In September of 2007 a child was conceived in Ethiopia. At that very moment, God knew that child would be mine. I didn’t. He had to slowly convince me. It was easy, He knew I loved children. All He had to do was show me the love between a mother and daughter. They sat in front of me every Sunday at church, and my heart longed to have what they had. I made the final decision to adopt exactly two months before that child was born. I thought she was in Eastern Europe, but she wasn’t. I was led to another part of the world, and exactly one month after she was born, I signed the contract with my current agency to find the child that God had destined to be mine.

On Saturday, January 31, I saw her face for the first time. It was love at first sight. I had been praying for her and loved her already, but to actually look at her and see her face simultaneously brought tears to my eyes and took my breath away. She is perfect. Her innocent, but wise eyes mesmerize me, so big, so dark, so scared. What do her perfectly shaped ears hear every day? Her delicate, full lips look so serious and I cannot wait for the day when I see them relax and smile. Her little hands are clasped together so tightly as if begging someone to pick her up. Or praying for someone to love and care for her. Don’t worry my sweet little Janissa, I will be there as soon as I can!