Care Package

A small (under 4 pound!) box is on it's way to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It contains a small outfit, a pair of shoes, socks, a little book, a truck, some candy and a photo album of our family. What was hard to package up was the amount of love, excitement, joy we are feeling all from a little picture of a little 3 year old boy.

How do we let #3 know that we are so anxious to meet him? That we love him already? That we can't wait to bring him home and give him a life filled with hope, opportunity, love, safety, family? How is it that a picture of a small child all the way across the world can evoke such emotion? How can it be that a tiny little description can be read with such fervor? Our hearts are ready.

We are waiting to hear when our court date will be. We are praying that the court date will be soon, that we will pass the 1st time, that his required TB test is negative & that #3 will be here with us really soon. We are continuing to trust that God's timing is perfect. That's a little harder to do now that we know who he is!!

We are praising God for the incredible way He has chosen to bless us with this amazing child.

THE Call!

Monday, March 16; 4:38pm

Both kids are outside playing with the neighbors. They're running around and around the house ... capture the flag? It's a beautiful, spring afternoon. Coats are off. Laughter is all around. Birds are chirping. All is good with the world.

The phone rings ... the screen says "Adoption Associates" and my heart stops, then starts, then stops again. Is this it?????

Our agency is calling to tell us they have a little boy. He's 3 year's old. They'll send pictures via email. They give me lots more info. I hang up the phone and watch my inbox fill with emails with lots of attachments. Paul's not home yet. Do I look? Do I peak? OH MY GOODNESS!! IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING?!? I notice drops on my paper and only then realize I have tears streaming down my face. I stand up. I pace. and pace. and pace. Then I see Paul's truck pull in.

5:00; Paul walks in the door. "What's wrong?", he asks. "We got the Call" I say. More tears. Running to the computer. We meet our son, together, for the very first time.

He is beautiful.

He is full of life.

He is going to be ours.

We can feel it all the way down to our toes.

Thank you Lord for the joy you have given us. We are forever grateful!!

ps Out of respect for the African culture we won't be posting any pictures until he officially becomes our son through a court proceding. If you see any of us around, be sure to ask ... we're all carrying pictures we'd be happy to show off! :)

Happy Birthday Noah!

My little boy tunrs 9 years old today. Where does time go?? I know that's such a cliche, but on this day it doesn't feel like one. I really wonder that. Where has it gone? Each year I tease Noah that he has to stop having birthdays. I love him too much at the age he's at. I don't want him to change. I don't want him to get older. I feel that way this year, too.

He's kind and compassionate. He loves his family, his friends, his neighbors, his God. He cares about the less fortunate. He's as competitive as they come. He love sports and he plays fair. He's healthy and active. He loves math. He loves his sister. He loves strawberries. I couldn't be more thankful for him on this day. God has truly blessed our family with him.

In the past year he joined a football team. He made the all-star baseball team. He played in his first piano recital. He decided to be excited about welcoming home a new little brother from Africa. He stoood up to a bully at school on behalf of his friend. He got all As in Math. He was kind to his sister ... often!

He's my little boy, and I'm hoping the time slows down just a bit. I'm pretty sure it won't, so it's days like these I remind myself to treasure, savor, ponder each and every memory. I'm going to need them someday!

Fear

As I sense our time drawing closer, there are moments, minutes, OK, days when fear starts to creep in. It begins as a small question, and sometimes turns into a sweaty, panicky feeling that leaves me feeling weak and full of uncertainty. Questions like what if I'm not prepared for this? What if after he comes home I regret this decision? What if he doesn't do well with our family? What if I don't love him like my other kids? What if he's wild, uncontrollable, hard to love? The fear builds and builds and builds. There have been several blogs this week from others who are recently home. They talk of how hard it is. How exhausting. How emotionally draining. How unprepared they feel. Am I ready for that?

It is no coincidence that my Bible study last week was on the Israelites and Moses and how they were right up next to the land God had promised them. They had been wandering and grumbling, and now God was ready to give them all He had promised. They sent spies in to see what they were up against. They saw the giants, and instead of remembering God's Words, they focused on the giants instead. They look around instead of up. They looked at the size of their situation instead of the size of their God. They completely forgot the miracles God had performed. They completely forgot how God had spared them, loved them, taken care of them. They forgot that God was on their side and He wasn't going to lead them into something and then leave them.

I don't have to be afraid. God has led our family to where we are, and we're going to keep following His "cloud" and enter the land He has promised us. There might be giants waiting for us, but I know my God is bigger than any giant I can come across. He's been with me, loved me, performed many miracles on my behalf, and I believe Him when He reminds me He's not going to stop now.

Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."