Post Match Update #2: The Waiting, Praises and Prayer Requests

Hello!  We have reached nearly three weeks post-match.  In these three weeks, we have had the honor of talking to our birth mom, "L" two times- with number three coming up in the next day or two!  We do know her name of course, but for respect to her and privacy, we are just going with her initial. :)  It is a delicate balance as you navigate unchartered waters of the birth mom and adoptive parent relationship. You want to be so careful in what you say as to not offend her, and yet you want to shout from the rooftops: "I am so thrilled that you chose life for this baby girl, and that you then chose us to parent her, to love her, to care for her, to show her the love of Christ and so much more!"  In some words, we've had shared that with her.

We have been waiting. At first, when we were matched, her due date was unclear- and her Doctor was saying she could go into labor any day.  20 days later, we are here, waiting.  We are as ready as we can be, we have some bags packed, lists made, her closet is starting to fill, things arranged in Utah, God providing financially through generous hearts and miraculous details.  Amazing things happened in the last few weeks.  God's love and passion for adoption and for THIS adoption have been shown again and again.  I will share more on that in the coming weeks- but for now, we are so grateful for your prayers and support and love. I have said it before and I say it again, just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a small city to adopt one. :)  YOU are our city.  YOU are her city. Thank you will never be enough. 

Thankfully, the waiting has been full of fun- walks in the sunshine with my firefighting boys, Palm Sunday singing, visits from Jeremy's wonderful parents and my fun brother, and so much more.  I keep thinking, we are so incredibly blessed but that this adoption journey has been hard and wearing and stretching as nothing I have ever experienced. But wow, the gifts in the relationships formed and built and the deepening of our faith that has already resulted in this journey is really unspeakably beautiful.  

So- time to breakdown some praises & requests for prayer for all of our 'city' :)

Praises:
God has really continued to take care of us. We met our fundraising goal, (AMAZING) and will receive a $4,000 matching grant from the Micah fund, both to be paid out directly to the agency after placement!!!! (I can't wait to write more about how this has unfolded and our faith has grown through it later too!)

We have a place to stay (and a few back up places to stay!), a car to borrow and so much more- much of this thanks to an incredible local church in SLC with a huge heart for adoption and a clear passion to practically support those that are adopting. This is one part of our story I can't wait to share more about and to experience in person when we arrive.  Logistically, we are as set up as you can get in a moving, changing and unpredictable situation like this. 

Prayer Requests:
Health. For our baby girl, for her amazing birth mom, for Jeremy, myself and the boys, for all those that will be caring for our boys.

Peace.  I am going to be transparent here, my anxious heart grows with each day. There is real joy and excitement and there is NO doubt that we long for this baby girl to be our daughter- but nothing is 100% until it is done- and that is not dependent on us so much.  Will you all cover us, and the birth mother in prayer in this area. That she would experience such peace, comfort and a sense of certainty through the coming days and weeks and months and years? And that we would trust in HIM. Hold on to Him and know that He is good, always. 

Labor.  She really wants me in the room and supporting her through the labor and delivery. My heart would like nothing more than to be there for her. Would you pray that God would make this possible? For her, for me and for His glory?