"For This Child I Have Prayed"

Today marks the first day that we can truly claim the title of "Mommy" and "Daddy."

While we have been quite silent on the subject, we have been blessed to see the adoption of sweet Caleb progress ever since we returned from our first trip to Kyrgyzstan.

Today - September 25- marks the end of our 30 day wait period following our court hearing. Caleb is now officially our son, just waiting for us to return to Kyrgyzstan to become his forever family. While we slept soundly last night, the judge in Kyrgyzstan signed the final decree saying that he is our son, our own precious boy to love forever.

The past weeks have been trying for sure. Knowing that our adoption was progressing while other families have been stalled for months has been a difficult reality to face. Many families have been waiting for six months or more to get a scheduled court hearing. They have endured the challenges of an adoption process restructure in Kyrgyzstan, lack of accurate information and constant rescheduling of adoption processes. Why is this happening to people??

From what we can tell, there is not much rhyme or reason to why some cases progress and other don't. My sense of fairness and "first come first serve" has been deeply challenged as I realize that by recent Kyrgyzstan adoption standards, our timeline is an absolute dream come true. I have personally struggled with guilt over the fact that so many babies are still waiting to come home. Bryan has helped to remind me that God is the one in control and that He ordained the day for Caleb to be carried out of the orphanage. Although we both accept that reality, it doesn't always offer much comfort to the other families who still wait with no end in sight. If the situation of babies waiting challenges our faith, we can't imagine what it is doing to the parents involved in those situations. We trust that God has a perfect plan - better than any plan we can dream up - and that He has chosen the perfect day for each baby to be carried out of the orphanage for good.

For sweet Caleb, that day will be October 9, a mere two weeks away. In two weeks we will carry our precious boy - a child who we have seeked relentlessly, who we have prayed for fervently, who we love so deeply - out of his orphanage and into a new life as part of our forever family. For this child we have prayed. We are honored, humbled, and blessed that God and the people of Kyrgyzstan have entrusted us with him and given us the incredible opportunity to be parents.

In 10 days we will be on a plane back to Bishkek so we can bring home our son. We have so many things left to do before we leave, yet we know that somehow it will all get done. We have chosen to share this information on our private blog only and not in public forums because we recognize that many adoption situations in Kyrgyzstan are quite sensitive at this time.

To all of our dear readers- please help us in keeping this situation confidential until we are ready to share it in a more public setting. We don't want anything to jeopardize the adoption of our son or any other children from Kyrgyzstan. The most important thing is that children continue to come home to forever families.

We have been so blessed by the love and support of our family and friends. We are overwhelmed by your enthusiasm for our adoption journey and your love for our son 7,313 miles away. Our son. He is ours.

We covet your continued prayers and support as we complete the last leg of the journey. Most of all, we ask that you continue to offer prayers and support for the many adoptive families still waiting to bring children home from Kyrgyzstan.

To our Sweet Baby Caleb, the answer to our prayers - stay healthy, little buddy. The wait is almost over. In a matter of weeks you will never be dressed in pink again!! Mommy and Daddy will be there soon!