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