The Finish Line

I LOVE the Olympics.  We're had them on every night - even in Korea where we watched sports we don't normally watch.  My favorite was listening to the Korean commentary during volleyball where every spike was met with an exuberant response by the announcers, "Spikoo!"  Anyway, during the fog of this week and the start of another chapter in our lives, I've tried to take moments in my heart to celebrate finally reaching the finish line of this adoption (though there's more paperwork/progress updates to turn in, the court date, and citizenship to file before we're officially "done").  It's been years since we started the process - 2 years since our homestudy was completed and we were put on the waiting list.  There was the switch from Ethiopia to Korea, sending in checks that shouldn't have cleared our account, praying like heck when we got his referral, and waiting 14 months to meet him with pictures coming in every so often as we watched him grow bigger and bigger.  There were prayers offered up in the middle of the night, at bedtime with Liv, at Bible study, driving in the car, looking at his picture by the sink, opening updates on email, and many, many silent prayers of, "Can we do this? A toddler boy? Korea? Money? Are you sure about this, God?"  Through it all God continued to give confirmation.  And now he's home (survived the plane ride!... with flying colors!), and I'm in awe of how God has answered every prayer, how this boy - even after 9 days - fits our family and fits my arms so well.  He truly, truly is God's bestowed blessing to us.  I'm in awe of how God has so richly blessed us with 3 of the most wonderful kids.  We haven't built our family in the most "traditional" way, but for us its been God's best for us and a rich, rich experience.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I think one of the things I've learned most through both adoptions is that if you ask God what He wants you to do, He's faithful to show you, to give firm footing when you feel like you're stumbling, and to reveal that His plan is Good - better than you could've planned for yourself though the path may not be what you expected.  He's so good.

Here's sweet boy in his pj's with a touch of bed-head.

This one was just too precious. 

He LOVES being outside.  He'll grab his shoes and go to the door.  We've been pooping him out everyday since the weather has been blissful.

So many of you have been right in the trenches with us in this journey. Thank you for praying - I cannot tell you how we've felt them. Thank you for loving us.  Thank you for loving orphans.  Thank you for supporting adoption.  We couldn't have gotten through this without you being a part of God's provision for us.