Update!

Today we received an exciting phone call from our agency telling us that they had received an update on Emsley and would be emailing it to us in the next few minutes!  I opened the email to find this adorable face looking back at me:

I was so excited to see a near smile on her face as the first few pictures we had received with her referral showed no signs of a smile at all.  Emsley has grown a lot since the first photos we saw of her.  She has so much more hair too!  How I wish I could reach into this picture and scoop her up into my arms!  We're coming soon, sweet girl!

We also received a couple more pictures:

and

I love this one because I can see the same expression on her face as when she was younger:

The final part of the update included some information from the orphanage staff about Emsley.  They reported that she is gentle and quiet.  Oh my heart!  She also likes to play with other children and is not a picky eater!  Let's pray she can teach her older siblings a thing or two about that!

Receiving this update has been like a refreshing spring to my spirit.  This adoption process can be so very hard at times and can feel so very slow but receiving these pictures and tidbits of information is just......wow!  Thank you, Lord, for this encouragement today.  Thank you that Emsley is growing well and playing with toys and (almost) smiling for her picture!  This Mama and Daddy are ready to have their girl home!