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This is the final part of this 'series'. To find the beginning of our adoption story, go here.
The name Isaias (chosen by his birth mother) means: God is my help and salvation; the Lord helps me. We love that. We indeed feel like God has given us the incredible privilege of being His arms, extended to Isaias, to help him.
We came back from Guatemala a few weeks before Christmas (you can imagine our delight; getting to have him home for his first Christmas!), and met family and friends at the airport. Our other two children were still at home, though
so we were anxious to get home before they went down for the night so that we could introduce them to their new baby brother!
Here is my favorite just-home picture:
As E was seeing and holding her brother for the first time- this one she had prayed for for many, many months- she started crying. I asked her what was wrong (thinking she was sad that Grandma and Grandpa would be leaving soon). She said she was just really, really happy that Isaias was home. Me too!
That night after Mark and I had tucked in all three of our children, I said (tearily) how happy I was to have them all under one roof.
Most of my thoughts concerning our adoption center around one thing: gratitude.
I am deeply grateful for this son of ours. What a joy he is, and what a gracious God we serve that He lavishes us with gifts such as these!
I am so thankful for God's tremendous provision. (I am still in awe at how He so generously provided for us in the area of finances. At the beginning we didn't even have the $195 for that initial application fee. By the end- all totalled, our adoption expenses came to nearly $30,000. God provided every single cent.)
I am grateful for the heart of our Father: who has compassion on the orphans, who longs to set them in families, who is their defender.
I am grateful for the growth I had in my relationship with God during this process. This was definitely a season where God was teaching me full reliance upon Him and His timing. Of course He is entirely trustworthy! Not to mention very patient with me.
I am thankful for the lessons E & I learned during this season, of praying diligently for their brother, and seeing those earnest prayers answered when he came home.
And I am grateful for the friends I've met throughout this journey.
Here is a picture of this sweet boy of ours, taken last week:
What a wonderful journey our adoption has been. Thank you for revisiting it with me.
~Stacy
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