Friday, November 26, 2010

It's a Boy...and a Girl !!!!!!!!!

With tears of thanksgiving in my eyes, I would like to announce that Geoff and I have received a referral for two of the most beautiful children we could imagine:  a five-year-old boy; and his three-year-old sister.  Matthew's single-child reign is about to come to an end...and he couldn't be happier about it!

On Monday morning, as Matthew and I were heading down to our homeschool classroom, I paused to pick up one of the portable phones.  Matthew noticed, and said that I shouldn't be doing that, as we have a rule about not answering the phone while we are 'doing' school.   My response was that I just felt like I needed to bring it with us, in case our adoption agency called.  I don't know why I thought that, but I did.  I'd already been feeling that way the previous Friday afternoon, and this time, I decided to listen to that little voice inside.

About a half hour later, at 11:00am, the phone rang, and I picked it up to the cheerful voice of our social worker asking how I was doing.  I didn't even answer.  I didn't say a word.  Though she probably heard the hitch in my voice.  She said something about how my day was about to get better, and told me that she was calling to give me a referral for two beautiful children:  a boy and a girl.

Around this time, Matthew asked me if my tears were happy tears or sad tears and, when I responded with the news that we had been referred a brother and a sister for him, he pumped his fists into the air and said, "yes - finally, I get to be a big brother!"  Matthew has prayed for over two-and-a-half years for a brother and a sister (with the brother being the older of the two); it's amazing to see his prayer answered in this way!  Finally.  Finally.

Geoff and I decided after losing our August referral that we would not announce our next referral broadly until we'd had an opportunity to have a medical consultation with our adoption pediatrician.  Unfortunately, the first appointment she had available was yesterday/Thursday evening...thus the delay in making our announcement.

The children are tiny, so very tiny.  There is no doubt that they have suffered from malnutrition issues.  But there are none of the medical concerns that were there for our first referral.  They are perfect: with spectacular eyes; perfectly-shaped little mouths; and ears that they will grow into with good nutrition.  They, understandably given what they have gone through, look so sad.  I can hardly wait to ease their grief, feed their little bellies, hold them in my arms.

Like so many prospective parents, our joy is tempered by the knowledge of what they and their birth families have had to go through to bring about the completion of our family.  Such pain is, to me, unimaginable.  These children, our children, by no choice of their own, will give up everything they know to be a part of our family: birth family; home; community; language; culture and traditions; everything familiar to and loved by them.   In an ideal world, international adoption would not be necessary.

Our joy is also somewhat cautious, to be honest.  It is my belief that the court system in Ethiopia is becoming a more challenging part of the process than it has ever been, even in the recent past.  I no longer think that it is a 'given' that we will pass court; our adoption is still at risk.  We are praying already that things will go well when we attend our court date, likely in late January or early February.

After our experience in August, of receiving and then losing a referral, I wondered if the experience of receiving another referral would be the same.  The answer is that perhaps it wasn't quite the same this time 'round.  Perhaps the 'phonecall shock' wasn't quite the same now.  I knew a bit more what to expect, what I might feel.  But the joy, and the sense of relief, were still just as profound, just as pure.  And, to be honest, my first viewing of the children's faces was different this time:  I fell in love instantly; could envision these children immediately as part of our family; felt that their faces suited the names that we had chosen for them.  We love these children!

There have been many times in the past few months when I have wondered what possible plan God could have for our family, after the heartbreak of losing that first referral.  I decided early on in the aftermath of that loss that I wanted to respond differently than I have in the past when confronted with pain or disappointment; where I have failed in the past, this time, I wanted to be God-honouring even in the midst of an experience that didn't seem fair or right.  The truth of it is that God has been faithful and He has responded again to our innermost dreams.

We are so very grateful to you, our friends, and to our two adoption agencies who have worked hard on our behalf.  I can't speak highly enough about Imagine - especially Val, who has been just unbelievable in her support of me in the past few months.  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!!

YAY!!!!!

PS. How's that for a start to a Friday??!!

44 comments:

  1. Wow! Congratulations!

    Being in the west coast, it is still Thursday and I feel like I am getting the news early ;)

    Have a great night dreaming about your hopeful new additions. I can't wait to hear more!

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  2. Well.........
    How can my little comment box hold the joy I was able to feel as I write this ?
    I am so trilled that this is your news you where able to share today.
    Yes a wonderful start Friday.
    I can not wait to follow all the next steps of the journey with you.
    And I have to agree with Matthew I felt a little girl coming your way.
    Thanks as always for sharing all you do.
    Congrats and much love
    Shannon ( who is so excited for you )

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  3. Oh Ruth Congrats!! I wondered if this is what your post was going to be!

    Marie

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  4. Woot Woot!! SO thrilled, SO excited, SO pumped for you. I know there are days of waiting and uncertainty ahead, but praying that you can enjoy this week for what it is--a time of celebration--and that the next steps would move forward smoothly (and quickly!!--I'm praying) Congrats to you all.

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  5. Ruth! God is eternally faithful. Yes, I too understand the mixed emotions of deep Joy and deep sadness with a referral. I am so happy for you and your family. Congratulations!
    ~Liesl

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  6. Yes Ruth, a great start to a Friday!! Gongrats! I am so happy for you, Geoff and Matthew! Carolyn from Cornwall

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  7. I am so happy I live in the Newfoundland Time Zone! LOL I get to read all about this so early!!

    I am sure I won't get any work done today!! I am so excited for you! So happy for you!! I am jumping from email to yahoo to your blog! I don't even notice the pile of files on my desk!!!

    YAY!! Congrats!!

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  8. Congratulations my friend ! I am so happy for you and your family. You are a wonderful person and you will be a wonderful mom for these two little one.

    Enjoy this referral time. Wishing you a court date very soon and a speedy visa process.

    xxxx

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  9. oh ruth, oh ruth. i am weeping tears of joy with you. I am so happy, beyond words, to read of the miracle God has worked! I cannot wait to hear that you have these prescious ones home. I LOVE 'ears they will grow into!" too cute! i too, have already been praying about court (although we have no referral yet of course). it does seem more and more difficult. so i will ad that to my prayer list for you as well. Congratulations ruth. I hope you know how much I mean that word. Have a blessed weekend with your family, just staring at those pictures together. darci

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  10. Checking your blog was the very first thing I did this morning, and you did not disappoint Ruth! :)
    I am SO so happy for you, and read your news with tears in my eyes. I will be praying for you that the court date goes well, and that you will soon bring your new little ones home. Congratulations!

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  11. This is amazing. Praying for a successful court.

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  12. Excellent news and answers to prayer! I'm so thankful that the medical went well. I will continue to pray. I am very much looking forward to meeting Matthew's brother and sister.

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  13. That's a wonderful, joyous start to a Friday. Congratulations!

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  14. Congrats Ruth!! What great news for your family. I will be checking back on your blog often for updates!
    Shannon (-:

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  15. So happy for you all :-) *hugs* of joy for your whole family!

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  16. Congratulations Ruth! I've been waiting to hear about a referral for you guys. My heart broke this summer for you. I can't wait to read about your journey to your children.

    Kelly

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  17. Yeahhhhhhhhh!!! I came downstairs and I'm SOOOOO very glad that they are. You've had such a journey to get to this day Ruth, I'm so glad your day has finally come! Congratulations!

    Donna

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  18. With tears in my eyes, I offer you my sincerest congratulations!

    Nicole

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  19. Ruth, Wonderful news, I couldn't be more happy for anyone. I was hoping this was the reason for your absence!! I look forward to hearing all the next chapters of this story. XOX - Katie H. in Ottawa

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  20. The most beautiful start to a Friday, indeed!

    I have been waiting, knowing that your news must be coming soon. And am SO excited and thankful that you have been blessed with another sibling referral.

    Trusting & praying that all goes so, so smoothly for you throughout the next steps.

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  21. Congrats Ruth, Geoff and Matthew!!!

    Wishing you a speedy and successful court date!

    Rana

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  22. Congratulations Ruth, Geoff and Matthew. Woo hoo!!

    Karen

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  23. Congratulations Ruth, Geoff, and MATTHEW!!!!!! We are so happy for your family. Please inform us of your court date as we will be on our knees in prayer for your family. God has brought you this far, he WILL bring your children home.

    Blessings!!!!

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  24. Ruth, I am deeply happy for your family. Don't really even have the words to describe it. Just soooo happy for you.

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  25. My warmest congratulations, Ruth. May the time until you're all together for good be short and swift!! (It does my heart a lot of good, sharing in your joy!)

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  26. EEEEK!! I knew it!!!

    Congratulations, Ruth!!!!! What wonderful news!!!!!

    I am so happy for the three of you :) Soon to be 5!!!!!!!!

    Claire

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  27. Ruth and family, this is fantastic news!!! Congratulations with your referral!!! I hope every thing for now on will be a smooth ride

    Maria

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  28. YAY! Ruth, I'm so happy for you and your family! Congrats on your referral!

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  29. I couldn't be happier for you!!!! Wonderful!!! You deserve all the happiness in the world!!!! xxxx

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  30. Dear Ruth,
    So happy for you! Praying for you through the next stretch of your journey. I look forward to seeing your children in your arms!
    Blessings,
    Kelly~DTE Oct.15.08

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  31. Congratulations!!
    Love you guys and am so excited for you as you celebrate the addition of a new son, daughter (brother , sister!!!)
    Sandie

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  32. Ruth,
    What to say, my friend? It has been such a long journey, one that is not over yet, and I feel like I have travelled some of the road with you, from the very early days of you, Karen, and I sharing our e-mails and waiting together, to the devastation of the bankruptcy when you were so close to referral, to the hope once again, to your first referral news and the joy that brought that then turned to heartbreak, and then another wait...I am rejoicing. God is faithful and has been there through it all. I really only got to be a spectator through this journey. It was Him that held your hand and walked alongside you.

    I know that there is much to come and that the unknowns ahead bring with them worry, but now that you know the faces that you are fighting for, I pray that you will have wisdom in your decisions and that all will go smoothly until the day when you finally can bring your son and daughter home. Please tell Matthew that I think he will make the world's best big brother and pass my congratulations on to Geoff.

    So, so happy for you! Couldn't be happier (well, the day you pass court, I will be!) Until then, I will be praying.

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  33. YIPEEEEE!!! When I saw that Claire had posted on facebook that their were two imagine sibling referrals, I SOOOO hoped one of them was yours, so I quickly came over to your blog to check it out, and I'm SOOOOOO happy to see this post!! That is just awesome!! God makes everything perfect in His time, but I have found that it sure is hard sometimes not knowing when His time is going to be!! I am so very very happy for you and your family. Congratulations to the new big brother! How close in age will Matthew and his brother be? They'll have such fun together (as well as the normal fights), but what a special bond they'll have!

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  34. Ruth! Congrats! When I came by your blog the yesterday and saw you'd be back Friday, my heart began to hope.... I'll be praying for you guys and your little boy and girl. Wow. Praying for continued healing in the midst of your joy (grief has a strange way of still creeping up) and rejoicing in this wonderful news. Now, onto paperwork and court and...
    Ramona

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  35. Blessings on you and your family! This is wonderful news and I am truly so overjoyed to read of your referral.
    Congratulations!
    Candice from BC

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  36. Congratulations, Ruth!!! Wonderful news to start the weekend. :)

    Sarah

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  37. Yeah!!! I am so very happy for you.

    I think you are right to be a little cautious - I know I only fully relaxed when we were through court. But don't let that stop the joy. Have both at the same time. :-)

    Sincere congratulations!!!!!!!

    "Nicky"

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  38. Hooray, what GREAT news! SO pleased for you!!!!

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  39. Congratulations Ruth! I also thought this may be your news and was anxiously waiting for you to post!

    I am so happy for you, they sound perfect!

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  40. HI Ruth ,
    Just a fast hello and hoping you are having a wonderful wonderful weekend.
    Thinking of you and you great news
    love Shannon

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  41. Ruth my heart is bursting for your family!!!! congratulations, and I will be praying for you through this to the end (kids home!!); hope we get to meet in Ethiopia, a very big celebration!!

    blessings,
    shirley

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  42. Congratulations, Ruth. I am so happy for you and your family!

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  43. Ruth,
    My most sincere congratulations! I think many of us have been waiting for this very news, and I am so glad that it has finally come!!

    Flora

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