Do y'all remember this post?
IT HAPPENED! Colleen came to my door this afternoon and offered me a rose to advance to the next level! The sweetest words I ever heard: "Sharon, will you accept this rose?"
WE ARE OUT OF PGN!!!!!!
I'm absolutely in shock. No, it hasn't sunk in yet. I cried. A lot. I didn't know what to say and still don't. I'm so grateful that no one is ever going to come and tell me that our adoption can't be approved. No one will ever take her from me. She is now my daughter! Legally. Officially.
And all I want to do right now is praise the Lord, our God Almighty, who is incredibly faithful! Thank you, Lord God, for this beautiful child and for every blessing you've abundantly blessed us with these last two years! Thank you for providing for this adoption and thank you for providing what we needed during the last fourteen months of fostering!
I'm going home! Really, really going home.
Pics:
Monday, October 08, 2007
Will you accept this rose?
Posted by Sharon at 6:02 PM
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52 comments:
GOD IS GOOD !!!! CONGRATS !!!!!
AWESOME!!! Absolutely amazing and AWESOME!! Congratulations, Sharon, Greg, Irene, and BELLA!!!!
woohoooo...
Still crying happy tears..
Dottie
www.journeytng.blogspot.com
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Sososososososo happy for you!!!!! Truly an answer to prayer!
Love and hugs from Michigan --
Cathy
Oh Sharon! I am ELATED, beyond ELATED for you, Bella and Greg! This is seriously the best news EVER!!!! God is indeed very good!
Sharon, Our God is so faithful! I am so happy for all of you. You are coming HOME! WOOHOO! Esther (FTC) http://www.youbelong.net/emarie password: butterfly
Sharon,
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is awesome news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy every minute of it!!!!!!!!!!
Beth
Congrats!!! This is so wonderful!!! I am so happy for you and your family. Finally some good news!!!
OH MY GOD........HOW INCREDIBLE!!!!! Send me your phone number, I bought a calling card so I can call you!!!!!
LOVE, HOLLY
THANK YOU GOD! I JUST CAN'T GET OVER THE GOOD NEWS!!!!
LOVE AGAIN, HOLLY
3rd time tellin' ya, but it will NEVER get old to say... GOD IS SO GOOD & we PRAISE HIM with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! enormously smiling thinking of you, bella, & irene's forever reunion with greg!
love & hugs,
angie
Felicidades mis amigos Sharon, Greg, Irene, y 'Bellacita!
Sharon and Greg, we are so relieved for you two. We cannot be happier. Nobody could even imagine the rollercoaster of love, yearning, emotional pain, stress, loss, loneliness, fear, and anger that y'all have experienced since, let me get this straight, 5 May 2006!!! How many of us remember 5 May of 2006 - 17 months ago? That is 521 times you have woken up with Bella as your “daughter.” Well, I am so happy to think that tomorrow morning will be the first morning that y’all awake, knowing that she is finally - no questions asked - YOUR DAUGHTER (no quotation marks)! She finally has a MOMMY and DADDY and BIG SISTER, and a big FAMILY. We all know that she has always had that, but today it is somehow different, somehow real.
Please take a minute to think of how y’all have become stronger, tighter, more confident in yourselves, and more determined than you were 521 sunrises ago. Sharon, 422 nights of living in Guatemala will be coming to an end soon. Honestly, it is so difficult to remember back 422 days ago. It was so fun to meet you and your mom, back in Casa en Familia. It hurts us inside, knowing that you have been away from Greg, your parents, your, support system, and your country for four hundred twenty-two days! I know that you learned much, and leaving your [I]home[/I] will be one of the most difficult things that you will do. But you are coming back, with your goal very much a reality, and your faith in God, people, and the world strengthened.
…
Sharon, when you called us this evening and told us, you should have seen Cheryl's face! :eek :rollin:rollin:rollin:rollin:lol:lol:lol:D:D:D We were both crying with happiness. I wanted to stand up on the table in the middle of Carribou Coffee in Charlotte and scream, [u][b]"They are out of PGN!!!!" [/b][/u] Of course, everybody would have thought I was crazy and the SWAT team would have locked me up. It was REALLY HARD to concentrate on what we needed to do for the next 30 minutes. We both told each other that your phone call was the only thing we could think about through the rest of the class.
Funny thing - Alessandro walked by the laptop with photos scrolling on the screensaver yesterday. He was running by, but this time he absolutely stopped short and smiled when he saw a picture of ‘Bella. Maybe he knew something was up.
These 422 days have changed our lives as well as yours. I cannot thank you enough Tia Sharon. [i][b]Thank … You![/b][/i] You have turned around my beautiful Cheryl. I have seen that smile return. She has a best friend that has cared for her, laughed with her, and cried with her. She now has a friend that can chat for hours on end with her or stomp around the house with her. She loved just hanging with you and she loved shopping with you. Making up words and sayings and just being plain goofy are some of my fondest memories of Guate. You are one of the best things that have ever happened to her, and conversely, me. Your strength inspires us. Your perseverance is unbelievable. Your faith is as solid as Agua. Your dedication and drive is fantastic. Your questions drive us to be better. Your love is unlimitless. You are enlightening.
Our congratulations go out to the whole Freeman family. Our love goes out to you on this, most exciting day. We have a bedroom for y’all when you return and are now counting down the days when we get to see y’all again.
Love always,
Brian, Cheryl, Alessandro DiBartolo (+N)
PRAISE GOD!!! Still crying tears of joy and gritutde for you! God will be hearing a multitude of thank yous on your behalf - I just know it makes Him smile!
I said it on the board, and I'll say it again...
May sweet relief wash all over you...
Bella is coming home!!!!
Valerie
Crying buckets of happy tears for you tonight Sharon and Greg! Prayers were answered, Bella is yours now and forever and you are homeward bound! Blessings to you as you prepare for life at home as a family of FOUR! Hope you see the speediest Pink ever!!!
I didn't even have to read. I saw the rose and knew ...
there aren't words.
God's richest blessings, my friend.
tears, tears, and more tears.
she's yours.
forever.
Sharon, I have also posted my thoughts on the FTC Forum.
Rob and I are so happy for you right now. When I read this post, interrupted his phone call.
He just kept saying, Thank God. Thank God. Thanks be to God.
I am so relieved and happy and infused with the awesome action of God and how he has a way. What a grand life you have lived. What a long mile you have walked, and the better to value your love as a family together forever.
Peace be with you! Love Jennifer, Rob and Sophia
Geez, Brian! That's what I was going to say...
Since he took all my thoughts, just know that I'm alternating between crying and running naked through the streets...as promised.
Holy Cow Brian... Just when I had the tears stopped... Thank you... Thank you two for being such great friends. Thank you for being "Greg-Brian"... See you guys soon.
Katie... Well... Hmmmm... There are no words... Just laughter... :)
Thank you
Oh my dear friend, CONGRATULATIONS again!! I can't wait to see you and I'm so happy you are really truly coming HOME and soon! I love you and I'm so incredibly happy!!! ASK BELIEVE RECEIVE, absolutely, absolutely...
Yeah, thanks Brian...do you WANT to send me into labor or WHAT?? LOVE YOU ALL,
Cheryl
PS..WHAT a THANKSgiving we will have!!!
Sorry to take your thunder Katie. You always beat me to the punch. I guess it was my turn tonight. :)
Greg, the Truth is what it is. Congrats my friend.
B Di
Sharon,
Congratulations. This is wonderful news.
Marianne
I am so incredibly beyond words happy for you!!!!! From reading your blog for so long I feel like I know you and wish I could just give you the biggest hug so that you knew how truly happy I am for your entire family.
Sweet Relief!!!!!
I am thrilled beyond words for you and your family - officially and legally - a family of four!
I wish you were coming home to Spokane but so happy that you are coming home to the great U.S.A.
I am so happy for you and your family. Can't wait to read that you are headed home. Congratulations!!!
Congrats!!!
Kerri and Ruby
I've got chills! I'm so happy for you!
Congratulations Sharon, Greg, Irene and Bella.
You have been a wonderful example of faith and perseverance. Your attitude has been fantastic throughout your agonizing wait. Start packing!
CONGRATTSSS!!!!! GREAT GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!! Get that girl HOME!!!!! :):)
Sharon
Just so happy for your entire family. You have been on such a long journey and you have persevered and carried the rest of us along with you.
Your faith has been inspirational.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
My prayers are still with you for a quick pink and that you are home for Thanksgiving!!
CONGRATULATIONS Sharon, Greg, Irene and BELLA!!! This is the news we have all been waiting to hear for so long!
Now get out of the house and enjoy your last little while in Antigua because the time from now until you go home is going to pass by quickly.
Keep wearing that pink shirt because you're on your final wait...for PINK! :)
Congratulations again and HUGE HUGS!!
Terry (and Tommy)
Congratulations Sweetheart!!! I am so happy for you and Bella, Irene and Greg! I just hope I actually get to see you and Bella in person again before she starts driving...lol. Love You and Congrats once again!!! Auntie Kim
late to the party
CHILLS AND TEARY EYED HERE THAT THERE IS A PARTY!!!!!
Thank God !!!!!!!!! So happy. YIPPEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH WOW! Congratulations!!! Hope it's a speedy trip to pink!
CONGRATS!!!! we are soooo incredibly excited for you and your family!!! what an amazing feeling -- it's true you're really, really going to be a family of 4 (officially and legally :)!! PTL!!!!
Sharon, As I read Katie's blog I must say it took everything in me not to break down crying here at my desk...I would have had some weird looks coming my way from my co-workers. I was so excited that the first thing I had to do was call my mom...she is so thrilled for you!!! You really have a special place in her heart since she got to come a spend a few days in Guatemala with Katie, you and the kids.
I have not been this happy and excited since the day that I heard our E-man was coming home!! It such an amazing feeling.
Hope that someday I will be able to meet you face to face and kiss that little brown face of Bella's!!!
We will continue to pray for you guys through the transition for all of you go smoothly.
Love you all!!!
Amanda Mohr
It brings me much hope and joy to read this post today. Congratulations to you and your family. Prayers for a speedy PINK and a safe journey home.
Hugs,
RaeAnn
Okay, still jumping up and down and laughing out loud today about this news. A whoop of excitement went up at my ladies' bible class this morning when I shared. John Mark bought Bella some new shoes in honor of the occasion. I am not even sending them to Antigua, I am sending them to your HOME with Bella's DADDY! Woooo-hooooooooooo!!!!!!
Love,
Ash & the guys
Yippppppppppppppppeeeeeeeeee!!!
Nobody deserves this more than you guys, I am beyond happy for you. I must say you handled everythng with such grace and your attitude was so great all the way. Congrats.
Enjoy your last few weeks in Antigua, it won't be long before you really miss it.
Love Nikki & Gab Gab.
Im back again
so happy for you guys and while I do miss my time in antigua (now I can say that :)) there is NOTHING I regret not bringing home with me...things I mean.
one thing I DO TREASURE is/are the bracelets.
I bought a bunch (the inexpensive ones) and give them to special people at special moments.
I gave one to my sister yesterday which made me think of it.
Congratulations!!! Praying you and Bella are home very soon! Praise the Lord for hearing our prayers.
Shelly
congrats!!!!!
Woo Hoo!!!
I hope you get pink soon!!
talk about culture shock!
OH MY GOSH...I go away for the weekend and come home to this WONDERFUL WONDERFUL NEWS..Oh girlfriend this is so awesome...God is Good...Now If you will still be there..I am coming to visit my SON on Sat Oct 20th...I would love to get to meet you while I am there...I am staying in Antigua. Hugs Candy and Kya Blu...
CONGRATULATIONS! I'm all choked up. You're determination and faith in God has been inspiring beyond words. I hope you'll keep blogging!
OH GEEZ OH GEEZ HOLY CRIPES!!!!!!! God is SO WONDERFUL...Praise HIM!!!
I laid eyes on that rose and I KNEW. Bella is YOUR DAUGHTER officially. You are going HOME!!
Hey, Sharon...YOU ARE GOING HOME!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!
wait ... who took that last picture?
I love it, love it, love it!!! Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!! We are so happy for you guys. You are finally going home as a family. It's wonderful super incredible news! Congratulations!
Virginie, Oscar, Cesar and Rosa
That's the best out I've ever seen - and you deserve it. So happy for your family. Glad to see prayers answered and a family about to be completely united forever ... CONGRATS!!!!
Wonderful news, God is great.
Congratulations!!!
I am crying again and I have seen this same post three times now, seen your face, kissed Bella, cried all day yeterday and again crying tonight....I just can't believe you are out of PGN and going home!!
VICTORY MARCH my dear friend....you have been my lifeline here in Antigua! Love you!
Mel and Madi
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