The 9 Photos I Cherished. . .

. . .for 9 long months. From November 19th, 2007, until September 1, 2008, this is how I knew and fell in love with my daughter. I can't believe it's been a year since we received her referral. Sometimes it feels like just yesterday, but most of the time it feels like it was such a long, long time ago.

We were one of those families who got a referral relatively fast, but had a rather long wait. Not to mention the slow judge. . .As I sit here today, and I think of how Gracyn can't stand for me to put her down when I get home (not even for a second!) or how she crawls into bed and into my arms and falls back asleep while holding my hand, and then I reflect back just 12 weeks ago ago, and I'm in utter amazement. . .12 weeks and 2 days ago Gracyn celebrated her second birthday in Taiwan, while I was here finishing up my packing and getting ready to hop on plane. I used to lie in bed and pray for my daughter's comfort, for her and her foster family. I'd often cry thinking about the wait that felt like it would never end. Now, I still pray for her, but I thank Him for this incredible opportunity to be her Mommy. I thank Him for the lessons learned.

Just a thought. . .as you get older time flies by. When you're awaiting a referral or travel news, time drags. How is that? Then, when you get home and look back at it all, you wonder why it felt like it took years to meet your child. I got to thinking. . .when you're driving to a new location, somewhere you've never been, the ride always feels longer. You're looking around for signs, landmarks, worried you might get lost. I think the journey from referral to gotcha day felt longer than it should have because it was a journey I've never been on. A road I've never traveled, with no map, no estimated time of arrival, and no GPS guiding the way. Is it a journey I'd take all over again? Absolutely. But I think now that I've been there, my perspective has changed.

So, if you're one of those families who's waited longer than most for a referral, or someone who's watched almost everyone you know get their final decree and you're still waiting, or if you're crying because everyone got updates and their blogs are being visited while the one or two pictures you've received is in a post so long ago that no one sees it. . .know that others have been on that journey before. I have been on that journey. Take it all in. Every journey is meant to be unique as is each child. My journey was His plan and His plan brought me my Gracyn. I couldn't imagine in a million years having anyone but her. By they way, I used to digi-scrap the same pictures of Gracyn over and over again and pretend they were new. My way of coping. Now, I can barely find time to even upload all of her photos!

Just remember. . .In His time.

Happy Referral Day Gracyn!!! (She hasn't a clue why I made her take a picture with a "book" and didn't want the picture frame her lap!) But, I GOT IT!!!