Dan wrote this poem after we spoke to a Sunday School class about the process of adopting Christina and Kolya. At one point Dan said, " if I had only known, I would have done this sooner." A dear friend in the class said "known what?" Dan's response was if he had only gone to the orphanage sooner and seen the kids, the adoption would have happened sooner. However as we thought about that, it, of course, is God's right timing so that Christina and Kolya are there for us to adopt. Dan wrote this poem as he thought about how God has brought this about and especially Christina, as he describes her.


See Christina's toe........:) Yes, we are proud parents!!

CHRISTINA…NOW I KNOW

Had I known…..the heart and the flame…
…..pleading for heaven to spell out your name.
And had I known…..the meaning, and religion that is true,
…..the weight, the worth of revelation, that clue.
Coming would not have taken so long…
…..but now I know, providence is writing your song.

Had I known…..the passage, that crossing and the space…
..…the global fixtures far below, tiny in their place.
And had I known…..the beauty, that scent, the years…
…..a city confused, embracing blindly all its fears.
Coming would not have taken so long…
…..but now I know, providence is writing your song.

Had I known…..the smirks, that smile and the grins…
……the dark, dismal secret occurs before a life begins.
And had I known…..the despair and that loss of hope,
…..the empty eyes, no more fantasies to cope.
Coming would not have taken so long…
…..but now I know, providence is writing your song.

Had I known…..the place, that bare bench and the who…
…..the hush of the hallway when I knew it was you.
And had I known…..the tails, and hazel, that stocking toe…
…..the resemblance of your mother tomorrow to know.
Coming would not have taken so long…
…..but now I know, providence is writing your song.

Now I know…..the why, the when, the where…
…..and now I know, it’s you, innocent, waiting over there.
And now I know, I’m coming in winter, not long…
…..may Heaven keep you warm while singing your song.