Holy Poop!

We got our referral! This post is a little long but I didn't want to forget the things we were feeling that day later on.

So here is how it all went down...

I got up at 5:15am this morning, which if you know me, that is early. I was thinking about Steve a lot and had a big day at work ahead of me so I decided to go to work early and get a head start. I thought for some reason that this might be the day, the day we get a referral.I can't explain why I thought that. Of course, I have thought that before.

It was a typical hectic Monday at work and a lot of the agents were very sad about our friend Steve passing away over the weekend. For lunch, me and two of my best buds from work, Pam and Lindsay, went to a tea room. It was very quiet and relaxing with classical music playing in the background. It was just what we needed on a hectic Monday.

I was chatting with the girls and as we finished eating my cell phone rang. I looked at the phone that was sitting on the table. The caller ID said RADU. "Oh my Gosh, It's Radu!" I yelled to the girls. Oh my gosh!!! I answered all calm and he casually asked, How is the blog/yahoo group going? Are you kidding me, that is why he is calling? After a little conversation, he asked me if I got his email with 2 pictures. I said I was away from my computer at lunch. I said, Is it a referral? He would not tell me, he just said, call me when you see the email!!! Why so vague? I still don't know but I guess it doesn't matter.

I hung up the phone and starting yelling frantically at the girls, Oh my gosh, get in the car, get in the car!!! The old lady sitting behind us enjoying her quiet lunch probably thought I was CRAZY! The girls said to hold on because we had to pay the bill. I threw cash on the table and started to head out toward the car. Let's go, lets go.

As I left I called Rick on his cell phone and luckily he wasn't in a meeting. I was so excited to tell him that I think we got the referral call. I told him that I would forward him the email when I got back to work and we would open it together over the phone because there was no way I could wait 6 hours until he got home!

As the girls paid the bill I got in the car and backed it out of the parking space so I could easily zoom out of the parking lot. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to drive, I was so excited. The girls were laughing at me but also excited.

I made it back to the office in a few minutes, no I wasn't speeding, it's just close to the office. :)It seemed like every stop light was taking an eternity.

When I got to the office, I emailed Rick and called him. We opened the email together and it had 3 attachments. 1 word document with information and 2 pictures. Rick wanted to open the word document first and Rick read through it aloud. I wanted him to hurry so we could get to the pictures and he kept reading and reading.
Later, I too read every word on the document multiple times. We opened the picture together and Rick's loaded faster and I heard him say, she is so pretty. Mine finally loaded and he was so right. She is gorgeous, beyond what I could have imagined.

In the picture she is wearing clothes that are way too big for her and she is drowning in them. She has huge beautiful eyes and the cutest lips. In her medical records, she only weighed 8 pounds 2 oz on Aug 18th, when she was 3 months old. So small. I just want to give her kisses and hold her. She is from Harar, 311 miles away from Addis.

She arrived at the orphanage Aug 12, 2008. This means that she has been at the orphanage for only a few weeks. I can't even imagine what that mother must have felt giving up her child. If she only knew what a great life her child will have and how much I already love her. I will pray for her and always be grateful.

Rick and I had to go back to work but it was hard. We couldn't concentrate at all after such excitement. Most of the agents at work have kept up with the adoption blog so they knew I was waiting for a referral. I got on the Intercom and announced that We got our referral! I forgot I was talking to a bunch of agents. They all thought I meant a real estate referral. Lindsay knew they didn't understand so she got on the intercom and said Rick and Amber have a baby girl!!!

At this point all the agents ran into my office to see the baby! I can't tell you what an emotional experience this was. We were all crying and mourning Steve's loss and now people were crying out of joy for a new life. It's amazing how God works and how he brought joy in a time of sorrow. The funeral was today and was very sad. Please continue to pray for Steve's family.

When we got off work, Savannah was in gymnastics/cheer so I texted Savannah to tell her that we got our referral and she texted back... I kid you not...
"OMG Holy POOP did you see it?". I guess "it" meant the baby.
I laughed so hard! She gets her eloquence from me.

Rick and I decided that we should go out to dinner and celebrate.Rick was so happy, grinning ear to ear. I printed out the photo of our daughter and brought it to dinner so I could stare at it. Rick was so cute, Every time a waiter or staff member walked by the table, Rick grabbed them and said, do you want to see my baby? Do you want to see my baby? Ahh...It was even funnier when the guy that refills the tea came by and Rick said, do you want to see my baby? It was really funny when they saw the photo with a black baby and gave us a funny look. Priceless!
He was so proud and I ate up every minute of how wonderful my man is! I fell even more in love with him at that moment if that is possible. I'm sure when he reads this story he will say that I exaggerate but trust me, I'm not.

We came home and set up the video camera so we could show Savannah her new baby sister. She was very excited. I have posted the video below. Rick and I are calm because by the time we filmed the video we had already had some time for it to sink in.

Rick and I both have posted our daughters pictures as our desktop screen saver so we can stare at her. When I look at the picture it feels so surreal. I still can't believe that will be our daughter. I just want to go to Ethiopia and pick her up. Who needs the courts to reopen anyway?

Rick and I can't even explain in words how excited and blessed we feel. We toasted a glass of champagne and a virgin margarita for Savannah. We thanked the Lord for answered prayer and toasted to our new daughter that we will name, Ayana Neveah Boyd!

See the videos below...