Look at Her Now!

(picture missing...again until the adoption is finalized)
This little girl was a mere 1 year old when I grew to love her in Ecuador. Now she is 3 and she has grown SO MUCH. I can't even believe it. The latest news with her is kind of bittersweet to me. She is almost walking, which is incredible. Had you asked me when I was there if she would ever walk, I would have told you definitely not, especially with the care that she had been receiving. But in the past 2 years she has received incredible care at her new home and is doing amazingly well. The other news is that her paperwork has been finalized to make her eligible for adoption! Stacey, the person who runs her old home has been on a furlough for the past little while and in the meantime, MF has been living with a foster family. They might adopt her, or there is one other family who is a possibility for adoption. I think this is wonderful news and so great that she will be able to have a family of her own, but it also makes me sad a little bit for completely selfish reasons. From the day I met her, I thought of her as my own little girl. I don't have children of my own, but I imagine the feelings are somewhat the same. I think of her daily, I pray for her constantly, and I want nothing but wonderful things for her. But, I know that when she is adopted, that is the last that I will ever hear from her. She will no longer be in need of a "sponser" and I won't get the handy monthly pictures and updates that I have become so accustomed to. It will be hard for me to not know where she is and how she is doing and to see the milestones that she reaches, but I know that it is so much better for her to have a family of her own. I remember when I was in Ecuador feeling so overwhelmed one day that I couldn't do it anymore. I just loved the kids so much and it was too hard for me to think of the future and not knowing what it would hold for them. I recall praying that night and having a distinct impression that the Lord knew my feelings and that just as much as I loved these children, the Lord loved them too and would take care of them in the future. Those thoughts have stayed with me and whenever I think about the babies in Ecuador, I think about the love that the Lord has for them as well and know that wherever they are, they are His children and that He will take care of them.