It's a BOY!!!

I came down with a bad stomach bug on Monday, so I'm just now getting a chance to make this news blog official. :) Late last Thursday afternoon/evening {after a 375 days of waiting} we were matched with a 3.5 month old little boy!!! I was actually in Benton to help my mom with a procedure she was having that morning. After getting up at 4:00 AM, I was taking a nap when our case manager, Brandi, tried to call me & didn't hear my phone ring. She then tried to call Matt, who was in a meeting, & couldn't get a hold of him either. Bless her heart, she had to resort to emailing us that she had "something to chat with us about." Matt got the email when he got back to his desk, called me on my mom's cell {which is loud enough for the world to hear:),} & Brandi conferenced called us while Matt was seriously driving 90 mph to get home to our computer! It was a whirlwind of a time...a little like being in the delivery room meeting your child for the first time without his daddy by your side...but at the same time, the Lord used it to brighten my mom's day & for that I am grateful! I drove back late that night so that Matt & I could get a move on all the paperwork that we needed to fill out to "officially" accept our little man & GET HIM HOME! :)

We are not allowed to post anything about our referrals out of their protection, but I will tell you that we are truly in love. I love everything about this lil guy: the things we know about his personality, his cheeks, his eyes, his skin...you name it! This is one of the ways I believe adoption is such a testament to God & His glory- we love because Christ first loved us {1 John 4:19.}

Yet, now that I have met our miracle & felt God's grace, I am even more anxious about this next phase of our journey. We have no idea how long it will take to get our baby home. Before all the changes in Ethiopia, the standard time from referral to home was 4-7 months. It is undoubtedly longer than that now; plus, add in rainy season where their courts are closed in August & September. Why is it so easy for us to know the faithfulness of His hands, have our prayers answered, & then immediately struggle once the next hurdle comes? Lord, I am weak but trust in Your Purpose. I do not want to miss out on these days with my son. Even more Lord, I don't want my son to miss these days. I pray that you will help us both holdfast to the days to come.