Adoption

To say that the past 60 hours of our lives have been the craziest, most up and down, roller coaster like hours of our lives is a major understatement. As many of you know, Nathan and I have been going through the process of possibly adopting a baby boy for the past month. This was not something we had pursued and found, but something that had been dropped into our laps as a blessing from the Lord. We announced this possibility to everyone in hopes that our closest friends and family would lift us, the mother, and the baby up in prayer as we proceeded in the process. We knew there could be the possibility of announcing this huge, exciting time in our lives to everyone only to come back and  announce that it did not work out as we had hoped. And we are sad to announce that that is what we are having to do.

Thursday morning we received a call around 9:30 that the mother had gone into labor 4 weeks early and was in the hospital. We immediately dropped everything, left work, and headed to meet our attorney. We spent the whole day waiting and waiting for some kind of news. News that we could go to the hospital, news that he was healthy, news that she had chosen a family for the baby. Any kind of news. Finally, at 6:10 the little guy made his appearance in the world! Even though he was 4 weeks early he was perfectly healthy and doing well! We were told that we would meet with the mother the next day, along with the other family interested in adopting this sweet boy (he was already very loved!), in hopes that she would be able to make a decision as soon as possible. To make a long story (with many twists and turns, ups and downs) short, the mother of the baby decided this afternoon that she wanted to keep him and raise him as her own.

Obviously this was heartbreaking news to hear. We have prayed for this mother and her baby for over a month now. We have come to know and love them in our hearts, even though we never had the opportunity of meeting either one of them in person. Our hearts ache at the loss of a child we never knew or held. But our hearts are full of joy, hope, and promise all at the same time.

We have stood on one firm and solid truth throughout every step of every day of this process: God alone knows what is best for this baby, this mother, us, and Himself. We knew and held firm to the fact that God would do what He saw best fit for all involved and most glorifying to Himself. We knew that this was a possibility. We knew that God did not owe us anything and neither did this mother. We have known that the road of adoption would not be an easy, clean-cut, perfect little garden full of daisies and butterflies. So today, and ever since Thursday, we have received the pieces of sad news with hope and faith. We trust and know that God knew His plans for this baby before we ever knew about him. He knew that he would never be ours and that he would find his home with his biological mother. He knew that He would lead us until it was time to stop and wait for whatever He has next for us. And we rest in knowing that He isn't finished with us and our adoption journey. With joyful hearts we look forward to all that the Lord has planned for us.

We want to thank each and every one of you for your kind words, love, encouragement, prayers, and cheers. You have loved us and supported us through these exciting days and we will be forever grateful for that. We do ask that you would continue to pray for this baby and his mother. That the Lord would guide them, comfort them, and lead them to Him in all that they do.

"Sovereign Lord, You alone know." --Ezekiel 37:3