ADOPTION UPDATE

Just a little update on the adoption...

THE FACTS:

We are now in a stage of waiting to hear something as to the next step. We are unsure what that will be, and unsure when we will hear...so, we drag on...

WE ARE PRAYING, PLEASE PRAY WITH US...for:

1. That God would protect and secure Matthew's future...in his home - our home. We are claiming the promise we know God has already given us...that He will be Matthew's protector and savior.
2. That we have the grace to approach Matthew's birth family with a spirit of patience and love. That they might see Jesus in this whole process
3. That the adoption would end soon..that we would not have to go all the way to trial.
4. Pray for our attorney, Victor. He has asked for prayers for wisdom and discernment. He is a great man and says he can really see and feel a difference in cases that he is prayed for. PLEASE pray God would guide his very thoughts and decisions in such a way that we would see victory swiftly and peacefully.
5. Pray for JASMINE, our birthmother. She gave her life to Christ...made a decision to accept Him as her savior last night. She is a sweet child of God and I pray for her protection and that the Lord would hold her VERY close to himself as she walks through life in very hard and dark circumstances.
6. And, of course, that Matthew's adoption would be FINAL SOON! That we will be able to change his name to MATTHEW JOSIAH GARRISON!
7. Protection over our minds and hearts...that we would stand in God's promises and not fear.

HOW ARE WE?

We are doing well. We are enjoying our son. Enjoying our family. Matthew is changing so much and he KNOWS now, more than ever that we are his mommy and daddy. There have been great days and hard days. I told a friend the other day that when we are in the times of lull...when things are stagnant, I only think about the adoption and the battle a few times a day. When we are in times like this, we think about it 30 times a day. It can be mentally and spiritually comsuming which makes us very tired. As Matthew is becoming more and more attached to us...crying when we leave the room, stops crying when I hold him, the more real all this becomes to us. This is his home and we are his parents. Brian said the other day that, although this battle has been long and hard at times, he would NOT ever go back and do anything differently. He loves Matthew more than I can even put into words. Matthew is 7 months old and Brian still, often, looks at him and tears up. The joy he brings to our hearts and the love we have for him is overwhelming. Our hearts literally ache sometimes when we look at him and hold him...how do you articulate that kind of love? I hope, somehow he feels it and lives in it. We are ready for this to be over and to look at our son and KNOW that the courts have officially said - this is OVER, he is yours. Today is a good day. Yesterday was a great day. Tommorrow... I trust is in God's hands and I know that we need Him to be very near us.

Thanks, as always, for taking part in this battle. PLEASE, PLEASE pray!