under the tree. I am much farther ahead with Christmas this year than I have been in MANY years past. However, considering I am going to be out of the country for half the month of December, I'm probably actually behind on things.

Despite the fact that I have been very busy, I have done so much thinking about our sweet Ansley Grace. When we received our update on her about six weeks ago, we were informed that she had not been told YET that she was being adopted. With our three previous adoptions, even though I sent care packages with photo albums full of our family pictures to be shared with our daughters to be, I seriously doubt that any of them understood what was about to happen to them. Ansley Grace is 8 years old. I doubt, though, that she has a concept of what adoption really is either, and I actually also doubt that she has received any of the care packages I have sent to her. She was flown to the United States about a year ago and was hosted for 3 1/2 weeks by a wonderful family in Oregon. Her host mom said she did GREAT! But I can't help but ponder on what is going to go through her little mind when the official from the orphanage, which is going to be a man, brings her to an unfamiliar place and hands her over to us. Yes.....it was a very frightening experience for our 18 month old, three year old, and 28 month old in the past. I can only imagine what it may be for her. We know she has been with the same foster family for the past two to three years, and that they have lived in an apartment on the grounds of the orphanage. She has had a family......a mother and father figure, as well as foster brothers. It almost seems cruel in a sense, to think about taking her out of that. The last several pictures we have received of her depict a child who doesn't appear unhappy in any way. She has been clean, she looks healthy, and other than the mix-matched outfits and her toes hanging over the ends of her sandals (Molly Kate and Callie Beth have some shoes like that, too), she looks well taken care of. So what can we offer her that she isn't getting there?

I could start by listing all kinds of material things we are going to be able to provide for her that she has probably never had before. Christmas morning is probably going to be pretty exciting for her. Is that good? Probably not entirely. Our other girls have far too many "things." I can dress her cute......in fact, I have LOTS of matching outfits for all three girls. I am thoroughly going to enjoy that while I can. We are going to love her to pieces.....we ALREADY love her, and I have to admit I can't wait to wrap my arms around her and hold her tight. Surely, though, she is hugged and loved where she is now. I mean, how could you have a child living in your home for two to three years and not love her? 

I could go on and on about things we might give Ansley Grace that is better than what she is receiving now, but in all honesty, there really is just ONE thing that is going to matter the most in her life once she becomes a part of our family, and that is the knowledge of the love and saving grace of Jesus. Actually, I know our little girl has very few material possessions of her own, and her experiences in life have been limited. But even though we are going to fill those needs in her life, our greatest goal should be to teach her about the ONE who created her and blessed us to be her mama and daddy. I truly believe, too, that if we will depend on HIM as we travel to get her, He will work out all, if any of the kinks in the process. 

God has been SO true and faithful to us in our past adoptions. What precious children He has entrusted to us, even if some only for a short time. I really don't believe in coincidence, but God's timing in this adoption speaks loudly of His perfect will and plan. I can't wait to share with all my family and friends daily as it unfolds. Thanks, in advance, for all the prayers that I know and feel are being lifted for her and for us, too.