One of the best days of my life

Exactly one year ago, at this same hour of the day, we got "the call". A simple yet miraculous phone call that changed our lives forever. Sue, my caseworker said, I have a little girl for you. Words that God knew before time would be spoken to me, mother of four boys. I was shaking, my heart was pounding, and I was beyond excited. I got all the information and then ran to the computer to "meet" our new daughter. Wow, she was beautiful! I cried tears of joy and thankfullness.

Here are the first pictures we received. About one month old.

This one stole my heart for sure. A smile! And look at those big round gorgeous eyes. I was so in love. About two months old.

We decided on Jada and her given Ethiopian name, Eyerusalem, would be kept as a middle name.

I didn't want to be anywhere but Africa! My heart was in Ethiopia.

Many, many prayers went to the throne on her behalf. We prayed that God would keep her healthy and that she would be well taken care of and we prayed that she could come home soon! Our family wasn't complete without her.

What a difference a year makes. She is no longer Eyerusalem unknown, but Jada Eyerusalem Rinkenberger. She has a family and a home. She has an inheritance, a daughter with "full rights". She has blessed us and God has shown me more of His love than I knew before.