At 4:22 pm on Tuesday my phone rang as we were staining a new pergola, sweating in 90 degree heat, on our back patio. I had a feeling as soon as I saw the number that THIS WAS THE CALL. But I had been wrong several times the past week, excitedly answering and hearing a recording for lawn care service etc. on the other end. My heart raced and my finger, in nervous jitteriness, accidentally hit decline! Oh NO! I waited a couple minutes to see if the caller left a voicemail and sure enough, DING, “new voicemail.” I listened to it in our basement and heard my own caseworker explaining that she had a possible placement that was an emergency placement to call back ASAP. She stated the child’s age and sex and I opened the basement sliding door and asked my husband, “Hey do you want a *mo old baby girl?!” He agreed right away & I immediately called her back and accepted the placement after hearing a few more details she had to share. She said that I would get a call from the child’s worker to set up a time to pick her up TONIGHT.
At 5:11pm, another call. The child’s worker. Could I pick her up from the office at 6? Of course! I hurried to look presentable and installed another carseat in the minivan and then my husband, our 2 kiddos & I all went to meet her.
We arrived at 6 and heard that they were running behind at least 15 minutes so we decided to do a quick store run (across street) for her specific formula and more diapers and such. Our kids were crazy in the store and for a few moments I filled with that nasty DOUBT again.
Can I really do this?!
But I had said yes, and God is always faithful…time and time again…so YES, with Him I can. It will all work out.
I called the supervisor to let him know we were finished shopping and learned that it could still be a while so we ran through a Wendy’s for drinks and a snack. Then back to the office where we waited in the parking lot until another car pulled up and there she was.
♥ Sweetest thing ever. My heart broke immediately and I had to hold back tears during the entire exchange. It was a moment that will forever change me. And now, 3 days later, I’m so in love with this little girl. I know attaching will make “pulling off the bandaid” that much more painful, but it is what this sweetheart deserves. And desperately needs. I just pray God, who orchestrated our meeting no doubt, will be with her for the rest of her life no matter what comes next. And I trust He will help us too.
As I lay in bed last night (unable to sleep), I thought about the past few weeks. And I thanked God for His faithfulness and perfect timing. It’s amazing to me.
We were approved Aug 17. My husband had a crazy stressful week that next week (working super long days) and then left for an entire week to California for a business conference. I was so nervous we would get the call during that week. NO CALLS. Then he returned home in time for Labor Day weekend and we had planned to go boating at my Aunt & Uncle’s place Sat-Sun night. We decided to go ahead because, well, we had to keep living life. It was the BEST weekend…so many great family memories and just enjoying the beauty of lake life. Monday we unpacked and settled back in at home. Tuesday was our son’s first day of preschool. I got to really focus on making it a special day for him and my husband ended up surprising him by taking off work that day to be able to be there for drop off and pick up. He LOVED school and we (my husband and I) got to spend some one-on-one time with our 23 month old daughter. Then, we picked up our son and all went out for a celebratory “1st Day of School Lunch.”
We came home for late naps and started painting the pergola my husband built. About an hour in THE CALL came. Any other day my husband would have been at work until 6. But he was home & the whole experience became a family ordeal which was so nice. It could not have happened at a better time. And to think of all the times I wanted to rush this process…God’s timing is always better than mine.
So now we love on this sweet little girl and trust God with the rest. She has been a huge blessing and each day with her is really a gift. It forces me to live in the present and I have honestly never felt so FULL. God is SO good.
Please pray for this sweet girl- for God’s best for her life. And thank you to everyone who has prayed for us and encouraged us. It is definitely felt!
Ecclesiastes 3:11- “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”
Isaiah 40:31- “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Foster Love 