Details! Details!

We are still so excited.
Really excited.
Just in case you were wondering.
We are.
Still.
Excited.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What an amazing time for our family!  We just walked in the door after spending the afternoon in San Jose with Briana.  Today's meeting was a bit more "formal" because we actually had some "business" to discuss, but it was also really relaxed and enjoyable.

Some of the highlights of our time together:
*We were able to meet Briana's two youngest siblings.  So cute.  Really friendly and excited to meet us.
*Thea, Briana's mom, was at the meeting again.  We enjoy getting to know her better.  She is so open and warm with us.  Makes everything nicer!
*Talked through birth and hospital plans.  Ben and I will most likely not be in the delivery room (just Briana and her mom at this point), but will be welcome at the hospital otherwise.  Briana will call us when labor is regular/heading to the hospital so we can drive the 3 hours to San Jose and be there ASAP.
*Briana is going to breastfeed AND continue to pump and ship breastmilk as long as she can!!!!!!  This is especially exciting to me (Ashley) as I was scrambling to learn about formula.... AND a really amazing way for Briana to continue to show her love for this child!  Since I still have our top of the line breast pump from Ethan's birth (thanks, GJohn and Grammie!), we will be able to let Briana borrow it!  Great provisions all around, right?!
*Talked generally about our open adoption plan.  This will be interesting since Briana is planning on enlisting in the Navy in March 2011.  We are very much on the same page, however...2 visits a year and monthly updates via email including pictures.  Obviously, this agreement is not written in stone, but will be something with which we are flexible.  The big thing is to keep open communication for the sake of this new child!!
*Had a really nice Italian dinner after the meeting with Briana and her family.  Just enjoyed visiting and learning more about each other.  A very blessed time enjoying each other's company!

Thank you for your prayers.  We feel a very tangible wall of protection and peace around us.  We are so very thankful for your encouragement and support....the Lord is faithful in answering our requests!  A few specifics to pray for:
*Briana in her last few weeks of pregnancy.  REST and good health.  Her last Dr's appointment was on Monday...everything was normal and healthy!  Praise the Lord!
*Patience as we wait and try to focus on the tasks the Lord has for us NOW.
*Open, honest, and loving communication between us, our families, Briana, and her family.  There are a lot people involved/invested in this new little life!!!
*Emotional protection...especially at the hospital.
*Stress levels...*whew*  Happy stress is still stress!

Isaiah 30:18
Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious to you, that He may be exalted, and that He may have mercy upon you; for the Lord is a God of judgment; blessed are they that wait for Him!

Wiener Nationals on National Mustard Day

So in case you didn't know it, Sunday was National Mustard Day.  And at Briana's church, National Mustard Day is celebrated by racing Dachshunds....Wiener Nationals!  We were really excited to drive out and spend the day with her and her dad (rest of the family was out of town).  After spending the night at my grandparents house (they live about an hour away from Briana), we drove in and met Briana at her church.  What a joy to be able to worship our loving God together!!!!  Our visit was delightful and peaceful...just a relaxed time to visit and get to know each other better.

We are so thankful for Briana and the joyful person God has made her.  As Ethan said, she is "the protector of the baby."  Please continue to pray for her safety and the safety of our unborn child.  Please also pray for us as we continue to know Briana better and support her during this difficult time.  This is a tricky time of balance...we need a lot of prayer!

WE'VE BEEN SELECTED!!!!

Thank you for all your prayers.  The Lord has heard and answered!

On Tuesday, August 3 we received a phone call from our social worker at Bethany (Rhonda) that we were chosen by a birthmother as the adoptive family for her unborn child.  There are a lot of really amazing and fun details in the story, but it is late and I am exhausted!!  I'll post more of the goodness tomorrow Lord-willing.  Here are the basics:
We initially met with this birthmom (Briana) on July 19.  She was choosing between us and two other families.
Briana is delightful, Godly, and someone that we would simply want to be friends with even outside the adoption!
Due date is September 9 (my birthday and Ethan's due date!).
Sex is unknown...Briana has chosen not to find out the sex of the baby before birth.
Next step is to begin cultivating a relationship with Briana, iron out details about the hospital stay and delivery, and discuss the particulars of our open adoption agreement.

As you can imagine, we are bouncing off the walls and praising the Lord.  It is very exciting to potentially be so close to meeting our new child.

Please join us in praying for Briana during the last few weeks of her pregnancy.  Pray for peace, comfort, and safety.  Pray for us as we spend time with Briana and get to know her as a sister in Christ and the woman carrying the child God may have chosen for us.  Pray that God will continue to glorify Himself through this process.

Disclaimer:  I feel like I should make something clear.  At this point in the adoption process, this child is still Briana's.  We have no claim on him/her.  Briana has the right at any time to change her mind and parent this child herself.  While we would be devastated, we would also be excited for her!  Legally, a mother cannot relinquish her rights until after she is discharged from the hospital.  Please be sensitive and join us in prayer!!

We continue to have peace and joy!  Our adoption journey has been one based on love so far and we are endeavoring to not live in fear or make decisions based on fear.  We serve a mighty God who "hems us in before and behind!"  (Psalm 139)

Hiking at Eagle Falls in South Lake Tahoe