In our arms

Today is the day we have been waiting for.  To hold our sweet baby girl and tell her we love her and that her Father loves her and that He has made a forever home for her in our arms and in our lives.  


For us, it was a moment of completion.  It made the Choy family what we are supposed to be and it is good.  She was chosen for us and I can not wait to whisper sweet, "I love you's" in her ears for years to come.  


We drove up to the famous blue metal gates at about 9:45 this morning.  We had been there for about 5 minutes when someone said, "Here she comes!"  I was totally unprepared.  We'd been on African soil only hours and awake many less.  It had barely sunk in that this was all happening.  I threw my camera in someone's hands to make sure the moment was captured and...there she was.   So perfect and precious.  Much cuter than her referral picture I have to say.


She is small and petite and just a fragile little thing.  I held her with all of the love a mommy feels when she holds her baby.  Aliyah was a little unsure.  A few tears, but she eased in and made my shoulder her home. Jon was able to hold her too and she was just as snuggly and sweet.  


She is NOT the big eater we assumed she was from her first photo and is in fact wearing size 3-6 months when she is 10.  We got a few smiles out of her eventually and feel confident that more are to come when she is able to process the magnitude of all that is happening.  Wait, I haven't even processed that!!


Unfortunately we were only able to hold her for a few hours before we had to hand her back to the nuns.  We will go back in the morning to go see her again and to reassure her that we are becoming regular fixtures in her world.  


You can pray for our paperwork to get the proper signatures and to get through the courts system well.  There are many delicate steps and we desire them all to move smoothly.  Surprisingly, Jon and I feel very relaxed and at ease to simply take this all in one precious moment at a time.


We are thankful for all of you who are praying.  We have had great peace.  We've even slept really well and have experienced NO jet lag at all.  That is huge!


I wish I could show you her precious little face, but I think I should probably continue to wait until she is officially ours in the courts.  


To be cont'd.