The Lord has a sense of humor!

As I mentioned in my first post, I had a miscarriage a year ago.  From the beginning, the ultrasounds didn't show much in the way of life.  I had a talk with my doctor at my follow-up on exactly what it takes to become pregnant.  We tried but no baby.  This may be a bit personal and you'll begin yelling, "T M I!" by the time I'm done, but stick with me here.  Sean and I haven't used anything to prevent pregnancy for about 8 1/2 years.  Of course, 8 1/2 years ago I was a lot younger and better prepared to chase little ones.  We know, we know, we know that we are to follow this through until our little Judah is home with us!  I desired to be stronger and better fit for my little guy, wanting him to have the healthiest parents he could and have lots of play dates and shared giggles!

About a month ago I started eating healthier, following  the South Beach Diet way of eating.  Over a period of 2+ weeks, I had lost 10 pounds!  My family began to notice a difference in my face and my clothes were allowing me to breathe once again.  However, it was so strange, I couldn't seem to loose any more weight - not one single pound.  So weird!  So I added exercising, to which I don't recommend to anyone who wants to move without groaning - and still no loss of weight!

Now let's talk about this week... Deep breathe, Michelle.

Monday afternoon I went out with my youngest, Joy, to look for fall shoes.  I stopped by the pharmacy to pick up medicine for Sean and a little something for me.  Just a little something, something I didn't want my reading daughter to know about.  Usually that means I'm sneaking a candy bar or a bag of chips or a Diet Cream Soda, but not this time...  This time I was sneaking a pregnancy test!  In the Lord's great, enormous sense of humor, Sean and I find ourselves adopting AND pregnant!

I spent Monday and Tuesday in shock, keeping the news between Sean and I only.  By Wednesday I had built up enough courage to call my family doctor and say out loud that I was pregnant.  We had a good visit (unfortunately didn't hear a heart beat because we're guessing I was only 4 weeks along) and was referred to an OB doctor.  By Thursday afternoon, I had started bleeding...I felt like it was last year all over again!  My family doctor got an appointment for me the very next morning with the OB.  My sweet little Joy gathered together the family that evening and we read Psalm 139 and prayed.  I love hearing my children and husband pray, such a balm to my hurting heart!

Yesterday was a much anticipated day.  It didn't sound like, in talking to them on the phone, that we were  going to be told much due to the fact that I was so early.  Not exactly the reassuring news we wanted to hear.  After going back and forth with a calendar, it was possible that I was a little farther along.  So Dr. M decided to just go ahead with the ultrasound.  Praise God we did because clear as day was our little baby!  Right where "she" is suppose to be, heart beating so her mommy and daddy can cry with thanksgiving to a wonderful Lord!  I am 7 weeks, 2 days along and feeling wonderfully sick and blessedly tired!  Our little baby is due May 24, 2012.

So, I chuckle at the idea of bringing home two children next year... oh, how God loves to make me laugh!  Our little Judah will be a big brother before he even realizes it! 

Keith, I close with these verses just for you in calling Sean and I "Abraham and Sarah!" 

"Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless.  And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.' ... Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.  And the Lord said, 'Is anything too difficult for the Lord?' ... Then the Lord took note of Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised.  So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time"  ~Genesis 17:1, 2; 18:11, 14; 21:1, 2

(Hope you are laughing with us in our great joy to witness a powerful God 

for which NOTHING is too difficult!)

It's tomorrow already!

I pray for my little guy continually.  I ask the Lord to provide nourishing food and clean drinking water for him today.  I want him to have something special happen today, like spending extra time outside if that's important to him.  Or perhaps the Lord would cause someone today to say something to Judah that shows him love and kindness.  I ask that his little heart would already begin to long for us specifically so that when we meet for the first time he is not afraid but knows that we forever love him.  Recently, I have begun again using my Power of a Praying Parent book.  I've added to my daily prayers for Judah to love the Lord with his whole heart!  Much of this I pray through tears.

The other night, as I was once again thinking and praying for Judah, I could not sleep.  I just had to come back downstairs and find out what time it was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  It was 3:30am.  It was already tomorrow for my guy.  I began praying that he was safe, warm, clean, and comfortable.  That his dreams were sweet and his sleep deep and restful.  As I am writing this post, it is now 10:46pm for him.  I am picturing him sleeping on his side, curled up, with sweet little cherub cheeks resting on his bed.  

Our family has much to trust the Lord with... endless paperwork, time to pass quickly, finances, safety in travel, adjustments for each of us, a supernatural and instant bonding with Judah.  Most of all, I am asking that you join us in prayer for Judah.  Whenever the Simontons come to your mind, would you please pray?  

"All things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive."  ~Matthew 21:22

I'm so excited! I just can't hide it!

There is much rejoicing in our house right now! Sean called our adoption agency to see if they had received the doctor's letter to complete our Formal Application (the doctor's letter simply is to state that Sean's colitis doesn't interfere with his ability to parent). Now, we all know doctors work on their own time-table. You make appointments when they are available; you arrive early and sit in a "waiting" room; you get weighed in the hallway (for all to see and hear) and then sit in a room, waiting for that doctor. Waiting, waiting. Well, a big, huge thank you to Doctor "G" for his promptness - Sean called on Friday requesting the letter and on Friday not only did Dr. G complete it but also sent it to the adoption agency - wowsa! Thank You, Lord!

Jan, our case worker, said that not only has this been very fast but that the headquarters went ahead and approved our application without first receiving the required doctor's letter.  She can't understand this and said we must have said just the right things on our application.  Oh, but we know the Lord is making a way for our little Judah to come home to us!

"Praise the Lord!  Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse.  Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre.  Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.  Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!"  ~Psalm 150

Words of encouragement and confirmation...

So before I forget, I want to record and remember some of the wonderful comments from friends and family upon hearing about our adoption, beginning with our family meeting a couple of weeks ago.  As a rule of thumb, we don't generally call a lot of family meetings.  When we do, it is usually something big...like, "We're moving" or "We're having another baby."  The kids started guessing and speculating on what the big announcement was to be.  Jake turns to Jenna and says that he knows what it is, we're adopting!  I love that moment!  God was already making their hearts line up with ours!  To their delight, Jake, of course, was right. As a family we prayed (and I cried) for our little guy half way around the world that night.  We have not stopped praying ever since.

Another wonderful moment was with Joy, currently our youngest.  She wanted to know if I remembered her desire to grow up and be a mommy.  I did.  She said that she wanted to be just like me, having 3 kids and adopting 1!  Oh how God blesses me with such compassionate children!

My hubby was sharing with friends and pastors about our exciting news all throughout the week.  One complete surprise was to learn that friends served as missionaries in Ethiopia!  Can you believe that - God had someone already in our lives that has lived and served there, right where our little guy is!  We can't wait for their vacation to end so we can get together and learn from them all about Ethiopia!

We have whittled down to one magazine subscription in our house...WORLD magazine.  Three times has Ethiopia been in publication in the last several issues.  Really, friends, how many times does one country, not at war, come into publication this frequently except for the Lord to speak to someone?  We hear ya, God, we hear You!  

One very special friend so deeply touched me in her jubilant response to our news...Katie, I love ya, girl!  You have not only listened to my dreams but have helped me dream.  You shared in my enthusiasm in my "J' boy name choice... BTW, we have agreed as a family and his name is (drum roll please)  JUDAH!  Thank you for your sweet friendship!  Can't wait for him to meet you and you him!  

And not least but finally, I want you to know that my wonderful sister knew the moment I called to share our news that we were adopting - oh how her knowing my heart blessed me!  Love you, Mel!

There are numerous other comments and words of encouragement... these are just a few.  As you can see, God has already bound our hearts to Ethiopia and a certain little boy!  We continue to wait patiently upon the Lord for the moment our family is complete!

Before Day one

"And so after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise."  Hebrew 6:15   

Just as Abraham was tested for a very long time, so I too must wait patiently!  The Lord made a promise to Abraham and tested him by delaying the fulfillment of His promise.  For several years, I have wanted another child, hoping for another son.  Last year I became pregnant, excited to have another little Simonton, only to miscarry in the first trimester.  My worry of having another child grew.  I prayed to the Lord to place on my family's hearts the desire to adopt.  I even put before God that if this was truly His will that Sean would begin the discussion and process personally. 

On Labor Day, after being at a friend's house making cards, I came home to the Lord's answer... my sweet husband had laid out on his desk much information on countries from which to adopt!  And I've been weeping tears of joy ever since!

"Beloved, God's promises can never fail to be accomplished,"  Did you catch that?  God never fails!  Not only was this verse and quote from my devo on September 11th, Sunday, but I was so blessed by my church that very same morning singing these words to the song, "Everlasting God,"

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord (repeat)

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

So, you see, before day one, my little guy (currently age range 2-5) is there in Ethiopia, as we are both waiting upon the Lord!