A Sara Sighting

Adoption has some really weird idiosyncrasies. You fall in love with a picture and a blurb. A lot of times, that's all you get. I have 2 pictures, taken on the same day and two-page packet of information--both of which are almost 2 years old. That's about all I know about this little girl that I love so much. You grasp onto any chance you have of finding out more.

I have spent more time than I care to admit googling the name of her orphanage and her birth name. I watched an on-line documentary about her orphanage knowing that it was made before she even lived there. Anything to find a new picture or piece of information. (I can't be alone in this!)

If you are really, really lucky, someone from your adoption group is traveling to your child's orphanage soon. They will bring back pictures and updates. Or, maybe someone was just there and has a picture of your child. You rejoice in any little glimpse you get into your child's life. After all, they have captured your heart and you spend tons of time wondering what they are doing and hoping they are being loved and cared for.

I haven't been so lucky. No one from my adoption group has adopted from Sara's country in years. There are 2 other families currently in the process but neither of them are traveling soon and their daughters are not with my daughter. So, I head back to google with the hopes that someone will have visited the orphanage and posted a picture of my little girl.

About 6 weeks ago, I found a blog of a family who is adopting from Sara's orphanage. (In her country, you apply to adopt from a specific orphanage, not from the country.) I didn't get a response from that family but I did get a message from another family that had seen my comment. They are from Sweden and are also adopting from the same orphanage. (I'm not sure why I thought international adoption was an American thing but I did. Apparently, it's not!) I've exchanged some facebook messages with the mom. She asked around in her adoption group if anyone had met Sara or had a picture of her. I got my hopes up but her inquires came back empty. No one had seen her or met her. She said that if she heard of someone traveling soon, she would have them be on the lookout for Sara.

I got this message from her this morning:

Hi!

I got a mail from the family who are in **** at the moment. They were at **** yesterday for a quick interview. They did not bring a camera then because this was not the tour of the orphanage, that will be in a couple of weeks. But they DID see your girl! She was wearing a pink dress and they said she was soo pretty! She was also eating a cookie or some bread and looked very happy and satisfied.
They will try to take a picture of her next time if they see her.
It's not much, but at least it's something of what your girl looked like and did just yesterday!

Have a great day!

While this may not sound like much to you, it is HUGE to me! I know that my little girl is happy and fed. She is dressed well and cared for! She exists! (This may sound silly but I've heard some horror stories of international adoption scams.) I may have a new picture soon! I know a little bit of what her day looked like yesterday. Just the thought of a "friend" of a "friend" seeing my little girl yesterday brings tears to my eyes. That message gives me a boost to keep fighting. To keep filling out paper work. To keep raising money. To keep hoping and believing that my little girl will be home soon!

(I'm also relieved to know that she wears pink. You should see her closet!)