his story meets our story... the first chapter

[I wrote most of this a few days ago and it's been sitting, waiting, for the right moment to post it... and it's finally here!]

Friday September 9th I took a phone call from our local social worker who completed our home study addendum.  Finally, finally.... it was finished!  (Weeks after we thought it would be, thanks to my inept fingerprints.)  As we were getting off the phone she casually said, "so, if you were to get a phone call about a baby tonight, you're ready."

That evening Matt was out late and I was on the phone with a dear friend.  After hanging up the phone I opened my computer to check email one last time (knowing that my mom had sent some info about my Grandmother) and there was a one line email from our adoption consultant.  "Call me if you're still up."

I grabbed the phone and started dialing.  The news is that there's a birth mom (Caucasian), in Kansas, with a baby boy due October 15th, she wants the agency to chose a family on her behalf.  Are we interested?   YES!  We're interested! 

Matt and I talked and gathered some additional information and talked and prayed and talked and then, finally, tried to go to sleep.

The next morning (Saturday) I was awake early and my mind was spinning 100 miles a minute.  Matt took Isaac and went over to his parents to help get ready for the big family gathering.  I sat the girls down in the hallway:  "We're getting closer to getting our new baby.  Mommy has a lot of very important phone calls to make this morning and it's going to be a little crazy.  Can you try very hard to help our new baby and let Mommy talk on the telephone?" 

And I started making phone calls.  I called another adoptive mom who has adopted children with similar background and history to the little boy we hope to bring home.  I called our consultant.  Our local social worker.  The Kansas social worker.

By Saturday night we had most of the information we needed.  One big legal sticking point was unanswered, and we had one other significant concern.  In a sweet break from the emotional and mental hubbub of the previous 24 hours we sit on the sofa and talk about naming this little guy.  The first name we've tossed around for the past six months doesn't seem like a good fit.  Within about fifteen minutes we land on another one, a name we've never considered before (keeping the middle name we've had since the beginning) and it's settled. 

Sunday, day three.  We're both feeling more confident that this is our little guy.  I pull down the baby boy clothes I brought home from China and plop them on our bed.  That afternoon we receive a super encouraging phone call regarding the legal issue - its settled.  And again that evening, more big phone calls.  Slowly, surely, the Lord is answering prayers for clarity and wisdom and direction.  Matt and I write a letter to the birth mom - she has indicated that she wants a totally closed adoption (meaning no contact between birth mother and adoptive family) but we are hopeful she will read it.


And we begin a week of waiting.
We wait Monday.
And Tuesday.
And Wednesday.
And Thursday.

And then Thursday afternoon we get the phone call.  The birth mom read the letter and responded.  The social worker reads us her letter over the phone.  Matt and I are confident.  We tell the social worker we are ready to move forward, we sign a contract of intent to adopt this baby boy, rush to get the appropriate documentation sent to the Kansas agency and wire a payment to the adoption agency!!!

OHMYGOODNESS!  This is our little guy!  Due October 15th, but probably arriving earlier than that :)  My mommy-brain is busy making lists of all the things I need to do between now and when we leave for Kansas.  We hope to meet our baby boy before he even leaves the hospital!

Please keep praying!  Nothing is ever guaranteed.... not only in adoption, but in life.  So we trust in the Lord, walking forward, hoping and praying.