Fear

It has been a few weeks since we found out we were getting a baby boy. It is still so surreal. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. For someone to call and say, "Just Kidding Alicia! You should have known things don't come easy for you!" I know that is just my own doubt and fears getting in the way. My middle name should be doubter. I have been a doubter my whole life. So, God is teaching me to TRUST him. My mind believes that God has a plan for my life, that this deep desire to rescue orphans is from him. I know he is sufficient to provide my needs and the needs of baby G.

You are probably thinking, this girl is crazy. She has this incredible baby boy waiting on her in Africa and all she can do is worry that somehow she won't get him. I know I am. I go from being so excited I literally can't stand it, to thinking through scenarios where the judge reads my information and decides someone with a disease isn't fit to be a mother. And again, God says trust me! My social worker is awesome, when I vocalize my fears to her she just dismisses them and says, "It is in Gods hands Alicia!" My poor sister Laura has been a constant encouragement to me. I don't know what I would do without these Godly people in my life, to remind me to snap out of it.

So, despite my crazy doubts, Jeff and I went and registered for some baby stuff today. I have a shower next week at home in Louisiana. It was so much fun. I have gone through 8 births of nephews and a niece and each time I have been overjoyed to welcome this new addition into our family. But it was so much fun to be planning for MY sweet baby G. He isn't going to know what hit him when he gets home. So much love from an enormous family and lots of sweet ladies at church who are already calling him their grandson.

Since I last updated, we found out the Ugandan Courts close from July 15 to August 15th. My agency is working hard to get us in before then but I seriously doubt that will happen. So right now we are thinking sometime quickly after the courts open back up.

I ask that you continue to pray for the things I asked in my last post.

Just to confirm to you that I am crazy, I am already starting to plan our next adoption. Crazy right? My hearts desire is to have a house full of children from different nations (including the U.S.). To me it is such a beautiful picture. I pray that God provides for the desires of my heart.

Alicia

WE HAVE A BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it is true. The day I posted online that we were in the "waiting" period, I got a call from my social worker about a baby that was up for adoption in Uganda. I had completely written off the possibility of having a baby. I was expecting a 2 or 3 year old. I don't know that I have ever been more overwhelmed with emotion than the moment I saw a picture of my son. I was "freaking out", for about 3 days and I'm still so excited I don't know what to do with myself. It just feels like he is mine. I know I didn't grow him in my belly, but the love I already feel for this baby is so deep. The love both of our parents feel for this baby that we have only seen in photos is amazing. He is 5 months old. So right now we are waiting for our documents to be sent to Uganda and for them to give us a court date. I will give more specific information on our baby when we get our court date. For now we will call him Baby G.

Here are some specific things you can pray for:

1.)Smooth process of the courts looking at our stuff and giving us a court date.
2)That we do not get this particular Judge who will not rule in favor of an intercountry adoption. He only rules in favor of adoptions to take place with people who live in Uganda.
3)Finances- we are already being hit with some big fees and it is only going to get worse as we get closer to travel. We know God can provide for our needs.
4.) Pray for Baby G, and the ladies who care for him at his orphanage. Pray that his malnourishment has no lasting effects physically and mentally.
5.) Pray for us as we wait. I feel like all of my thoughts all day are about Baby G. I know it is only going to get harder as our love for him grows. As a mom, I just want to be there making sure he is well taken care of and loved on.

We know God has his hand in this, most people wait for months and months until they get a referral. We got one the day we started waiting. God is already blessing us and we are so thankful. We are also thankful for your prayers! We will need them even more as time progresses.

Did I mention, I'm a MOM!!!!!! Yes, I'm still freaking out!