Last blog I was feeling so discouraged with the lull of profiles, but in just one week a lot has changed. After weeks of nothing, we received a profile that was a great fit for us, so we presented. A few hours later, we received a second profile that was also a great fit (when it rains it pours). I looked at Eric and said “go figure.”
A little background here: the same thing happened months earlier where we presented to a mother and a few hours later another great situation came through. Once we presented, we were being considered by the birth mother along with other prospective parents to adopt. You can’t really present to other situations during this time, so, by the time we learned that we weren't a match with the first situation, we had missed the deadline for the second.
OK, back to the most recent case of double jeopardy. This time we received a call the very next day from the agency for the first situation letting us know that we were not selected. It was late Friday night, and we decided to see if there was a way we could still present to the second situation we received. Thankfully, they said “yes.” That night we were consumed with packing up to leave the beach. Saturday and Sunday we spent traveling and visiting friends at the river, got home late Sunday night and crashed. Monday I got a call and it was the agency. The weekend was so busy I hadn't thought much about our submission. The social worker was so sweet. She said "we presented your profile this morning and she picked you!" I was so shocked. I don't remember a lot of the conversation that followed but my body just started shaking and it took me a good hour to calm down and a few more for it to stop completely. Eric was just as surprised. All he could say was “OK” to everything I told him. So we are now matched! We have about 6 weeks and hopefully we will be able to bring home our baby boy! To protect the mother's privacy we are not sharing details of the birth and location but this is happening quickly. Below is a video of us telling Maryssa. About 5 minutes after the video for it to sink in and she was doing a big happy dance around the living room.
What does "matching" mean? It means the birth mom has picked our family to be a forever home for her boy. That we have accepted to adopt him and that we aren't presenting to any other mothers. Over the next few weeks there could be reasons this match could fall through. We are praying this is it but know that God has been walking along this journey with us every step and that His plans are perfect. We will accept whatever He has laid before us. If you can join us in prayer after the next month and a half, we would really appreciate it. We are so thankful to know you are supporting us.
Please continue to pray with us:
-That God will direct the path for this baby. If it's best for him to stay with his mother, that our hearts will be ready. Also for her health and safety of the birth mother during pregnancy and for the roller coaster of emotions she may/will have during and after the adoption.
-The birth father has not been located. They will need to post that the mother had a baby, and he will have a timeframe to come forward to claim the child. Prayers that we will be prepared for this possibility.
-Prayers for our continued fundraising efforts. We will need to pay the amount in full once he is born. We have plans in place, but it would be such a blessing to be able offset the cost.
-For Maryssa, as she waits over the next 6 weeks and the transition to not being an only child.
-For the logistics and details of legal paperwork, hotels, flights, timing and if we fly out Maryssa, etc.
Thank you again. We are blessed to have each of you walking this journey with us.
Below is a video of Maryssa hearing the news today...
