Celebrating 7 Years!

One of the best days in the adoption process is the day you receive your referral. Every adoptive parent waits for that day, they dream of that day and in most cases it is pretty perfect. My little family waits for that day when we receive our match and learn that Baby L is on the way. We know that we must depend on God and have faith in his timing. When the time is right and the right situation arrives, it will be exactly what God intends. We know from experience that it takes alot of patience and prayer to get through the waiting process of adoption. We know where the patience comes from and are praying for God's timing and patience with our adoption. The Bible tells us that:

"...Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience and experience hope..."
Romans 5:3-4

"But hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for what we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
Romans 8:24-25

You may say why all the talk about referrals and matches. Well, ths weeks marks a couple of great days for our family. The first was Clayton's birthday on Tuesday and the second was Clayton's referral day! It was 7 years today that Matt and I first saw his sweet little face. During his adoption process I kept a blog similar to this one. Here is what I wrote 7 years ago today...

Well Tammy from the agency called me this morning about 10:30. She said that she had some of our documents that I needed to get redone, AGAIN. I was a little frustrated. She said she really needed to get these so that she could get it out in the mail today. So I said ok. I took an early lunch, which I always hate, and went and had Marsha redo her part and pick up Selene's letter she had mailed to us. Once I had those in hand, I went to the agency.

Well when I got there she said, "so did you get it?" I said yeah it came in the mail, well what I thought and what Tammy thought were two different things. She went on to tell me that everythong looked great and that she had heard that we had received our Immigration approval and that we should get it in the mail tommorrow. I was so happy... Well she then went on to tell me that Lydia needed to talk to me and that she was trying to reach her by phone. I was trying to figure out what Lydia needed from me. So I waited around for a bit. She finally called. She said that she would be by in about 15 mintues. (SORRY TO RAMBLE) Well Tammy insisted that I talk to her, so I got on the phone. She proceeded to tell me congrats on the 171-H approval and then tell me that she had something else for me. At that point I thought what else could there be. She said, " We have a referral for you" I about fell in the floor. What? I told them. Tammy had just pulled up his pics on the computer. I couldn't believe it.

There was my little boy. He was only two days old and is the most precious little thing I have ever seen. He was 5 lbs 13 oz. He was 17.4 inches long and was only 2 days old. Born on January 22, 2006. I was in total and utter shock. It was the most amazing feeling that I had ever had. I had to go pick up a letter from Matt's work so I took the pics over to him and showed him. When I pulled in the parking lot I called him and told him he needed to come outside, I had something to show him. He wasn't sure what was going on so I met him as he walked out and I turned the pic over and he said what is this, I told him this is your baby. He was like WHAT??? Are you kidding? He was like me, in total shock. It was so unexpected. But so worth it

I look forward to the day that I can have this same type of memory for Baby L. It will come in God's time and we will be sure to keep everyone updated with the latest information. Praying for our