Children of the World, our adoption agency, has various get-togethers for their families, and last month we were at a Mother's Day picnic at Shaw Park with Rudy, Maria, and several families, enjoying hot dogs, cole slaw, and playing on the playground. Daddy was chatting with Uncle Rudy and mentioned that at some point, eventually, we were going to come knocking on this door to start the adoption process again. Rudy was happy to hear that and recommended that if we were serious, to start the process soon, since there were lots of rumors that adoptions in Guatemala would be halted, potentially this year. We were a bit surprised and talked about it all the way home, throughout the day, and for a couple days. We knew we wanted to adopt again. We knew that as soon as we brought Mario home, in fact even before that, that we wanted another child in the family. We just weren't thinking about this kind of timetable. We prayed a lot about it, and by the end of May had signed the contract again with COTW.
Then earlier today, I was at home with Mario when the phone rang. It was Kati from COTW. We chatted for a little bit, Mario was doing well, yes we were excited to begin the process again, that sort of thing. Then Kati tells me that when we filled out the I-600A with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service for Mario's adoption, we had said two children. That was the process really, in case our referral had been for twins or something like that. Well, Kati tells me, because it was so recent that we had filled out the I-600A, that it had not expired yet, so there was the possibility of proceeding now if we wanted to.
It took a few seconds and a lot of stammering on my part to understand what she was saying. "We could proceed now? You mean there's a baby now? You mean, that there is a baby now? Now? Right now? That there is a baby for us now? You mean now? Right now?"
Kati laughed and said yes, there was a baby available for us now if we wanted!
I shouted "YES! Oh wait, let me call my husband!"
So I called Daddy right away at work and explained the situation as best I could. I was so excited that I could barely talk. Daddy paused a couple seconds, and then said yes. We hadn't thought it was our timing, but he believed that it was God's timing. God had brought Mario to us, and he believed that God was saying to us right now, this new baby, this is your son.
Oh my goodness gracious! As much as I loved Daddy before that moment, I loved him even more at those beautiful words. Your Daddy is such a wonderful faith-filled man.
So I happily called Kati right back and said "Yes!!" again. She said great, and that she would send pictures right away!
