For being a Saturday, it was pretty average for Bruce and me. We slept a bit late, ran errands, watched a little TV, and ate lunch out. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Another Broken Egg, one of our favorite places for a Saturday brunch. If you have never had their potatoes that come with most of their meals, it is worth the visit. They are delicious!
Since we just returned from visiting both families for the Christmas holiday, we have done your average weekend chores. I think load five of laundry is in the washer now! We've also cleaned up a bit around the house. Considering the crazy December that we had, the house could use a lot of TLC! The house is definitely not clean, but we did get a lot done today.
Today was also average for another reason. You see, today is December 29th, which marks 15 months that we have officially been waiting for Baby Wilson to join our family. At our adoption orientation in May of 2011, we were told that the average waiting time with our agency is 15 months. We were approved to be adoptive parents on September 29, 2011.
I've known that this day was coming. I inwardly hoped and prayed that today wouldn't come, but it has. The first nine or ten months of waiting weren't that hard for me. I guess I didn't expect anything to happen that quickly, so I wasn't disappointed when it didn't. The waiting got hard for me when this school year started. There are days when the wait consumes my mind and it's hard to focus on anything else.
God always has ways of reminding me of His presence and power, affirming to me that He is in control of everything. Sometimes it is in His Word. Sometimes it is someone's posts on Facebook or Pinterest. Sometimes it is in the death of a 20 day old baby girl. Sometimes it is in the encouragement from friends who have been where I am. Sometimes it is in the failed fertility treatments of friends. Sometimes it is in the patience (oh, how patient he is) of my wonderful husband. Sometimes it is in the understanding of friends when I just don't know what to say. Sometimes is it in the smile of a sweet child who has a hug just for me! He has used so many people and circumstances to remind me of His authority and sovereignty over life.
When we started this adoption journey about two years ago, the verse that I claimed for our journey was Psalm 16:9, which says, "The heart of man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps." This is certainly not the journey that I planned years ago, but I take comfort in knowing that the Lord is the One planning this journey. He knew this day would come. He knows that some days the waiting seems unbearable. He knows and has chosen for us the child that He will place with us in His perfect time.
Here are a few things we know about our adoption with our agency. We know that five birthmothers have looked at our profile over the past few months. We know that one little baby boy was placed with his forever family just days before Christmas. We found out that we were not chosen to be that little boy's parents the Friday before Christmas.
That news was very difficult right before Christmas, especially knowing that today's "average" day was approaching. It made it all the more important for me to remember the perfect baby boy that God sent to Earth 2,000 years ago to die for each of us.
One thing that put a big smile on my face over the past week was seeing a package for Baby Wilson among the gifts at my family's gathering. It was from my Granny and Papa. They have supported us from day one (as has all of our family), but seeing this gift from them made me happy! After I opened it, my Papa said, "We hope you get to use those very soon." Me too! :)
Baby Wilson actually has more gifts waiting for him or her. My aunt and uncle have given us some wonderful pieces of furniture for the nursery, so the only big piece of furniture we will need to buy is a crib. We have not set up the nursery yet and probably will not until we know Baby Wilson is coming home. However, we have begun to choose bedding sets that we both like. Below are just a few of the gifts waiting on Baby Wilson to arrive!!
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| Aston Villa outfit to wear while watching "proper" football with dad! |
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| I was already planning for Baby Wilson when I was selling Tupperware! |
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| Sweet socks and gloves from Nana and Pops, my mom and dad. |
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| Last year's Christmas present we bought for Baby Wilson. |
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| As a teacher, we can't go without books! |
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| An ornament that we bought this year in anticipation of becoming a family of three! |
While today was an average day in many ways, I look forward to the day we receive the call that we have been chosen by a birthmother to become the forever parents of her child. That will certainly not be an average day!!!!!
Please continue to pray for us a we walk this journey that God has planned for us! Also, give thanks each day that we as Christians have been adopted into God's kingdom through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Galations 4:1-7 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
