I sat in the waiting alone.

   Halfway around the world my family was praying.

There I was in Moscow, Russia,

    waiting for Noelle’s final physical examination to be completed.

“Please Lord, help her to pass.”

My heart cried out in anguish to the One and Only One.

The past few days had been extremely busy,

   signing papers,

   spending precious moments with my baby girl,

   dancing with her in that tiny room.

Then as the Lord arranged

    she was allowed to leave the orphanage at 12:00 midnight.

    Christmas Eve.

 As I walked out of that building with the snow gently falling

   I thought I could hear angels singing.

I softly laughed with wonder and excitement.

God was making a Way for this precious child to become mine

    to love,

    and parent

    for the rest of my days.

We rode the overnight train back to Moscow.

Noelle slept most of the way.

Clickety-clack.

Clickety-clack

   through the darkness.

He provided.

But now as I sat outside in the waiting room

   waves of anxiety swept over me.

She had to be declared unhealthy

   in order to be adopted.

There had to be something wrong.

But her eyes sparkled

  and shone with alertness.

Yes, I knew that her one side was weak;

   her legs were like jello from inactivity

But would that be enough.

How strange to be even praying that the doctor would declare her adoptable.

I longed for a shoulder

  to lean on

God gave me His Best Arm upon which to rest.

Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting Arms.

I don’t remember anything about that room

   but I will never forget that shining moment

   when the door opened.

I turned my eyes and met the dark eyes of that tall, stern Russian doctor.

He nodded.

That was all.

  And I knew. I knew that she had passed….

                                                 had failed….

                                      the way was cleared for this precious little child to be mine.

The next few minutes were a blur as they placed her into my open,

                    waiting arms

     and I walked out of the room,

        down the stairs

           and out onto the busy street.

Nothing mattered at that moment.

My heart was rejoicing that once more my Lord was Faithful and True.

One step closer to the time when I would board that plane to journey back to the States.

I have experienced so many gifts,

                                  so many joys,

                  as Noelle’s mother

                  but none of it do I take for granted.

She is His

    was His from the beginning

       and always will be His.

Me?

God has given me incredible joy all along the journey.

Gift after gift I treasure in my heart.