We Got To See Him

 He’s beautiful.

 It was like going back in time and looking at Karis when she was a month old.

We didn’t know he was going to be there.  I walked into the courthouse waiting area, saw his sweet little sleeping face, and stopped in my tracks.  It took everything in me not to burst into tears and run over and hold him.  There was an invisible boundary line, though, so we weren’t able to go to him, and it was obvious we needed to be composed, but nobody stopped us from sitting and staring.  And we got to do that for at least 15 precious minutes. 

We felt an instant kinship with him.  He looks like Karis, so he looks like family.  I felt like I already knew him.  If we do get to bring him into our home, it seems like adding him to our family will be the most natural thing in the world.  Lord, please let it be so…

I mentioned in a previous post that we were assigned a new judge.  The baby was also recently assigned an attorney ad litem who is now looking out for his best interest (which we think is great).  Because both the judge and the baby’s attorney were new to the case, they didn’t feel comfortable making a decision yesterday, but they are actively researching and working toward a goal of placing him as soon as possible.  Unfortunately, “as soon as possible” may not be until our scheduled hearing on November 30^th.  Several things are happening between now and then, though, so anything is possible.

I’m still not sure what I can share about our case, but it was interesting to me to hear that the judge made the comment that our case should be used as a question on a law exam – meaning that it’s not an obvious, clear cut case, and that it would stump the students.  Comforting, huh? :)

Something that is comforting, though, is that we got to see the couple who is currently caring for our son.  They had such kind faces and were so attentive to him.  It was good for our hearts to see the baby and to watch him being loved.  We were also told that they are wonderful people, and they are Christians who believe that caring for children in need is their call.  God is taking care of our baby.

In addition, we learned our son had surgery just over a week ago. :(   The issue (which has to do with his gastrointestinal system) is not uncommon.  He is recovering and the prognosis is good.  We think this also played into why the judge wanted to wait to make a decision, because he wanted to keep the baby near his doctors for follow-up.  It was hard to learn about the surgery after the fact, but it was probably easier on our hearts than knowing about the surgery and not being there.  

As I was sitting in the waiting room at the courthouse, I was praying and thinking about scripture when it occurred to me that I was doing all the talking.  So I paused and said to God that if He had something to say, I wanted to listen.  At that moment I looked up and saw a sign that said, “You Gotta Believe.”  I just smiled as I was reminded that God is in control.  I am very hopeful that this baby will come home with us.  Keeping siblings together is important to most legal officials, so that is definitely in our favor.  At the same time, I know that God works in mysterious ways and that His ways are higher than our ways.  “You Gotta Believe” was a reminder to believe in HIM and to trust Him whether we get our way or not.  Again, it brought me back to focusing on Him and not our circumstances.  He knows what is best and I do believe that He will accomplish just that.