A year ago today...

The very top picture was taken 4 days ago. The bottom picture was taken a year ago today; Joey's adoption finalization day!

It's hard to believe that a year ago today, I woke up extremely nervous, excited and relieved that our journey to adopt Joey was going to be at it's final stage. From that day forth, we were going to legally be a family! We arrived at the courthouse at around 9 a.m. We had no idea where we were on the docket.

As I sat with my family and friends waiting for our names to be called, I recalled all that had taken place for Joey to become a legal part of our family. I remembered our heartache when we learned that we were infertile. I remembered all of the obstacles that were placed in our path that were so devastating at the time only to find out it was how God steared us toward our dear son! I remembered Joey's birthmother and the pain and anguish she must have gone through when she decided to place Joey with us. More importantly I thought of the love she must have had to be able to carry Joey for 9 months in her womb only to have another mother and father parent the child she held next to her heart.

As I remembered all of those different milestones in our journey, a Bible story kept coming to me. In the book of Joshua, chapters 3 and 4, it speaks of the Israelites as they were about to cross the Jordan River. The waters were flowing and the Lord told them to enter the River with the Ark of the Covenant and he would still the waters. That is exactly what happened! He stilled the water and they crossed on dry land. He then commanded them to take 12 stones from the center of the river and place them on the dry land. The reason the Lord commanded them to do this was stated in Joshua 4:23-24."For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea,which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

I know that each of the obstacles we faced were like one of those stones. At the time, we knew the Lord was helping us to cross our river Jordan, but we didn't see that each of the stones we had to step over would serve in the future as a reminder of His faithfulness to us. I now look back at the stones and praise God for each of the obstacles. They are a constant reminder to how much He loves us. Each obstacle serves to strengthen our faith in Him and serves to remind us that when we are facing future problems that God is in control and He will get us across the river.

Introduction

December 20, 2005 Last Monday we submitted our paperwork for our next adoption. We were so blessed when we adopted Joey 2 years ago and we are very excited to bring his little brother or sister home. I can't believe that we are doing this again! Our medical reports were completed today and I will be dropping them off at the agency tomorrow. Hopefully our clearances will come back soon and we can begin the update process. We have started preparing Joey for his little brother or sister. He is so sweet when he prays for his future sibling. He is going to be a great big brother.