SEVEN years ago in a small hospital in Guatemala City a scared woman gave birth to a precious baby girl. This baby was tiny and sick. She had 4 holes in her heart, wasnt eating like she should, failure to thrive, and just happen to also have Down Syndrome. Her birth mother had already made the decsion for an adoption plan because she wanted her daughter to have a better life....one that she knew she couldnt provide her because herself and 2 older children were in hiding from a abusive alcoholic father. When this precious baby was also born with Down Syndrome, she knew this was her answer from God....she must follow through with the adoption plan so her daughter could get the medical care she needed or she would die. This coragious woman took her 3 day old daughter to a save place, the orphanage that she hoped would find her a forever family. The orphanage director loved her dearly...he wanted to find her a heart surgeon that would correct her heart....but with all the efforts he had, everytime she would get sick and no doctor wanted to touch her... He prayed and prayed for an answer...he soon felt that he must move her to a orphanage run by an American and thought she would be able to find the care and or family she needed. This baby was now 12 months old and weighed only 9 pounds...The birthmother come to the orphanage and took her to the new place where her daughter would hopefully find herself a family. The birth mother had no idea what was about to happen for the future of her child......

A family all the way in Alabama was planning a mission trip with their church. They had a family, a healthy set of twins that were now 14 yrs old....they would soon be a very young couple with no children at home... They had always dreamt of more children, but the mother had to have a hysterectomy due to uteran cancer at age 29..she was devestated. BUT our God had other plans. While the family got ready for their trip, they had already decided to start the homestudy process in Alabama because they had been there for a year and wanted to get updated again so they could be waiting....little did they know...their lives were about to FOREVER change!!!

They boarded the plane for their mission trip with church to GUATEMALA. They were there for seven days to a wonderful place called..CASA PARA NINOS. At this place they fell in love with the children...there were 2 girls in particular that stole their heart and they so wanted to adopt them....but the mission of Casa Aleluya was not to adopt the children out, but to educate them to better their country for God. What an awesome thing to do...but these children needed Mommy and Daddy. The begged to come home with the family....but there was nothing that could be done. One of the girls ended up getting sent back to the abusive family and probably sent to work on the street because she was old enough to actually do something...I pray for her every night....sweet Anna.

The couple cried like little infants the night before they were to leave, they knew that the Lord was calling them to do something big....bigger than they had ever dreamed....

When they got home, the mom started looking at how to adopt from Guatemala.....and through hours of research ....there she was.....a beautiful little princess staring at her on the computer screen... and her name was so touching....it was like God himself was telling her...you couldnt save Anna from Casa but you can save GiovANNA from this life......give her hope...give her a chance to life....give her a family....your family!!!! The mom fell in love instantly....and she didnt care if this little Giovanna had 3 heads, 4 holes in her heart or even yet...Down Syndrome...she was HER DAUGHTER.... She showed the Daddy when he got home...and he was scared to death...what were you really wanting us to do?? Adopt?? REALLY?? Well yes, this is something we have been waiting on for years.......BUT its international adoption..not adoption with the foster care.....WHAT ARE YOU THINKING??

Well this family DID start the process and the 11 month fight became a reality on their 15th wedding anniversary. The little girl they seen on the screen, and had visited for a week after her open heart surgery....was now OFFICALLY their daughter.... The little angel come home forever to her family at the age of 22 months....

So folks, let me introduce you to the little princess who changed our world, our lives and has wrapped us all around her fingers very tightly....

Giovanna Grace Andrews...our little miracle sent from above.

Happy Birthday my sweet Girl...

I know you have another momma out there somewhere praying for you today...you are truely a loved little girl!!!