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!