The Call

Four years ago this fall we started this blog as we set out on a journey of faith to adopt a child from Ethiopia.  Since then, many changes have taken place in the Ethiopian adoption process. Estimated wait times turned from months to years to be matched with a child.  There were several times that we thought Ethiopia was going to close international adoptions altogether...thankfully that did not happen!  All the waiting is finally worth it...

On August 26 we received "the call" that we had been waiting and waiting for.  We were matched with a sweet baby boy from Ethiopia!   A month later these words seem so surreal to type.  Honestly, even after waiting for so long, we were surprised to receive the call.  Earlier this year, Bethany Christian Services stopped updating wait times since they could not accurately give estimates to waiting families. So, we knew we were getting close to the top of the list, but really thought we had more time to wait ahead of us.

Receiving the call that we were matched with a child went nothing like we thought it would:)  Actually, our adoption coordinator called both of our cell phones and neither one of us answered!  Ha! Miles turned my phone to vibrate earlier in the day without me realizing it and Scott was in a meeting when she called just after 2 p.m.  About an hour later I noticed I had a missed call and voicemail from a number I did not recognize.  I listened to a message that was from Bethany Global asking us to call back because they had some "great news" to share with us!  Scott actually listened to the same message on his phone at the same time I did.  We called Bethany back together to confirm the great news! Scott rushed home from work so we could open the email message together with pictures and information about our baby boy. (Sorry, these are the only details we can give about him online until he is legally ours. We are more than happy to share a bit more information and pictures in person).

We are required to take two different trips to Ethiopia to complete the adoption.  Bethany estimates that we will travel for the first time in 3 to 6 months for our court trip.  We would hopefully go back 4-6 weeks later to bring him home.  Both trips will be about a week long.

We are incredibly thankful for this answer to prayer!  Our journey to add children to our family has not been easy, but we have been truly blessed by God's redeeming love!  Please join us in praying to bring this little guy home!