We were still in the weeds of the hard grieving, temper-tantruming, attaching and adjusting adoption days when it happened.

Superman had been home from China for six months, and although he had bonded incredibly quickly, his frustration at not being able to communicate as well as he wanted in English was resulting in still-frequent melt-downs.

We were overtired and overjoyed and, even through the high-pitched screaming that punctuated our days and pierced our ears, all head over heels in love.

Although it had only been six months, we couldn’t even remember what life was like without the little firecracker who brought so much love and laughter to our days. And we didn’t want to. Our lives had never been as brilliant, bright or full. And from that place, with Superman snuggled in my arms, I just fiercely longed for more.

As I cried out to God in my morning prayer times, He began placing a vision and a longing in my heart for a little girl … a little girl whose name would be Joy Mei.