Joy

Hannah has a family.  Those words brought tears to my eyes yesterday, and still when I think about it, I get goosebumps.  Hannah has a family.  You see, we didn't think Hannah would get a family.  We didn't think that this wonderful, feisty, curious, precious little girl would ever be adopted.  We didn't think that anyone would be able to see past her developmental delays to the Hannah that we see every day.  When you think of a child being adopted from TLC I'm sure you think of a tiny baby going home with their new parents, and quite often that is the case.  In fact, we got the wonderful news yesterday that three of our baby boys will be going home with their new families by the end of November.  It's wonderful that those parents will get to spend those early months with their child, but the children who are most in need of a mommy and a daddy are the older children, who often have special needs.  Hannah doesn't look good on paper.  She's nearly four years old, and she has some delays and special needs that will be with her for the rest of her life.  But when you meet Hannah you don't see any of that.  You see a child who has exceeded every expectation set for her, and not the milestones that she's missed.  You see a beautiful little girl with a twinkle in her eye, and not the scars on her face.  There is a family somewhere out there who has said that they want Hannah to be their daughter.  They have said that they will love her unconditionally, not matter what her issues.  They've never met her, and I can't wait till they see the smile on her face and they realize what an amazing blessing they have received.  We all know that when Hannah goes, she will leave a huge hole here at TLC.  I will miss her more than I can fathom.  She has a funny way of referring to herself in the third person, and I will miss hearing her say "What you doing to Hannah?"  when I tickle her, but my heart felt like it was lighter than air when I asked her this morning what her exciting news was.  She looked up at me and said "Hannah has a Daddy."  She, of course, has not idea what this actually means in her life.  To her, family is just a word.  For some reason, she's the most excited about getting a daddy, but she has not idea what that means.  And so we're excited for her.  Those of us who love her now are excited for the people who get the privilege of loving her for the rest of her life.  There is a bright future waiting for her, and I feel honored and blessed to have been a part of her past.  Praise God, Hannah has a family!

 

For those of you who are up to saying some prayers, I have a favor to ask.  In South Africa, the courts close from the end of November until the middle of January.  During this time, it's not possible to get a court date, and so no adoptions can be completed.  Hannah turns four in December, and of course we want her to be with her family for her birthday and for Christmas.  Can you please pray that we can get this little girl a court date before the courts close on the 21^st of November?  It would mean so much to me, and to Hannah.

Love and Blessings,

Amanda