1 year ago today (We praise you Lord! Your works are wonderful!)

Well, it’s here. February 15th. Some of you may remember WHY this day is such a big deal to me. I woke up this morning and said to Richard, “It’s February 15th! You know what today is!” Like all good husbands he smiled and…waited hoping I’d finish the sentence for him–and of course I did! “Today is THE day Isaac got to Hannah’s Hope from Bethzatha orphanage last year!!!” It’s the day we have his very first picture…it’s the day God spoke to my heart last year reminding me to rest in His great plan!

When we got our son’s referral–we were given about 4 photos…the one below being the VERY first one we opened. They progressively got better with time and health–but this is the very first picture we have of our little guy at 7 months. Oh sweet Isaac…my heart MELTED when I saw this first picture of you–and I knew…YOU WERE MY SON! I didn’t have to see more progress…I didn’t have to see another picture…you were mine–and you were perfect. I had to celebrate God’s goodness over our son and in our life by taking a picture of his sweetness TODAY and pairing it with the picture that was taken ONE YEAR AGO TODAY!!!

“The LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:23

If you get a stack of referral pictures–you can find out exactly what DATE they were taken on by opening them in a photo editing software and then going to file info…so while I have very little to hold on to of the first months–I do know that this first picture was taken on February 15, 2010 after lunch time here in Georgia (yep–I even know the TIME!) and I know I was sitting in a chapel at that HOUR praying for my sweet son!!! I actually wrote about that amazing weekend with the Lord reminding me of His plan without knowing what was happening and it’s on my blog this same time last year. Crazy, huh? That’s why I love journaling/blogging…I can go back and see crazy details like that. Amazing how God works!

I knew this sweet boy was our son–and while we only were at #16 on the waitlist when we got the call–I’d wait a thousand years to be at the right place at the right time to get to be his mommy all over again. Some times I want to PINCH myself how blessed I feel! Today we went to the park after our rockin’ physical therapy session…a lady stopped me as I was swinging Isaac and Frank was sliding to tell me how beautiful she thought Isaac was. The appropriate, polite response I know is “thank you” but EVERY. SINGLE. TIME…instead I am overcome and I put one hand over my heart and one hand out like “stop right now” and I say, “OH. MY. GOODNESS. IS HE NOT the CUTEST THING you have EVER seen in your entire life?! I mean–SERIOUSLY—LOOK AT HIM! I’m sorry–but I can’t help it…seriously–I’m with you sister. I know I’m his mom–but oh. my. goodness. He’s just gobble me up cute…” Okay…so I know that may be a little too much–but to just say “thank you” oh my…he is just scrumptious! THEN Frank runs over–and he introduces himself, “Me–Frank.” Seriously–could THEY be any cuter? Okay–apologies if you are rolling your eyes at me…but we mommas just can’t HELP IT some times!!!

Okay…another sweet picture celebrating today!

Melt my heart the way my kids look at each other…

I wish EVERY little one could experience this sweet love and know the JOY and SECURITY and LOVE of family!!! And that ultimately–through family know God as Father and experience Life abundantly. I’m so, so thankful for how God has opened our eyes and not allowed us to get caught up in the American dream or tennis or Botox (sorry…had to throw that in because the lady in front of me at the grocery store just had that done and that doesn’t even look natural or normal people. Just saying…even if you THINK you have wrinkles and some one cares and that stuff would make you think you’d look better–JUST SAY NO.) Seriously–this living makes this life just a slice of heaven on Earth!!!

XOXO!

Andrea

P.S. How COOL is this…another adoption mom with our agency JUST returned home from Ethiopia. She told me she visited Bethzatha orphanage the orphanage my son was at 1 year ago today and 1 year ago today made it to Hannah’s Hope. WELL…she sent me an email TODAY (of all days!) saying that she went by Bethzatha and went in the director’s office to find THIS on the side table…Crazy for this calendar to end up back at the orphanage…and crazy for someone to send me this picture TODAY!!! Love how things work…sweet reminders of His sovereignty!

P.S.S. We are still looking for a family for a 3 year old little guy in Uganda. He is precious–and I can’t share his name online BUT he does share the name with one of my sweet ones and he actually resembles him too. We’ll just call him little “F” for now:). He is a DOLL and we are hopeful to help him find his family soon! Please email me if you know a family that is open to bringing home a 3 year old and has a completed home study!