It's A Boy!!!!!

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.  ~1 Samuel 1:27

On Mother's Day 2010, we announced we were adopting from Ethiopia.  In August 2010 we officially submitted our application to our agency and began the paperwork stage. April 2011 we completed our dossier and after some revisions it was submitted to Ethiopia on July 6th, 2011.  February 9th, 2012 we received notice that wait times were increasing and we had some options to consider.  One of those options was to adopt older.  This was something we had always been open to but thought due to having a younger child in the home, we wouldn't be able to and would need to stay in younger than Jalen.  When we looked further into it we found out we could in fact adopt older if we were approved to, if our social worker approved and a few other things happened.  Our hearts were soon radically changed to become not just open to adopting older but excited to.  We were blessed to have 2 precious Ethiopian boys (aged 11 and 13), stay with us from His Little Feet and it was confirmed, we could not wait to adopt older children!  We started looking on the waiting child list and requested information about a child who was stated as 6-8 years old...

February 18th, 2012 we were given information on this child and for the past week all we have been doing is praying for God's direction in everything (I could write a book on all that occurred in the past week, all the devotional readings, scriptures, people we have talked with and praying all day and night, not to mention I didn't sleep through the night for the past week because apparently I was thinking while I was sleeping too).  It became very clear to both of us yesterday, February 26th, 2012 that this was our child and we let our case worker know right away.  

As of this morning, we have officially asked to move forward with our boy!!!

We can't give out too much information until we pass court and he is officially ours but what I can tell you is we believe he is turning 8 years old this year, is sweet, shy, a gentleman, and likes to play soccer.  We are blessed to know some other families in our agency who have met him while they traveled to meet their child and are learning more and more about him.  We cannot reveal his name so we will refer to him as "big brother" on here as he will be the big brother in the family :)   We are so excited but at the same time are guarding our hearts because with any adoption, especially international, there are no guarantees that he is ours until we pass court. 

So, what is the next step for us????  A few updates in paperwork, updated home study and some USCIS stuff, fundraising and awaiting a court date in which Jason and I will travel to Ethiopia for about 1 week to meet "big brother" and hopefully pass court right away.  This may not be for several months from now though so in the mean-time we could use prayers for patience.  We know everything has been in God's timing and has been perfect so far and we aren't worried that it won't continue to be but we still need reminding of this now and again. 

If you see us in person we can show you a picture of him but for now his name, photos and any identifying information cannot be posted anywhere.  We can't wait to meet him and can't wait to introduce him to all of our wonderful friends and family!  Thank you for all your prayers and support.