Here's something the Lord revealed to me as we have been waiting to adopt Amanda. Ephesians 1:5 says He knew us before the foundation of the world and predestined us to be adopted into His family (below). In the same way, Amanda has no idea who we are but we have adopted her in our hearts for many months. And in His wisdom, He redemptively planned for her to become part of our family. Isn't that amazing? What an awesome God we have!

Ephesians 1:4-6 (New King James Version)
Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.