three single guys plus 12 years =

Today I am so excited to share this crazy fun story - 

Twelve years ago Matt shared a super small apartment with two guys who became great friends: Matt and Jeff (yes, two Matts in one apartment). 

Jeff married Rebecca (a girl with North Dakota ties!), and we've seen them consistently over the years, though they live about three hours by plane from us.  They have three precious children. 

The "other Matt" married Jill (we were at their wedding!), they have four beautiful children, live in another province and visited us just six months ago.  

And (follow this carefully now!) ....  Jeff and Rebecca will be in Henan with us - both of us adopting little boys, from the same province, staying in the same hotel, with the exact same Gotcha Day.  [Their newest addition, Isaac, is their second adoption.  Four children and only 21 months separating the oldest and the youngest... such an amazing story of how the Lord has created their family!]

Aaaaannnnnnndddddd, Jill will be there too!  Months ago we started dreaming that maybe their family could be part of our Gotcha day.  Jill is leaving her husband and children for two days to come and serve us: with lots of photo-taking and also helping out with Luke (!!!) and just bringing joy and friendship and encouragement (which she does so very very well). 

All these details - especially that Jeff and Rebecca will be there at the exact same time - all came together today!  (The "Jill plan" has been on the horizon for a while!)

To think this - that we will be there TOGETHER - is just an unbelievably sweet gift to our family. 

So the short version is this: 12 years ago three single guys following Jesus and loving this country shared a couple hundred square feet.  And now, each of them with wives, and children (13 between our three families) - and brought together for such a sweet significant event!  

Next week at Gotcha Day we'll be missing some (Jill's husband Matt, and their four children, our biggest three also not there).  But oh I am already dreaming of the day we will all be together - laughing and playing and talking and dreaming and praising the Lord for all that He has done in each of our families!

Is that not so amazing?