It's a Girl!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Slominski Four just became a party of five!  We are excited and proud to announce the arrival of our daughter!!  Mere words cannot express the joy and gratitude we feel in our hearts.  We are overjoyed!

To our beautiful daughter...
We are truly blessed to have been chosen to be your parents!  When we started this journey back in February of 2011, we had no idea that nearly four years would pass before we'd finally lay our eyes on your sweet little face.  There were many times over the years that we were so anxious to meet you.  But little did we know that you just weren't ready to meet us quite yet.  For much of our wait, God was still dreaming up this precious little girl with the big brown eyes.

On June 16, 2014, Pa was at work and the boys and I were enjoying a beautiful Minnesota summer day.  We spent the morning at the golf course watching Owen take his lesson and the afternoon splashing in the water and getting covered in sand at Tamarack Nature Center.  Little did we know that on that very day far away in Bogota, Colombia, you were born.  You came into this world weighing a whooping 5 pounds 6 ounces and measuring 17.7" long.

On January 29, 2015, your mom was having a rough day.  I sent an email to our adoption agency asking for guidance.  I'd been waiting for you for so very long I was starting to lose hope that I'd ever see your beautiful face.  And the following day, a miracle happened!

Waiting is often one of

the greatest challenges

God asks of us,

but in the end, 

His timing is always perfect.

                                        ~ Betty Robison

On Friday, January 30, 2015, WE GOT THE CALL: "You have a daughter!!  She is gorgeous!"  We were in complete shock!  Jean Larson at Lutheran Social Service/Children's Home Society sent over an email filled with information about you, but it was the photo that we couldn't take our eyes off of!  There you were!  After all this time, we could finally put a face to the little person we had been longing to see. You were perfect!  With your big brown eyes, your head full of dark hair, and your adorable baby cheeks.  The moment we saw you, we fell in love.

We spent the weekend gazing at your photo trying to figure out the perfect name for you.  We decided on Rose Valentina.  We chose Rose after your Great Grandma Rosemary who passed away just a few weeks before we found out about you.  She was a passionate, creative, strong woman and a wonderful Grandma.  She would have loved to squeeze those adorable cheeks of yours!  As for Valentina, your birth mom had picked out that name just for you.  It means "strong, brave".  Such a lovely name for a lovely little lady.  And considering Valentine's Day is only a couple weeks away, we knew it was meant to be.  Rose Valentina, our little Valentine.

Owen and Cole are so excited to have a little sister.  They keep wondering when we'll be able to travel to Colombia to get you.  And we are wondering that too!  We will be pushing full steam ahead to get our paperwork done so we can finally be together.  Until then sweet baby...

May you be safe and sleep soundly through the night.

May you be safe as you wake to the morning's light.

May you feel our love from so far away.

May it comfort and protect you throughout each day.

We will pray for you our little one,

Until our time of waiting is done.

We will pray that the Lord keep you safe from harm,

Until the child of our hearts becomes the child in our arms.

We love you, Rose Valentina!