Happy 3rd Birthday Joanna Faith Wright

 Happy Birthday to you.....Happy Birthday to you.....Happy Birthday Dear Joanna......Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 I want to give you a quick recap of our story- How Joanna came to us.  All of our children's stories are miracles- there is NO HUMAN explanation I can assure you, and Joann's story is the same.

Once upon a time there was a mommy and a daddy and 7 beautiful children!!!  (great start huh?)  They were matched with a little girl they named Naomi Caroline from Ethiopia.  They had prayed, raised funds, prepared their hearts and home for this precious daughter to come home soon.  Then they got an unexpected letter from USCIS in the mail while they were overseas visiting family in England.  This letter stated in other words of course that we did not make enough money to adopt another child.  When we tried our best to prove to them that indeed although our salary was not huge, but we had all our housing and utilities paid for- they would not accept that, and said denied!  (In other words our USCIS person needs some Jesus- Desperately!)

 This mommy and daddy were heartbroken beyond belief!!  Had we heard God wrong?  What could we do?  Was there another way to adopt?  I mean we already had "too many" children to foster any more children.  Surely we couldn't do a domestic adoption???  I mean we had 7 children!!!!!  I would totally pick my profile, but would a mother be that confident in a person who had 7 children already??  What could we do??  Our hope was gone, and we lay in disbelief and depression. 

 Until.......I found another blog.  A blog of a person who adopted their 10th child!!!  WAHOOO!!!!  Faith restored, and talked with Tracie Loux - Christian Adoption Consultant!!  She said it was possible to adopt even though we had so many beautiful blessings....could this really be???  After speaking to Tracie on a Friday.....Monday rolled around and she called back asking if we had filled out any paperwork yet.  Ummmm....no we had a retreat group that weekend, and hadn't had time to think about it.  Why??  Oh there may be a situation already??  What???

As it turns out- there were 3 within a 24 hour period of time!  We cried with JOY!!!  We signed on immediately, and prayed hard.  God showed us a situation that was not to be our child, but then showed us JOANNA's situation!!!! 

 People there is NO explaining this- without God.  There just isn't!  We talked excitedly to Deb OKane from Mother Goose :).  We booked flights, filled out a bundle of paperwork, changed our homestudy, transferred money, filled out and scanned more paperwork, made arrangements to be gone, went to Walmart at 4am on our way to the airport, had a flight delay in Louisiana due to a crazy hail storm!!!  I mean- this was CRAZY!!!!!!! 

 BUT GOD!!!!!!

 Sometimes, in our lives it seems like God has somehow failed.  We look at our lives and say- See God!  I told you so!  Why did you do it this way?  This doesn't seem fair!  This isn't right!  We didn't have a bad motive, why didn't this work out the way we planned, hoped, and dreamed??  WHY!!!!!

Then God says, man makes his own plans......

Psalm 20^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹ May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
    may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
² May he send you help from the sanctuary
    and grant you support from Zion.
³ May he remember all your sacrifices
    and accept your burnt offerings.^[b]
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
    and make all your plans succeed.
⁵ May we shout for joy over your victory
    and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

⁶ Now this I know:
    The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
    with the victorious power of his right hand.
⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
⁸ They are brought to their knees and fall,
    but we rise up and stand firm.
⁹ Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us when we call!

 God knew and heard our call of distress!!!  He knew all about our broken hearts!!!  He knew our daughter was going to need us, when, where, and all those details.  The hardest part is saying- Whatever for You God! 

 He knew that on this day 3 years after Joanna was born that she would have a light sword fight with daddy and laugh and be silly!  Now I don't know about you, but sometimes when things are going crazy- this is a HUGE comfort!!!  I MEAN HUGE!!!  Because God knows our hurts, our hangups, our weaknesses, our strengths, our selfishness, our love for others, our hearts, our minds, all about our spouse, and all about our children and future children! 

 This- our beautiful "stork drop" miracle baby girl who lights up a room with her sassy charm!  Our bundle of complete joy and craziness.  The little baby who never wanted a pacifier, didn't do tummy time, didn't like baby food, has never wanted to go to anyone but mommy and daddy, and she has a crazy sense of humor.  We know God totally sent her to remind us - ummmm we are not perfect parents ;).

Yet, since bringing her "twin" home we have witnessed a bond, a love so deep, and a sense of giving in her sweet heart.  Oh, she has her moments as well, but she is just a huge blessing to us! 

 I can tell you that a little  over 3 years ago.......we needed a miracle.  We were devastated when the miracle we wanted didn't happen, but GOD!  God knew the miracle that would be ours!!!!!

 Happy 3rd Birthday Joanna Faith Wright!!!!

We love you our little boo boo!  :)

**Side note: Now working for Christian Adoption Consultants- Love working  with others walking crazy journeys and praying with and for them!!!  God has brought us to a place where we get to share in the joys and heartaches of others too.  I give God thanks for allowing us to do this and pray that He uses us to connect children and families :).