Humbled

God has humbled us in many ways through this journey. I think the first way is that He chose us!!! Why would He choose us? I was the one who was mad at God for at least 9 months after our last failed in vitro cycle. Why would He use me? The only answer I have is that I was willing to be used (we were willing). I have heard the saying "God will get His" meaning that even if the person that God chose to use is not willing to be used He will find another way to reach people. That person just misses out on the blessing. I am so thankful that we have been apart of this blessing. Not just the blessing of becoming a parent but the blessing of seeing God work in the lives of other people. I know that there have been people who have thought there is NO WAY that you can raise $20,700 by the time the baby comes and as we are closing in on our amount they have realized that GOD has provided the money and that He is involved in the little things in our lives and that He cares so much about His children. As I type this we have raised to date $17,350. That has been through donations, yard sales, and Pizza Inn fundraisers. There is not a doubt in my mind that God has brought this baby to us because He has provided a way for us to bring him home. My wonderful attorney has even given us an extension of 2 months to get the rest of our money in so that we will not have to borrow any from the bank. God is so good. There was a point that I wondered if I would ever be a mommy, something I have dreamed of for a very long time. God saw and heard the desires of my heart but He said in MY timing I will give you this great gift you have been wanting. I think He wanted me understand that this baby is a child He has entrusted to me and Chris but the child is really His. He needed Chris and I to grow in our faith so that we would instill an unwavering faith in this little boy so that when he grows up he will have a passion for God. Which is something I prayed for 4 years ago. I wanted our children to know beyond a shadow of a doubt who their parents served, I didn't want an auto-pilot faith, I wanted an on-fire faith. God knew that and He had to allow me to endure the last 4 years to get me there. While I would have never asked for these trials I would not trade them because I know I wouldn't be here now. Please join me in praying for Elijah over these next 10 days. Please pray that the time would go quickly for us and that we would soon be able to hold our precious sweet blessing.

The baby is born!!

We found out Friday morning around 8:20ish that our baby had been born April 26th!!! It was a healthy baby BOY!!!! His name is Elijah Christopher. We think he was 22 inches but that is not officially confirmed and he was 6 pounds 8 ounces. The worst part of this news is that we have to wait 2 weeks before we can go get him. We knew about this so we were prepared but you just want to there right away. We know God has a plan in all of this, we just don't know exactly what it is. My personal thought is that it is just going to bring Him more glory in the end which I have no doubt it will. Hopefully we will be on a plane by May 10 to go get our sweet baby boy!!!

Jehovah Jireh

I titled this entry as such because of what all those two words mean. I read the following on bible.org:
the Lord Who will see to it that my every need is met. One Who knows my need because He sees. One Who is able to meet my need in just the right time as He did for Abraham, and One Who can meet it fully. For Abraham, it was the ram caught in the thicket that was offered in Isaac's place. For us it is whatever we need.

When doing the bible study The God Who Sees Me, God spoke to me beyond what I could have expected through the story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, and Issac. When I first began this study I thought that it was for people who felt like God never "saw" them or heard their prayers, little did I know how much meaning it would have for me.

When Chris and I agreed to move forward with this adoption we had no idea where the money for this baby was going to come from. I mean who has $20,700 just laying around? And due to our in vitro expense we could not get a loan for that amount much less afford the monthly payments when a baby was about to come into our house. We believed that our God would provide for us and we had no idea how or what time frame we just knew He was capable and would do it.

The first amount we needed to pay the lawyer was $8600 the week we needed to pay it we were over $500 short of what we needed to pay it. The following Sunday when we left church we had all the money we needed because people were constantly coming up to us handing us money.

I am getting ready to mail another check for $6600 to the lawyer because that is what we have collected at this time. That puts us ONLY $5500 away from our total amount needed!!!! Isn't that amazing?!?!?! Who is able to raise $15,200 in a matter of 4 months? I know that if God had not blessed it and we could not have. We raised $5500 alone just from 3 yard sales!!

God has most definitely affirmed the fact that He intended us for us to adopt. I am reminded of the old song God Will Make a Way by Don Moen. For those of you who may not know the lyrics they are:
God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength
For each new day
He will make a way

As we are quickly approaching our deadline that ALL our money is due (it is due before we are able to go to California) I have no idea how we are going to get the final $5500 we need but I know my God is in control and He knows and has EVERYTHING under control!!