We Love Because HE First Loved Us

This deserves a blog update and I expect there will be many more in the near future, because SWEET MERCY our life is about to change.

We started our adoption journey over a year ago with every intention of adopting a little boy from Ghana, Africa. We called him Moses even though we never were assigned a specific child. If I've learned anything in this life, it's don't tell God your plans.  His ways are much better.

The path to our adoption was rocky and the doors to our African adoption were never fully open and eventually fully closed. Over the last few weeks and months we have been praying and seeking the Lord's will. We promised Him we would do anything He asked, we just needed clear direction.

We felt led to love and care for a special needs child.  These children are the ones that are truly the most orphaned. They don't have dozens of families vying for them. They are often waiting for one family to love them just the way God created them.

On Wednesday we were asked to consider adopting an unborn baby girl with a host of unknown medical issues. On Friday we accepted. Today we meet the birth mom and she will be born via c-section tomorrow in Raleigh!

There is so much that we don't know about her condition, but the medical report from the two ultrasounds her birth mom has had during pregnancy are daunting. We know that she is missing part of her left leg and has some major spinal and hip issues. There could be any number of other health issues that are found at birth. Basically the doctors have told us that they will just have to assess her once she is born, but they expect three surgeries in her first year of life.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday when we were praying through our decision, our specific prayer was for clear direction. We wanted to be the parents this baby needs if we committed, while still being able to be the parents that Averie, Austin Kate and Atalie deserve, and also still be able to do ministry well. If we weren't going to be able to do all of that then we wanted to be able to say no and know that it was the right answer. So we prayed, HARD.

Nate and I have said for three years that if the Lord was ever crazy enough to give us a fourth daughter, we would name her Amelia. Friday morning he and I were praying together and I suggested that we look up the meaning of Amelia.

In Greek, it means without limb.

Y'all. We picked that name out years ago! God has always known who my Amelia is!

While it is a little crazy for us to be finding out and getting a special needs baby all in a matter of days, God is NOT surprised! I can literally feel Him smiling down on us! Have you ever felt God smiling down on you? It's a pretty great feeling!

So, I am putting all of this out there to ask you to pray.

- Pray for our family as we transition into this new life.  We know everything is about to change. We know it isn't going to be easy! But we will do anything that will bring God glory and we know this will bring Him glory.

- Pray for the birth mom that is about to give her baby up for adoption. She has selflessly carried this baby for 9 months and now is doing what she knows is best for her. Pray for her and her support system.

- Pray BOLDLY that our Amelia is born tomorrow much healthier than the doctors anticipate and we will give God all the praise and glory! But if she is not, she will still be perfect and we will still praise Him!

We love because HE first loved us. 1 John 4:19