It. is. on.

Five hundred and seven days.

It was five hundred and seven days ago when our world was rocked. Our hearts were forever changed.

Five hundred and seven days ago, we saw her face. The face of our daughter.

These beautiful big, brown eyes have greeted me every single morning for the past five hundred and seven days.

This photo has remained on my bathroom mirror, on our refrigerator and on our dining room wall for five hundred and seven days.

Five hundred and seven days ago, my boys became big brothers. We have all been head over heels since that first glimpse.

Five hundred and seven days of prayers; desperate prayers of a mother’s heart…pleading, begging, facedown-on-the-floor-sobbing prayers.

Five hundred and seven days of dreaming. Imagining what life will look like with her here. Picturing her running and laughing with her brothers. Envisioning her in my arms.

Five hundred and seven sleepless nights. Awake in the dark, worried. Restless thoughts invading…has she eaten today, is she sick? Where is she laying her head tonight? Is she afraid? Is she alone? Is she safe?

Five hundred and seven days ago, I had no idea where my feet would walk. I had no idea that I would fly halfway across the globe and hold this precious child, the one who has stolen my heart, and I would board a plane to come home without her.

I had no idea how long and how treacherous this road would be. And, for that, I am grateful.

I am thankful for His goodness and mercy. Five hundred and seven days ago, my heart could not have handled the battle ahead. If I had known, my knees would have been weak and I would have been afraid.

Yet, His grace is sufficient. Strength doled out each day. Reminders of His Faithfulness marking each footprint left behind.

There have been days when He has asked us to fight. We are battle-worn and bruised. We have seen glimpses of Glory and we have toed the pit of despair.

But, today. Today was a day when He whispered, “be still, my child.”

Today, we watched Him fight. A flood of renewed Hope has been poured over our weary and worn hearts.

A print hanging in our daughter’s room. Source: Etsy.com

“If you are His child, He’s on the front lines battling on your behalf.” – James MacDonald, Always True.

As I sit here in tears, refreshing my browser, I am in awe.

Over the past 48 hours, families have bound together to advocate for justice. We have sent out the rally cry and have decided that we can remain silent no longer. We can not fight on our own any longer. We have to stand together. Arm in arm.

Friends and family have spent the day emailing, mailing, and calling representatives and senators on behalf of our family and the hundreds of others with legally adopted children stuck in Congo. They have shared our daughter’s story and are joining alongside us in pleading for justice.

A friend, who is in the middle of her own adoption, sent this photo.  These are letters she wrote on behalf of our daughter. Tears. Overwhelming gratitude.

In less than four hours, an online petition created by Both Ends Burning Campaign to help families with children stuck has sent nearly 20,000 letters to members of Congress.

God is on the move.

I have prayed for mountains to crumble, a pathway to be created where there was none, walls to fall down, seas to part … I have begged God again and again for a miracle. A miracle beyond anything I could hope for or imagine. And, tonight, I am watching one unfold.

I don’t know what lies ahead on our path but I do know the One who goes before us. I know how the story ends. I know victory awaits and joy is just within reach.

Please join us in the fight by signing the petition asking for a resolution for families separated from their legally adopted children. It only takes a few minutes and we need every signature to create change. Find the petition HERE.

*I’ve included photos of our daughter’s face for the first time on this blog only because she has grown and changed significantly since this photo was taken. We are still unable to share current photos publicly. {Can we just have a moment to talk about the overload of CUTENESS?? I can hardly handle it. See why I have been dying to share photos with you?!}.