An Unexpected Blessing

Fall arrived here overnight.  95 on Saturday and 65 on Tuesday = Fall in the Midwest.  So, I'm curled up on the couch with my yummy Trader Joe's chai - thanks, Mom! - to blog about another crazy twist in our adoption adventure.  I wish you all could be here so I could share this fun news in person.  (I'd share my chai, too! ;)


If you've been following along with our adoption journey, you know things haven't been easy and the road certainly hasn't been smooth.   (If you want to catch up, you can read about how this adventure began here and how a law change has us waiting and praying for our future little ones in Eastern Europe here.)  The last three months I have struggled to wait patiently on God's timing and his direction for our family.  I have longed to have our future children home, to watch them play in the yard with Emma, to hold them and kiss away their tears.  It has been a hard three months for this mama's heart.


Two weeks ago, I got a text that took me by surprise.  The text was sent by a friend who is hoping to adopt a baby domestically.  She and her husband had been contacted about a birthmother in Texas.  They didn't feel that this baby was a fit for their family, so they passed along our contact information.  During the past two weeks we've sent an introductory letter and pictures to this birthmother, prayed for this unborn little one, and contacted an attorney.  And...


...we're expecting a baby on March 16!!!


Wow!  This is not the direction we thought our journey was going but what a surprise blessing!  I have to confess that I've debated about whether or not to share this news publicly.  Before Emma was born, we experienced a failed adoption.  It was hard.  Beyond hard.  Part of me wanted to keep this news a secret to protect my heart from hurting that way again.  But then I reconsidered.  You - my amazing friends, family, and blog-land acquaintances - have been there for me along this journey in an amazing way.  You've shared words of encouragement and support. You've rejoiced when we rejoiced and cried when we cried.  I am confident that all of you will be there for us on our next adventure - no matter how things work out.


Some of you might be wondering how this adoption affects our process in Eastern Europe.  That was one of our first considerations when we were approached with this new possibility.  Our hearts are in EE.  We feel that God has called us to EE and to HIV adoption.  I think of the sweet faces of waiting children every. single. day.  


We have communicated with our birthmom and our social worker about our desire to continue with our adoption in EE if the door opens.  (C'mon new list!)  Both expressed 100% approval.  If the special needs list is expanded next month, we'll be headed to EE.


So, yes, we could possibly welcome home our fourth child in March.  (Who wants to sign up to babysit?)  


Crazy?  Absolutely!  


Unexpected?  Totally.  


A HUGE BLESSING? Definitely.