Some family Pictures

Rejoice!

This afternoon was a bit surreal for me. I registered at Target for a baby shower my sweet friend is throwing me. My husband questioned me as to why we even needed a shower. He felt that we didn't need others to be buying stuff for us. My response was "of course we need a shower!"

I am ready to PARTY!!!!!

This shower is not about gifts. It's not about me, really. It's about seeing God's hand in this adoption process and celebrating the fact that He is faithful. He is bringing our sweet Lily to us and we are ready to REJOICE! I want to shout to the world about what God has done. Almost 5 years ago we decided to take a step of faith to adopt a little girl into our family. We hardly knew anyone who had done this and we plodded along through the beginning process. Who knew then that a month set back would cost us a year in the end. We could have been back with a little girl two years ago if our papers would have been done just 4 months earlier. I used to dwell on those facts. I would think about the "what ifs" and the "if only". If only my fingerprints would have cleared we could have been back by now. If only we had gotten through those first few classes faster I would be snuggling my little girl in my arms right now. If only we had chosen a different agency to do our home study we could have done a concurrent adoption and had another daughter with us already.

These thoughts would swirl in my mind. Some days were worse than others. Some days I was able to not think about adoption at all. Then it seemed as if everyone around me was starting to adopt as well. They were traveling and I was still waiting. And waiting. And waiting. What about me, Lord? Why, Lord? Why can't I have the desire of my heart? Now I know. My desires were along God's will, but my timing was all off. God was giving me the desires of my heart, but in His time. My little girl wasn't ready for me.

Now is the time. He is answering.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you for this fair-haired, fair-skinned little one that you are bringing into our lives. Thank you for the wait. Yes, Lord, thank you for those 4 long years of waiting. Thank you, Lord, for not giving me a little one before my brother passed away. Thank you for allowing me to be there for my sister-in-law during those early months of grief and not needing to worry about my little one at home. Thank you, Lord, that I was able to get Alex on track with school before we brought a toddler into the house. Thank you, Lord, that I could be there for my neighbor and her family as she fought a short battle with cancer. Your timing was perfect. Lily is perfect. She is all that I have dreamed of and more.

We still have a long road ahead of us. This journey has hardly even begun. There are unknowns and uncertainties. How much can she see? How will she act when we rip her away from the only mother she has ever known? How on earth am I going to manage with a toddler in the house? Will I ever be able to sleep in again? (I guess I will not be reading 100 books this year!) How will we get through this?

I know now.
God will carry us through. He has been there and will be always.

God is faithful
God provides

To Him be the glory!

We Have our Letter of Acceptance!!!!

Finally.
I had prepared my heart that today would not be the day. I know that we have an awesome God who can do all things, but I was having a hard time trusting in His timing. Imagine my surprise when I got that email today.
Well......
I did spend all morning hitting the refresh button for my email so I was looking for it.

Our next step is getting travel approval. We could travel in 5-8 weeks. Whoo Hoo!!!!!