BIG BIG NEWS, PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISES!

Wow. I don't even know where to begin. My mind is rushing a million miles an hour, I haven't stopped moving since we got the call- my lists have grown tenfold each hour of what we need to do, all the details that need to fall into place- but my goodness, the biggest thing we are feeling is OVERWHELMING, INDESCRIBABLE JOY!  So.... let me back up a bit and let you know how we got here and then answer a few questions we have been getting.

First, although we didn't get to our fundraising goal, at the end of December, we felt led to step forward in faith (again) and start showing our profile to potential situations.  This is just an 18 page book with a lot of pictures and sharing more about our lives, our family, our faith and how we got this place of adoption.  January and February were rough.  The first situation we presented to was 'perfect'.  All the details seemed perfect. 12 long days went by before we found out she had not chosen us. We were devastated.  We couldn’t see how something so ‘perfect’ wouldn’t have come together.  And yet, we learned, He is trustworthy and no plan is perfect unless it is His perfect will.  Several more weeks went by, several more situations, one more that we were presented to where the mom decided to parent.  Rollercoaster’s of hope and despair, emotion and uncertainty.  These were some of the hardest months and weeks of my life. And yet they were beautiful.  Even now, I can’t believe I can write that with such conviction. But in this time, we clung harder than ever to Him, His word, His promises.  We found solace in His character. And one week ago, at 1am, after wrestling with Him and fighting Him in my heart, I finally laid it all down.  The cliché Christian word of ‘surrender’ became a reality in my soul.  All the finances, the logistics, the details, the hopes, the dreams and the deep desires were laid down.  And not reluctantly, but joyfully. Because I finally saw that HIS ways are better, HIS story that He is writing for our child, for us, for His glory is better. It is harder than I would write it, but better.  And then yesterday, after two weeks from when we were presented to our sweet birth mother, “L”, we got the best phone call of our lives. She had chosen us. She had chosen us with confidence.  Joyful tears flooded down my cheeks, elation overwhelmed my heart and in an instant, the months and years of suffering, hardship, fear, leaps of faith, frustration, hurt, was worth it. 

I could write a small book about the details and the ways God has woven this story together.  But here are a few cool highlights:

1.    A few days before we received word that we were chosen, a friend of mine gave me some newborn baby girl clothes with a note that she was believing we would need these soon.  She said she felt led by the Holy Spirit to do it that day.  I was moved, and hopeful, but we were presenting to both boys and girls, and who knew when it would be- it could be months.  Little did we know, it was just days and yes, it would be a GIRL.

2.     On Sunday, after church, Jeremy and I both came home and told one another that we had felt the Lord confirm that this situation was our baby.  We had no reason, no audible voice, but we both felt a strong peace and confirmation.  We were scared to even say it out loud, but we couldn’t deny it.

3.    The social worker who is working with our sweet birth mom said that she felt from the beginning that we were the family for this situation. “L” looked at many profiles, and yet here we are.  This social worker said this feeling is very very rare for her, but it was strong and real. 

4.    Our four year old Isaiah, who has prayed for months for our baby, told me the day before that this situation was our baby. He knew it, he said. I told him that only God knew- but we could pray and wait and trust. He said, "I just know, Mommy."  He had never said that before in the other situations.

5.    And lastly, for nearly two years, as we walked this adoption process, we prayed for our child. As hard as I tried not to, EVERY time I prayed for them, a little girl came into my mind. I prayed so hard that God would remove this desire for a girl away, and yet it only grew.  Jeremy felt that we should be open to and present to both boy and girl situations, and so we did, and I was ready to love another boy (I would have!). All the while I prayed that this desire would go away- so that I would feel content with either.  The fact that this is a sweet little girl is a gift. A boy would have been just as much as a gift, but our God is a gracious God, a kind God who gives good gifts.  Again, we would have felt joy either way, but this is special- God knew the desire of my heart.

Ok… now to some answers and specific needs/prayer requests as many of you have asked:

1.    Our birth mother is from Mississippi but the agency we have been matched with is in Salt Lake City, Utah.  They are caring for her there and she will deliver there.  So we will be traveling there for anywhere from 10 days to 3 weeks depending on how long it takes Utah and Minnesota to process the paperwork.  They don't know her exact due date but her Doctor believes it will be soon. The latest it would be in one month, but again, they don't think she will make it that long.

2.    Two situations will likely happen. We need to prepare for both, and one will then happen. Either she will make it to her induction date in a few weeks, and we will all drive down together to SLC and be there for the labor and birth, or we will get a phone call that she is in labor and just Jeremy and I will jump on the first flight available to get there. We are praying for the first.  In the first situation, we can be with all our children, experience those first few weeks as a family and enjoy our baby girl together.  In the second, one of us will have to fly home to care of Isaiah and Noah after a few days, while the other stays behind with our sweet newborn.  One of us will miss precious days and weeks and bonding.  We are preparing our hearts for both.  We are praying for a small miracle that the first will happen.  Would you join us?

3.    Many have asked, is there risk? Yes.  Adoption is a risk, a leap of faith for all those involved. There are many, many variables and moving parts. But, truly, Utah is the best state out of all the states for this. At 24 hours after birth, she will sign the papers and that sweet girl is ours.  Most states are 3 days, 5 days, two weeks, or even months.  This is a grace to us.  Please pray that “L” would have peace that passes understanding, and comfort from God as she continues to walk a path that requires a tremendous amount of selflessness, strength and courage.  In addition, the agency that we ‘happened’ to place with is the ONLY one out of all of them we have worked with that has no money at risk. If the ‘scary’ would happen and “L” would understandably decide to parent, all of our money would be rolled into the next match.  We pray this doesn’t happen, but what a gift to only have our travel costs be ‘at risk’.  What a grace and mercy. 

4.    Finances.  We are close. Just a few thousand and we are there. We could get the call tomorrow that she is in labor and so time is of the essence for us. Pray for Him to make a way.  And if you feel led, here is a link for how to make a tax-deductible donation to bring our baby girl home: https://www.purecharity.com/wenzel-adoption.  I can’t wait to share more about what God has already done to make this adoption (which was WAY more financially than what we signed up for months ago when we started this process) a reality.  When there is time, I will. :)

So, in short, we need prayer for these things primarily:

1.    Travel logistics, and many details that go into having an adoption occur in general. Time, airfare, childcare, travel mercies, etc etc.

2.    Peace for us and our birth mom. 

3.  Health for our baby girl as she enters this world soon.

4.    Finances

That about sums it up!  Words cannot convey the way we have been blown away by your support, prayers, donations, encouragement, practical offerings of help and more.  It truly is the most beautiful thing we have experienced to see a community of people we love come together and pursue and love and fight for this child.  Tears of joy stream down again now as I type these words.  NONE OF this could happen without your support. Thank you for being a vessel of God’s glory and will.  We love you more than we can say.

I will be doing updates frequently so watch this blog and facebook for more.  In the last few hours, we have figured out where we will stay in Salt Lake, received over $800 of the $3,500 and had a few people say they are searching for a way to get flights for us.  God is a God of adoption, one passionate about showing His love for adoption and a God of details. This will no doubt continue to be a wild ride, and your prayers will carry us through!!!!

Kate