1-Year Anniversary of Jonathan's Referral

Today is the 1-year anniversary of when we received our referral for Jonathan! As I've been re-living in my mind the incredible events of October 5, 2007, I thought it would be fitting to copy an email message I sent out last year explaining the events of that awesome day. The message was written a couple days after our referral because I was too overwhelmed to put it all into words before them. I pray you would praise our God of miracles with me as you read this message:

October 7, 2007

I just want to give you a testimony about Friday when we received the referral. The adoption agency contacted 120 families on the special needs list that they received 33 referrals on Oct. 1st. They were in the process of matching them to families and would begin making calls on Friday, Oct. 5th. 20 of the 33 children were in the age range we had asked for (6 mos to 2 years). There were 14 girls and 6 boys. Scott and I had never thought about adopting a boy. We started talking on Monday about how wild it would be if we ended up with one! Over the next few days I started thinking about it more and more. Before long, my heart was BURNING inside me for a boy. The chances were slim that we would receive a referral in this batch as there were 120 families on the list. They were even smaller that we would get a boy (.05 percent!) But God doesn't play the 'odds'.

So, I got up bright and early on Friday morning. I was on pins and needles begging God to let that phone ring. I tried doing my morning Bible study but couldn't concentrate. I got out my hymnal and sang "Great is the Lord". I checked my mail (we'd only told a couple people we were praying for a phone call), and one of our friends from Maryland said she was gathering her kids to pray for me & for a phone call. When I read that, I just broke down and started crying out to God for a miracle. I prayed He would let that phone ring.....and that it would be for a boy.

The phone did ring, twice. Neither call was the agency. I went back to my Bible study and was reading in Acts about when Paul healed the crippled man and people were marveling at what Paul did. Paul was telling them not to be in awe of him, but in the power of Jesus. As I was reading that, my cell phone rang. I got up and answered it. There was a pause then I heard, "This is America World". My heart about stopped. She went on to tell me they had a referral for a little boy. I
just about lost my mind! I got off the phone and waited for the email that would contain his medical records and picture. I had already told her we would take him (you have 10 days to accept a referral). I can't even begin to tell you the emotions going on in my body! I was literally running around the house with my hands in the air praising God. I think I scared poor Jackie! The rest is almost a blur. I was running on an adrenaline high for about 8 hours afterwards.

God is a God or miracles and faithfulness. This has been a long journey, and it has ended much differently than we had expected (getting a boy instead of a girl). You know, God knew the deepest desires of our heart when we didn't. Our family gives our Father all the praise and glory for this wonderful gift.