Amazing...

It's hard to find words to describe where we are at right now or really have been for the past few weeks. You see, we've been keeping a secret. A pretty big secret.

Now it's time to tell the world about our gift from God.

We received the word late on Friday afternoon that a little girl will be joining our family.

Yes, a beautiful, adorable, amazing little girl.

We are thrilled. Actually, that is an understatement. A very big understatement. :)

We know quite a bit about her - she is a beautiful little girl and is a little over 16 months old. She is happy, happy, happy all of the time (hmmm...sounds like a little boy we know). She has been with the same foster family since birth. Did we mention she is beautiful? In the amazing way that God works, this little girl also has quite the story to tell. She had open heart surgery to repair a VSD at 5 months of age (Carson's VSD repair was at 6 months of age). We know her heart surgeon. While she didn't operate on Carson, she worked with several of Carson's roommates at the U and performed the heart transplants for two dear friends. She also has a hearing loss and wears hearing aids. It's in the mild - to - moderate range so she has more hearing than Carson. Their two stories have such amazing parralels.

We will share a name tomorrow. :) We'll have pictures we can post this week as well.

We have so much to do. We will talk in the next few days about transitioning, but it's likely she'll be with us no later than mid-August, but likely sooner.

We leave for Minneapolis on Wednesday night. We have adoption training all day Thursday and Friday. Then on Saturday we'll be heading to the 'Liver' Picnic. No, it's not where we eat a bunch of liver...it's a picnic for liver transplant recipients. Hopefully we can see some of Carson's docs - always fun to see them, especially in a non-medical setting! Carson is coming with and hanging out with 'Auntie' Marisa. We are staying with her as well. Can't wait to see her new place!

We will be shopping, shopping, shopping while we are in the Cities! We need a dresser, 2 carseats, a stroller and many other odds and ends. I did some shopping yesterday and found myself in a whole new world of pink, purple, and hair bows!

Carson is beyond excited. We waited until today to tell him about his new little sister (we waited until Trav got home so we could do this together). Carson cried tears of joy along with us. We video'ed it - it is so precious. When we went to Target this afternoon he told everyone that he has a new little sister (as he was proudly sporting his 'I'm the big brother' t-shirt). He helped pick out some things for her - including a book and some bubbles.

Well, much more to do tonight, so I will close. We will continue with a lot of updates about our new little miracle.

Thanks be to God!