My cellphone rang just after 1pm that afternoon. It was Karalee, our adoption consultant. This was odd, I thought. We shared our profile with a birthmom on Monday and usually receive updates through e-mail or text. This was a good kind of odd. I answered.
One of the first things she said was, “Is Craig with you?” He was. We were outside at his parents’ house. We had stopped by to borrow the hedge trimmers when the cloudy skies and stormy forecast disappeared and the sun caught us by surprise that afternoon. It was a lovely day. I was standing with his mom discussing her future garden and he was talking to his older brother. I called him over. “Are you sitting down?” Karalee asked next.
I don’t remember if I was crying before or after she told us
Craig and I will be welcoming a baby boy into our family this May!
Praise God!!!
After a short conversation with Karalee, who wanted to be the one to share the news, we got off the phone to prepare for a second call. This one would come from the birthmom’s caseworker.
This was such a special conversation because one of the first things that she shared with us was a list that the birthmom had made of the reasons she liked Craig and me. Y’all, she really does like us and is excited to be matched with us! We are so blessed.
God is good!
In the near future we will have the opportunity to speak with the birthmom and her caseworker on the phone. We’ll even get to meet her before the baby is born. Plus, she wants the adoptive mom- that’s me! - to be in the delivery room with her. Can I say it again? We are so blessed.
Towards the end of the conversation the caseworker asked if we needed time to make our decision. No! We didn’t even need a second.
The caseworker was excited to hear our decision and knew that it would bring relief to the birthmom who was anticipating our response. The caseworker shared that she was probably biting her fingernails as she waited. I still can’t believe that she’d be anxious! For the last 8 months I have been anxiously awaiting the day we’d get the news we’d been matched, and many more years awaiting a baby! She’s has given us such an amazing gift and we are honored that she would entrust us with her child.
God is good!
So, what does this all mean?
I’ll say it again. God is good!
This also means an expectant mom has chosen us to be the future adoptive parents. We are officially matched. A match is not a legal guarantee, but rather an agreement of intentions. Yes, this can be a scary part of adoption because there is risk involved, but I ain’t scared. God has provided more than we could ever ask for or imagine. I can trust Him to take care of us, Birthmom, and Baby too.
Soon-to-Be Mommy and Daddy,
Beth & Craig