One year ago today I opened an email that contained a link that changed my world.  I woke up on September17th without any plans to adopt and with a to-do list that was a mile long.  Halfway through my day I became aware that Ana Sofija Calvaresi existed.  My to-do list became unimportant.

Isaiah 43:5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.  I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.”

I didn’t understand the how or why or what, but I could not escape the call.  My child was on the other side of the world and it was urgent for me to go get her.  I had no fear.  God was with me.  He provided everything we needed.  He “gathered” us.  And He brought her home from the east.

Lots of adoptive families celebrate “gotcha” days.  The day that their child legally became a part of their family.  Sofija’s gotcha day was a day that we would actually rather forget.  We love her dearly and we’ve come to enjoy the majority of her behavior.  There was nothing enjoyable about her behavior on that day.

Instead of celebrating her gotcha day, I think we will celebrate this day.  I think I’ll call it our “Awakening Day.”

awakening

noun:  a recognition, realization, or coming into awareness of something

Ironically, we are packing up right now to spend the weekend at Awakening Fest.

John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.”

Thank you God for upheld promises, for awakenings, and for my child.