WELCOMING! The perfect start!

 What a day! I would love to post a closer picture, but was advised not to post a picture, name, and/or story together so as to protect the child's identity. And I have to tell her story. 
Today we got a call asking if we were interested in taking in a 10 year old girl who is currently being treated for epilepsy. No other orphanage was willing to take her. It was not an immediate "Yes!" from us. Tom and I both struggled with taking on a child that would need special care. In the end, we knew it was never meant to be easy and said yes.
And then we found out about all the other stuff they didn't tell us. The girl had been in the hospital since Dec 26 because she had a seizure and a neighbor had filed a report. According to the written record, the family was too poor to buy the epilepsy medicine which is why she had a seizure - which led to the neighbor's report. She was just released today and because of her state when she was admitted (apart from the seizure, she was pretty obviously malnourished), the courts would not allow her to go back to her home.
And there's more. The family never registered her birth so as far as the government is concerned, she does not exist. The process to get her an identity is at least 7 months. And apart from being malnourished, she is also at least somewhat developmentally delayed. Our lawyer, who picked her up from court, was teaching her the alphabet during the ride in her car. She has never gone to school, her speech is unclear and the court has ordered she be given speech therapy (at our cost, of course). Her vision is impaired and her gait is also a little unsteady. BUT SHE IS HAPPY! It took all of 30 seconds before she was hugging the three of us who met her at the car. She loves the attention she is receiving! She teases and laughs and makes us laugh as well. 
And my heart is overjoyed! Its so obvious how hungry she is to be loved and seen. And I am so thankful that God has given this particular girl to us as we begin - she is the perfect start!