And We Add...

We've been on 'THE LIST' now for about a year and a half. The list of people who are waiting to adopt a child. Can you believe it's been a year and a half? Gosh, time and its passing...it'll always boggle our human minds, won't it?

We hadn't heard anything. I was beginning to wonder it they'd forgotten about us, if our names somehow mysteriously vanished off the list or something.

So...well, I decided to make sure everything was O.K. I called last week.

-"Hi, I just wanted to make sure everything is in order...that we are still on the list and have done all that we need to do, etc. It's been a while."
-"Well, when it's God's timing, it will happen. It's all in His hands."
-"Totally. But I wanted to make sure all of the logistics were indeed in place so that He can do His work. Like I said, it's been a while."
-"How long has it been?"
-"A year and a half."
-"Ohh. Well, let me make sure." :)
-"That'd be great. Thanks."

She checked and we were there. In fact, I said our names and she was like, "Oh, yeah, you are there. I don't even have to check. I remember you."

So...Thursday we got a call. They called Joel and then he called me. I was so so excited when he said the 'juizado' had called. But, I tried to contain myself, even though immediately my heart got all fluttery and my breathing speeded up a bit. ;)

It was a sibling group that included a few characteristics that we quickly knew would not fit with our family and what we can take in right now. But, it was great to finally be called. We are there...where we've dreamed of being for a long time. We are number one on the list for the things that we put on our profile (sibling groups accepted, doesn't matter the race or gender, under 4 years old).

Number 1!!

The next to be called.

Ahhhh!!

:)

Of course, unfortunately with the way the system works in Brazil, children are very, very slow to be placed. There is an abundance of people who want to adopt (which is wonderful) and an abundance of children, but it takes forever for a child to be released to be adopt-able (which is so so so sad). So, it could be a while until we are called again...you just never know.

But, there are a few things that we will need in order for us to be functional with more children.

A vehicle. The car we have now seats 7. We have 6 in our family now. So, we have room for one more. Since we said that we'd be glad to take sibling groups, it is highly likely that we will be getting a sibling group. You see what that means in terms of our mode of transportation. So, please be in prayer for us for God to provide the finances and the perfect vehicle for us.

A house. Or, the means to make our current house work. We rent. The place where we live is PERFECT for us. But, the house itself, although we LOVE it, is closing in on us already, even with just our 4 children. We have 3 bedrooms (small) and 2 bathrooms. It has worked for us just fine the past couple of years, the kids being all in one room and having a guest room at first. Then Grady having a room, the girls being in the other, and Grady just moving to the girls' room (which is already crowded) when we have visitors. But, as they get older (and bigger), that is working less and less. We really do need a guest room...it's changed from a want that would be great to have one day, to a need that is current. And if we add to our family with more boys and more girls, bigger rooms would be very nice (so they can walk between their beds and pull both trundle beds out). To give up our location would not be ideal, but at the same time, our house isn't really meeting our needs even now...imagine when we add more to the mix. So, please be in prayer with us for wisdom in our housing situation...that something would clearly open up for us somewhere else and for finances for that, or that we could be given
practical wisdom as to how to function using this house that we have now.

Thank you so much, friends. We know that God will work out the details. Thank you for lifting us up and praying with us for that to happen and for those things to be made completely clear to us.

These are just the physical logistics of adding on to our family. Please pray also for all the rest of course...for smooth transitions for the children coming our way and for our biological children...and us, the parents. So much wisdom needed. Pray that we would be diligent in it all. Thank you. Very exciting. I'll keep you posted.