Emily

Last week was filled with such joy.

There is nothing like watching our kids meeting their forever families. There's an energy and excitement that is impossible to contain. But in the midst of all the celebration, we hurt when we see the vulnerable hearts of the kids who have not yet been matched.

And so, Friday was a bit of a tough day for our Emily.

At 5 years old, she's now one of our oldest children. She's bright and energetic - full of bubbling laughter and just a little mischief. She's a little tougher than most of our kids, not always letting herself be cuddled for long. We are so excited for the day when she'll be matched with a family - that day just hasn't come yet.

On Friday afternoon, our foster home was filled with anticipation as Abigail met her family for the first time. The children, nannies, and other staff were all excitedly sharing this unforgettable moment with them.

I was a little late walking into the playroom when Emily met me at the door.

She was on the verge of tears and held her arms up to me. I carried her over to the far end of the room, where we settled in on the sofa. Almost immediately she asked me, "Am I pretty?" I told her that she was BEAUTIFUL. She then told me that she could speak English - and started speaking every English sentence that came to her mind.

"Happy Birthday!"

"I love you!"

And then she began counting in English. "One, two..." When she got to "three," she attempted the word over and over again, trying to get the pronunciation just right.

"Tree...free..."

After several tries, she buried her face in my neck and started to cry.

Moments like these are so hard. Emily is such a precious girl, and all she wants to know is that she's worthy of being loved. She wants to believe that somewhere out there is a family that sees her as beautiful and smart and everything they hope for in a daughter. She wants to know that someday our playroom will be filled with laughter and joyful tears and lots of hugs - all for HER.

We know that day will come for Emily, as it will for all our kids. And part of the privilege of being here is getting to hold them tight, kiss away their tears, and tell them their parents are coming soon.