Roller Coasters

Originally this post was going to be named something else. "Patiently Waiting...With Hope" to be exact.  The post was going to explain how we still had not heard anything but our friends from the adoption classes had 2 beautiful girls come into their home - 1.5 years old & 5 years old!  Sibling girls! I don't think I could have been more excited unless they had come into our home.  I told everyone - even strangers!  It was as if them receiving two girls let me know once again "It works! It really, really works!"

God had something else planned.

Genesis 21:1 - And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

For those of you who like to read the end of the book because you simply cannot wait to see how it all turns out and then you go back to read the details, here's the ending: we have a fun, energetic, loving 20 month old in our home, Josiah.

And now for the details!  On Thursday, April 17th, I was at a friend's house going over Norwex products in detail. My phone rang but I didn't recognize the number and plus it would have been slightly rude to answer in the middle of my presentation. After leaving her house I listened to the voicemail: it was Jenn, our adoption specialist!  Our file had been selected to possibly adopt a 6 month old baby boy, Jesse! She wanted to know if we wanted to be represented?  Of course we did!!  We were supposed to hear the next day if we could continue to move forward and we would receive the paperwork so we could fill out a Response Form.  The purpose of the form: why we would be the best fit for Jesse!

On Friday we heard nothing.  Saturday, I was a mess.  My mind was in a whirl on reasons why we had not received any information.  I will have to state none of the reasons were positive.  By Sunday, I had had to let things go, but I was still very anxious.  Finally, on Monday at 8:00 am Jenn called to let us know she was sending us Jesse's information and that the meeting for Jesse would be on Tuesday!  We filled out the response form and sent it back to Jenn and then waited some more.

Josh took Tuesday off, for which I was grateful.  I think he was worried about me if we didn't get picked, especially after my difficult time on Saturday.  I felt a little weird going into work and told my coworkers if I received a phone call they could either find me on the ceiling with excitement or on the ground crying my eyes out.  I planned to leave for lunch early so I could be home when Jenn called; as it was she called before I left work with news that there was no news.  The case hadn't been decided.

So, I waited and prayed while I was at home.  As I was praying I had a great peace come over me.  The situation would be how God would want it to be.  Jenn called back while I was at home saying she had good news and bad news.  The bad news we weren't selected for Jesse, but we had been picked to be represented for an 18 month old little boy named Josiah.  The meeting for him would be Thursday (this was Thursday April 24th) and because it was an emergency situation he would be going home with whatever family was picked on Thursday.  It's quite amazing, and I'm thankful for the time of prayer I had before Jenn called me back.  I truly was not one bit emotional about not being picked to parent Jesse.  As it turned out, the foster family he was with decided to keep him.

I started to fill out the Response Form for Josiah based on what I had learned from Jenn over the phone and it was a good thing I started! I found out Wednesday morning the meeting had been moved to Wednesday afternoon, but there would still be a move in date on Thursday!  I went home early again to have a quiet place to fill out the Response Form.

On Wednesday afternoon I was at a friend's house to drop off some garage sale items.  While I was outside my phone rang.  It was Jenn.  We were selected!!!!  My heart is beating fast now, just thinking about that wonderful moment.  I will spare you all the minute details, but it was a very exciting and busy evening of shopping, meeting my sister in law to pick up a crib and then dropping into bed exhausted.  We would be picking up Josiah the next day at 10:15 am.

I love the story of picking up Josiah.  But before I get to that, see the verse above in Genesis 21:1.  Every morning I read a devotional that has a compilation of verses that surround a topic.  It's not a women's devotional and it was written in the 1800's!  That verse was the topic verse.  All I could think of was "wow!"
We got to the DES office and waited for Jenn who walked and signed us in.  We were then ushered into a meeting room that had half the lights on/half of the lights off.  A woman (Josiah's caseworker's supervisor) was sitting at the conference table and introductions were made.  It seemed like forever and people coming back and forth before Josiah was finally brought in.  Beforehand Josh and I had talked about what he would look like, but we had NO IDEA!!  When he came in wearing a cute little overall set, brown eyes and light brown hair I couldn't help but think how scared and unsure he seemed.  I reached out to rub his arm and his caseworker handed him to me.  He struggled to get away!!  I bounced him, he squirmed more.  I gave him a goldfish, he threw it across the room.  He did NOT want to be in my arms.  After a minute or two of struggling, the supervisor suggested "why don't you give him to daddy."  I handed Josiah over to Josh and there was INSTANT calmness!!  It was amazing.  That made my heart so happy.  I think it somewhat embarrassed Josh and I'm sure he felt bad for me, but I knew in time Josiah would come around. :)  The best part was when I pulled out a small blanket with a puppy head that Caleb (our nephew) had picked out for Josiah.  Josiah's face lit up with a cute smile and when I had the puppy "get him" then he broke out into the cutest giggle!  Oh, he was SO cute.  He still sleeps with his puppy!  Thank you Caleb!

He's been in our home over a month now and it seems he gets sweeter and sweeter.  The next post will describe a prayer request we have regarding his adoption and the blessing and confidence God has given to me in this case.