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Crazy and Unexpected Update

      The last time I posted an update was in June of 2018 when we had to give the sad and upsetting update that we were not going to be able to adopt internationally and that we were going to take time to re-evaluate our adoption options. Last summer was a very difficult time and it took us a while to come to terms with the news we had been given and to make the decision on how we were going to move forward. After much prayer and consideration, Aaron and I made the decision that we would continue to pursue a domestic adoption.
      The first step in pursuing a domestic adoption and finally getting an approved home study was to meet with a licensed counselor and have her write a letter recommending us as adoptive parents. We met with the counselor in late summer/early fall and have been meeting with her since. A few weeks ago the counselor told us that she was ready to write the letter for us and in fact, she and Aaron started the letter at their session last week.
      Here is the crazy part: this morning while we were on our way to the Newport Aquarium, we got a call from our case worker telling us that there was a baby with Down Syndrome who had been born and needs a family, did we want to pursue this baby? My immediate reaction, was "YES!!" but I also knew that I wasn't the only person who had to make this decision. Our case worker sent us some information about the baby and told us to prayerfully consider if we wanted to move forward.
      We went on to the aquarium as planned and had a blast. After the aquarium, we went out for ice cream and while we ate, I read aloud the information that we had about the baby. As a family, we all agreed that yes, we wanted this baby.
      I emailed our case worker with our family response and we are officially pursuing this precious baby girl to become her forever family. When I spoke to our case worker, I told her that this was the exact situation we had been praying for. Every time I have envisioned our adoption, it has been almost this exact situation - a young mother (or parents) surrenders her baby and we are able to step in and be the forever family. I am in complete awe right now of the goodness of our God simply to be in the position to be able to say "YES!"
      While we have said our yes, nothing is final and there are still some pieces that have to fall into place very quickly for this to actually happen. The first thing that has to happen is that our counselor has to write the referral letter ASAP (like by Tuesday). The second is that we have to get all the paperwork and stuff done for the agency that has the baby. Then we have to actually be accepted by the agency who has the baby for placement. Finally we have to come up with A LOT of money, very quickly. Given the circumstances, some fees are being waived, but we still have to come up with about $20,000 in the next week or so. I know that God is in control and that if this is in his will, each of these pieces will fall into place at the exact perfect time.
      How can you help? First, and foremost, pray with us that if this is God's will for our family that everything that we need to happen will happen in the needed time frame. Specifically pray that we can get the referral letter ASAP. Pray that we will be accepted by the agency who has the baby as her placement and forever family. Pray that we will raise the funds needed quickly. You can also donate at our GoFundMe page

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