The Incredible Almost

This has been one of the most incredible, unexpected rollercoaster of a week. We weren't even sure if we should talk about it or not. But after discussing it, we wanted to include all of you on every twist and turn that fully makes this journey special.

The Thursday before last we received a call from our caseworker. She left us both messages asking to call her back as soon as we had a chance. Before calling her we of course called each other. We were sure that she just wanted to see how the book was coming along, and how close we were to making our next payment. Oddly enough that was not the case. She wanted to get our thoughts on an opportunity that came up, and she thought it would be perfect for our family.

During a conference call with the three of us, she started to explain a scenario that would change our world in just two weeks time. She told us that there was a brave mother that had been working with Gladney for some time now. She is a young mother that had reached a personal realization that she may not be able to give her daughter the life that she always dreamed of her having. This courageous, heroic decision that came from months of counseling, praying, and exhausted options soon would include us in a very small part of God's plan.

We were told that there is a two year old healthy, happy african american baby girl in South Carolina that is in need of a forever home. We were asked to take the night to pray about it, and see how this little girl would fit into our lives. We were absolutely not expecting this. We told her that we merely had a rough draft of our profile book. She said, that would have to be good enough. After talking and praying about it, we were positively sure that we wanted to move forward. We emailed our profile book that turned into printed off pieces of paper, and it was shipped over night along with profiles from three other families. She told us that if this was God's Plan for our family, and we were chosen, then we needed to be ready to fly out to South Carolina for our two week stay, where we would return with our daughter.

We tried to stay optimistic while keeping guards over our hearts at the same time. Jill reminded me that we are not in control, and that we will only parent the child that God intends. After one week, the mother and father along with their families had decided between the four families.

We got the call that we were not chosen.  With a sadness buried deep inside, we were actually overcome with happiness. We were incredibly happy that this beautiful little girl would be joining a family that has been praying for her just as we have. We were happy that we got the chance to be included in this decision. And we were happy for the birth mother. We continue to pray for her sorrow that fills her heart, but are happy that this tremendously unselfish mother will finally be giving her daughter the life that she always dreamed.

We are exactly where we were a week and a half ago. We are continuing to finalize our profile book. We are still applying for grants and saving money like crazy so that we can have many more opportunities like this until we find our first child.

We wanted to include all of you with this experience that we had because it is a tiny peek into the journey ahead. We know that this was a simple message from God. He wanted us to know that we had not been forgotten. He wanted to show us that our family can grow in the blink of an eye if He wills it. He wanted to hold us, and tell us to never give up hope.