So this happened today

We received the hard copy of our LOA all the way from China! We had to sign the letter of acceptance, and check the box for accept (there was a box to decline...). It was so....huge...beautiful...holy. Her name and birthdate were on it, and a line that read 'Identity' and in the space provided was the word 'Foundling'. Elsie is a foundling, meaning that she was found. That word pierced my heart. It is such a lonely word. A lost word. It speaks to her profound loss...7 years a foundling. I wept. I weep. It just cracks my heart wide open. Way back in Sept when I was talking to the adoption agency about her, I asked them if there has ever been anyone else that asked for her file or inquired about her. They said no one, ever. The weight of this is nothing short of tragic. BUT! Today she has a mommy and papa that are scrambling as fast as God allows us to get to her, she has an army of prayer warriors (you!) praying her swiftly home! HOME. Forever home. Hallelujah, Praise to our good good Father!!! It is nothing short of a miracle that He has chosen a little girl all the way around the world, her, out of billions of children, to be our daughter!! I have another blog post that I am excited to share. My good friend is in China now and she picked up her new daughter (Elsie's friend!) on Monday. She gave me permission to share her story and pictures, it is redemption in a little girl's smile. But I just ask that we sit in deep gratitude for His mercy and grace and love in this day of days. This beautiful, wonderful day that brought to us paperwork that will bring her home. Thank you for your prayers and love. This LOA is on its way as I write this blog back to our agency in MD via FedEx,and will be Fedex'd tomorrow to US Immigration office. This is the I800 paperwork phase. It is asking our government if we can adopt Elsie specifically. Previous immigration said yes to our request to adopt *a* child,and this paperwork is for their ok to adopt *this* child, now that China said yes to *this* child (!). This should hit the USCIS lockbox on Thursday (!) And then we wait 3 ish weeks for the approval. Prayer request is, of course, for safe handling of our LOA all the way to USCIS, and prayers of immense gratitude that we are so blessed to be on this journey and we got to sign papers saying yes! we want Shi Qing, (Elsie).