Our journey as God would have it…is amazing. Words elude me as to how I should begin telling of this unfolding story. It’s one that I’ll play over and over in my mind until my dying day. Every word, every detail, every sweet and beautiful note is a melody that is now my song; I’ve been dreaming of how it’s tune would go for so long now. I had no idea it would be like this…
First, let me start off with how all renown goes to God alone. That’s a good start to any story, isn’t it?
Secondly, let me say this: E and I are thrilled to say that we are soon to be adoptive parents (mommy and daddy!) to a precious baby that is due in less than 8 weeks! Yes, yes, yes. I actually said 8 weeks (or less)!
Last Tuesday–just a week ago–we received a phone call telling us of an expectant mother that was due in 8 weeks and she had lovingly (and with great concern and emotion, I’m sure of) made the decision to place the baby for adoption. After a few more conversations, by Wednesday night, we had all happily and excitedly arrived to the decision to meet Friday evening for dinner at a family Italian restaurant just down the street from us.
On Thursday, we began calling everyone asking for prayer and had also asked for any available friends to come and assist us with putting together a profile (rifling through our pictures). By 7PM that night, dinner was brought in by Randy & Darci, then Travis, Ashley, Kim, E, and myself started sorting through a box of pictures and iphoto files. By 9PM, my talented and extremely generous sister-in-law, Jessica, had arrived after an emergency call I made pleading for her expertise. Little did I know that she would just haul my 13 month-old nephew and all her scrapbooking materials all the way up here from Griffin in a moment’s notice. She worked tirelessly, creatively, and fully inspired until 4:30 Friday morning. It was incredible! She was incredible! The album/profile is, well, incredible! Also, the 3AM ice cream fix really helped us push through that last hour or so.
By Friday evening, just moments before we were to meet the expectant mother and her family, E and I held each other and prayed. There was so much peace. We sat and laughed and talked the few minutes we had before they arrived. We honestly weren’t overworked with frazzled nerves, yet we were cutting up and having a good time just being us. We honestly hadn’t experienced one thing that would cause us to worry. It was clear that we were where we were supposed to be.
The dinner went really well. The conversations were fun, enlightening, and engaging. It was just so familiar to us. We compared tattoo and piercing stories. (Wouldn’t it be like God to use our uniqueness and pure personalities to make us all feel non-judged and understood?) After making sure that the expectant mom had seen our album, had her own album to take home, and had polished off almost all the strawberry cheesecake, we said our goodbyes for that evening.
Ten minutes later, after saying we had thought things went really well and had given thanks to God, the phone rings! It’s her. Somewhere on her drive home, she was calling us saying thanks for a great time, a really good meal, and the opportunity to have met us. And after a few more very nice and generous words, she said, “I know you’re the ones, I know you are. I choose you! Will you be the mother and father to this baby?”
Words can’t describe what hearing those words spoken to us felt like. Indescribable. Through joyful tears and muttered words of praise to God on our lips, we said “yes, yes, YES!” She said that our answer made her very happy and she couldn’t wait any longer to ask us.
God, help us not to forget how you like being in every single detail and you like it when we ask you to work out the things that we know we can’t control on our own. Like, we never wanted to know the gender of any biological or adopted babies until delivery. God heard and honored that one. We’re ALL going to be genuinely surprised! We wanted to be present and available for doctor appointments and the delivery, too. She has generously offered and invited us to be there in the midst of it all. What a miracle! Her family and friends would like to shower this baby with gifts and pass them along to us–what profound love they have!
Oh, I can just go on and on and on. There are some details that are just too precious and too mind-blowing. And, every time I retell this story, the same emotions come flooding back and wash over my soul.
We are still praying for many details and asking for provision and guidance as we all move forward. It’s very important to us the emotional, physical and spiritual well-being of this expectant mom from now until forever and ever. And for this sweet, blessed baby that soon we will bring into our home. Oh, how my heart just melts at the very vision of sweet toes and tiny hands and baby lashes to gaze at and admire each day God gives us.
I’m just lost in this big ‘ol ocean of grace right now. I’m just lost in it.
