We're Growing Again!

We have been bursting at the seams, ready to share this great joy with you. Our family has been MATCHED with a sweet expectant mama and will be welcoming a baby girl to our crew later this fall! We/she is due November 10th and right on track for a full term baby/delivery. We got "the call" at 6pm on Tuesday July 5th and by the grace of God, we were all together. Jon had day tripped to Dallas and was set to be in Houston the next morning bright and early so we got to be together and with the kids. It's hard to put into words how I felt that evening, I thought it would feel similar to finding out I was pregnant but it was different and incredible. So you probably have questions surrounding our match. We will share as much as we can without sharing some sacred details of our baby's story that we will keep within our family to share with her when she is older. Thank you for understanding and respecting the fact that I won't be sharing intimate details or answering certain questions.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" -James 1:17

So now you can see why I've been so absent on my blog lately (plus vacation, summer, crazy summer). Things have been emotional... joy, fear, excitement... we've been feeling all of the emotions. I always heard people say adoption was hard and I just didn't understand it until now. Adoption comes out of brokenness and we are getting to see that pain firsthand. There has been so much I've wanted to say but those conversations have happened between me and God. What I do want to say to you all is that if you know someone who is adopting... pray for them. Pray for their hearts to stay steadfast to the promises of God, pray for their future birth mother to have support, protection, and love, and pray for their baby. I feel like over the past few months God has grown me and stretched me in ways I would have never grown had we not gone through this adoption process. I now have a clear understanding of my adoption into God's family. A spiritual orphan saved by the Cross of Christ. And I am so thankful for that.

So back to baby Hart #3. We have been working with Christian Adoption Consultants and cannot imagine going through adoption without the love and support of our consultant and the CAC community. Basically CAC has relationships with agencies and attorneys in adoption friendly states all over the US. Adoption friendly means that the required time before relinquishment is allowed is 48-72 hours. So yes you can adopt in all states but the waiting period for relinquishment differs by state. We have been matched with an agency in Las Vegas and will be traveling to Nevada when our baby is born in November. Because we are doing an out of state adoption, we will be staying in the state for 2-3 weeks post placement while some legal contracts are approved, etc. We haven't made concrete travel plans (and can't really until we get the call) but most likely Jon and I will be traveling alone when she is born and Ford and Lucy will join us a few days later with my parents. If you are in Vegas, you'll have to let me know of some fun things to do with 3 kids under 3 that don't involve glitter or casinos :).

Ford will have just turned 3 and Lucy will be 18 months when our baby is born, 3 kids in 3 years. I know it will be hard and I know chaos is to come but this is what God has for me. I have full confidence that He will give me what I need to not only survive, but thrive. Energy, sleep, finances, babysitters, meals, community... it may not be an over abundance because then that wouldn't leave any room for His power would it? Call me crazy but I keep telling myself this time will be easier and I have reason to believe that it will. I won't have just had a C section and I won't be breastfeeding which were 2 of the hardest parts of adjusting to a new baby for me. I may be putting my foot in my mouth in a few months but hey, one can hope right?

Everyday I tell God, "You didn't have to do this, but you did". His providence has been so evident and incredible throughout our adoption process and specifically our match. Friends, don't discount the fact that God is working everything together for the good of the kingdom. He doesn't waste the waiting period, the pain, and even the joy. This baby was hand picked by a KING for our family and I cannot wait to meet her face to face.

"Not to us, Lord, not to us but to you be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness." Psalm 115:1 

Please keep praying y'all. For us, our birth mother, and our sweet baby girl. Ford and Lucy are so excited, we can't wait to further complete our family through adoption.