It seems like yesterday....

...but it was actually 19 years ago, today.  He pulled the soft pink blanket away from her sleeping face because I was afraid to touch her.  I was afraid that after all these years of hoping, trying and waiting, she'd disappear if I touched her.  "Oh look, it's Amanda!", Kevin said in a hushed-voice.  Sure enough, it was.  I peeked over the edge of the tiny crib and saw our daughter for the first time.  She had a full-head of dark brown hair, delicate "snow-white" coloring, and was fast asleep.  We gently unwrapped her from her bedding and counted the perfect little fingers and toes.  As she awoke and we looked into each others eyes for the first time, I felt an instant soul-to-soul recognition.  Here was someone I had known before we both came to earth.  Here was someone who would be my daughter and was already one of my best friends.  Little did I know how prophetic those feelings actually were.

We had gotten the phone call from the adoption agency the day before and rushed up to Portland to pick up our baby-girl.  When we got there, we found that she'd had to remain in the hospital one more day, so we came back empty handed.  The hour's drive back home and the night that followed were the longest periods of time in my life.  To be so close to our hearts' desires just to walk away without her was heart breaking.  In Oregon at that time, the law stated that until the adoptive parents took custody, the birth-mother could change her mind and keep her child.  Needless to say, sleep did not come easy that night.

Early the next morning, we received another phone call from the agency.  Our baby-girl was in the local agency-office waiting for us.

Now here we were, seeing her for the first time.  We held our baby, cuddled her close, became family of three and had a very heart-felt family prayer of thanks.

Nineteen years have passed, and that precious little baby has grown into a lovely young woman.  We wouldn't change one moment of these past 19 years.  The miracle that brought Amanda to us has continued to bless our lives and our family.  We are so grateful to have this "angel-girl" in our lives.

Happy Anniversary, Mandy!!!

Amanda at 9 months-old

Amanda at 18 years-old