What A Difference A Year Makes....

As I reflect on this time last year....December 22, 2009 (my brother's birthday), we were in VA visitng with my family for Christmas. We arrived December 19th or 20th and VA received record snow fall - 36 inches!! It was absolutely CrAzY! I was in a panic because the plan was to meet for lunch with Grace's birthmother for her to interview us December 22nd. How are we going to make it with that amount of snow?

Fortunately, VA DOT got their job done and we made it to Lynchburg for the interview; however, along the way I kid you not we saw 57 cars in the ditch. We made it to the Mexican restaurant where I was as nervous as I could be. This was the most important interview of our life! Eric and I were overwhelmed with a sense of peace and did not even review how we would answer questions. We knew God was in control and brought us to this point. We really did not know what to expect since this was the first interview we ever had with a birthmother. At that point we had our album in with our adoption agency about 15 months.

I wish I could recall every question asked or each detail about that 3 hour lunch. All I can say is that it was a divine appointment and it was evident God drew our hearts together during that time. Grace's birthmother directed alot of her questions towards Eric and it was clear she wanted a godly, involved, loving father to her baby. As I have mentioned in an earlier post, one of the only questions she asked me was what girls names did we like. I told her I did not know why but in the past month the name Grace kept popping up and it was not a name we had planned on. I was sure God had this name reoccuring for a reason and we both like it. Grace's birthmother began crying and said when she found out she was having a girl she named her - Hannah Grace and asked if we would be willing to name her that. We of course agreed and left the meeting with feelings of peace, anxiousness and excitement.

We received a phone call from our adoption caseworker - December 24th that Grace's birthmother told her caseworker as soon as she left lunch she told her that we were to be Grace's parents and she was sure of it. They asked her to think and pray about it a couple of days. Grace's birthmother insisted that Eric and I know she chose us before Christmas. We received the most incredible news and best gift ever that we were going to be parents! Grace is nothing short of a miracle....she has brought us so much joy and love! Grace is more than we could have ever dreamed of....and we are blessed to call her ours. We are eternally thankful to God's provision and Grace's birthmother decision. We will be especially fervent in praying for Grace's birthmother this week. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3

We praise the Lord for hearing our cries and answering our prayers. "I will turn their mourning into gladness;

I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow." Jeremiah 31:13

As I reflect on the gift of my child - Hannah Grace, I am once again reminded of the ULTIMATE gift....God's Son - Jesus Christ who was born to a virgin, lived a sinless, perfect life and died by way of death on the cross to save my life and those who repent and accept Him as Savior and Lord of their life. As Grace has changed our lives, Jesus Christ has forever changed my life forever. I am so thankful he loves me and accepts me for who He created me to be and challenges me in my daily life to more like Him. A baby really does change everything! Merry Christmas!