One Year Ago Today...

One year ago today I received Gabriella's referral from my adoption agency. One year ago today the agency director had called my work phone and left me a voice message asking me to call her back. I saved that voice message and actually listened to it again this past week. I still get goosebumps listening to it. The director hadn't left any specific information about the baby or even that she was calling with a referral, but I just knew that that was why she was calling. I remember the excitement and anticipation that I felt while I was talking to her and soaking in all of the information about Gabriella while I feverishly took notes. I remember sending text messages and calls to loved ones about the wonderful news. I remember waiting for Gabriella's photos to arrive in my e-mail inbox and staring at them in a conference room at my work in disbelief that this beautiful baby was my daughter. I remember showing off the photos to everybody I knew. I remember celebrating after work over Chinese food with my family. I remember anticipating the wonderful spring and summer we would have with her when she arrived home as I certainly expected that she would have been home by spring.

One year ago today, my life changed for the better. God brought my daughter into my life one year ago today.