I know...it's been a while.

Sorry it's been so long since my last update. A lot has happened in the life of our little family... well, I guess it's not that little :)

Most of you already know that we have received our referral. In adoption lingo that means we have a picture and a name of our baby. A couple of weeks ago, I got a call from our agency with a referral for a beautiful, healthy baby boy. We sent the info. we had to the International Adoption Clinic at UAB. The pediatrician called me back the next day with news that brought me to tears. She could not see ANYTHING that concerned her. Looking at his pictures and reading what little medical info. we had, she was very pleased. I cannot begin to explain the joy that I felt when I heard her say that he "was one of the best referrals she has ever seen come out of that country". Daniel and I have prayed for so many months that he would be safe and healthy and taken care of. God was so faithful and has taken such good care of our son.

Honestly, there have been very few moments in my life where I can say that God has taken the form of a "burning bush" for me. There are so many times I have prayed for him to speak to me that way, but for one reason or another, he usually chooses to whisper to me rather than shout. This was one moment though that he might as well have walked right into my kitchen and sat down for a chat. Whenever I prayed for our son, I always prayed this phrase exactly..."Lord, please let our son be in an orphanage where he is picked up, loved on, and talked to." When the doctor from UAB was talking to me she said, "Abby, based on the measurements he has and how on track he is developmentally, I can tell he is in a good baby home. One where he has been PICKED UP, LOVED ON, AND TALKED TO." When she repeated back to me word for word the prayer that I prayed over our baby for so many months, I lost it. She probably thought I was crazy, but it might has well have been Jesus himself saying "Don't worry. I'm here. I've been here the whole time. I've heard you. I have your baby in my hands and he is going to be okay."

We are going to be traveling in a few weeks to meet our new baby. We still have a LONG way to go, especially financially to bring him home...One thing God has shown me through this whole process so far though is that He is listening, He is faithful, and that it's in His hands-- not mine. My favorite Bible verse is Colossians 1:17: He is above all things, and in Him all things hold together. God gave me this verse shortly before we decided to adopt, and now I know why.