The Very First Picture! & How Our Story Unfolded

This was the VERY first picture we received from CHI. When we received the referral, Sara DeMerchant, from CHI called and said she had just emailed me the picture and we will soon be getting more information mailed to us.

Some history about our adoption and the process we went thru:

• We requested a sibling group of 3
• We requested 3 girls (My desire was to have at least one little girl to name after my grandmother, Mary Geneva. I was going to name her Genevieve Marie, a twist off of Nana's name.)
• Before our dossier made it to Colombia and was translated, Lucia had sent word that there was a sibling group of 3 girls available, but they were a few years older. We were asked if interested, to increase the age on our Home study.
• After some prayer, Ben did not feel these were our children and we declined to increase the requested age at that time. We did pray for these children -praying that God place them in the right home and that they be sheltered and cared for until then...
• A few weeks later, we received another call from Sara with info about our unofficial referral. The only info she knew was that it was 2 boys, 1 girl from Florencia, and their ages.
• About a week later (a long week!) we got the above photo and a few more days or so translated info on the children with additional pics (see earlier post).
• Ben met me at work so we could open the email together from Sara. As the picture opened, we saw only Andrew and his lips!!! He and Ben have the same lips! Then as the picture downloaded we saw that the children look a LOT like Ben! Only God could make a match like that!
• Before we got news of the referral, someone in our church said they had a vision of our children and it wasn't 3 girls, it was 2 boys and a girl! Sara began sharing the news and made a comment, I know you really wanted 3 girls, but I really think you will...and I just interrupted her and said, no, no! And told her what the lady at church had said...God is so good!
• We needed nearly $9,500 for adoption expenses/fees on April 10th before we got our referral on April 27th; by May 21st, we needed under $3,500! By our travel date on June 2nd, we had all the money needed plus a little spending money; Praise be to God!
• We flew to Bogota to Florencia. Stayed 17 days in Colombia!
• Touched ground with three new US Citizens! And life hasn't been the same since!!!