Saturday selfie

Here's my Facebook post from today:

Our Saturday selfie. Just spent the afternoon sharing our adoption stories...makes me cry every time! We are so very blessed.

 — at Love Basket.

Adoption Finalization

Jaden's adoption was final on June 20th, 2014! He is officially Jaden Joseoh Gage Medley, even though we have always thought of him that way. Papa, Grandma and Camden were supposed to join us in Kansas City, but Camden was sick with a fever at the last minute. So, it was just the three of us. The Family Court is very busy in Jackson County, so we were glad to be the 2nd case on the docket for that day. We spent a short 8 minutes in the courtroom, but it was 8 very important minutes. Todd and I both shed tears as we shared how much the last 6 months have changed our lives and promised to be the best parents we can be to our sweet Jaden. The commissioner's wife started a tradition of ringing a bell over the intercom when any adoption becomes final. So, we happily rang that bell. Happy Finalization Day, Jaden!

One call

One fifteen minute phone call on Tuesday night changed our lives forever. We had been chosen by a birth mom! That in itself was super exciting. Then, we were told that our baby had already been born and could we possible be in Kansas City by noon the next day? Talk about mind boggling! So, we packed furiously while trying to wrap our brains around this new development. I don't think I really slept at all that night. The next morning, we took Camden to school and told him he would be staying with Grandma and Papa and we headed to Kansas City. 

Jaden Joseph Gage Medley was born on December 1, 2013 at 5:04 p.m. He weighed 6 lbs 13 oz and was 18 and 3/4 inches long. He was born 4 weeks early and therefore, has been in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) since he was born. When we arrived in Kansas City, we had a quick meeting with Lori, the social worker from Love Basket. Then, we had an impromptu matching meeting in our birthmom's hospital room. Wendy had chosen us but before a matching meeting could be scheduled-she went into labor. We hit it off right away. She is an amazing person and we just clicked. The conversation just flowed. We then went down to meet our new son. Here is the first picture I took of our sweet Jaden. 

So, our little family of three has grown to family of four. Here is our first official picture as Jaden's Mommy and Daddy.

My Greatest Thanks...

This Thanksgiving, my heart is filled with thanks for Camden's birthmom, Brittani, who gave me the opportunity to be a mommy. Her selfless act was a gift I can never repay and that truly humbles me. Here is my Facebook post from today:

"I will be forever thankful to our birth mom for the opportunity to be this little sweetie's momma. Where did the time go?"

Officially waiting

I turned in our profile copies to the adoption agency this week, so now we are officially a waiting family. I have many mixed emotions about our second adoption. We had an incredible experience with Camden's adoption and I pray that this second experience will be just as amazing. We would love for our little family of 3 to become a family of 4!

Meant for me

Do you ever get the feeling the sermon was meant just for you? I feel that way often and today was one of those times! Even during worship, the lyrics of one of my favorite songs spoke to me once again:
"God I look to You, I won’t be overwhelmed
Give me vision to see things like You do
God I look to You, You’re where my help comes from
Give me wisdom; You know just what to do ..."
You see, we are to a significant point with our adoption process-ready to have our profile shown and commit financially in a big way. I have been really struggling with fear and doubt-mainly to do with money. Todd and I have always tried financially wise, and it scares both of us to make this commitment. I want to know exactly how we are going to pay for everything and that we will be able to afford it all after we adopt. My sweet mother-in-law used to tell me, Andrea, don't worry so much about the future that you miss today." This is one of those times I wish I could talk to her because she helped me "enjoy today!"

Well, our church has been doing a series called ARISE and today's message was Arise to Abundant Living-Rising Above Today's Economy. Here are the 2 points I need to remember: Listen to God. He owns it all and God has a good plan, so don't worry-instead believe. It was like a burden was lifted off my shoulders. I don't have to worry about it because God has a plan. I just need to believe.

Trust

Todd and I have always wanted to be parents and now that we are, we realize there is no greater joy and we LOVE it! In our case, becoming parents has not been an easy road, but we know it is the path God chose for us. He has made that evident and has guided us each step of the way. We have been talking for a while now about adding to our family. But since that is not as easy as just getting pregnant, I have struggled quite a bit. I tend to overanalyze things and find all the negatives and reasons for things not to work instead of simply having faith. I have really been praying for God to show us what His will is for us and I feel like that in the past 2 weeks, He has done just that.
Our first adoption experience was amazing-there are no doubts about that. In fact, I love sharing Camden's story to anyone and everyone who will listen. I have worried that there is no way another adoption could measure up-but I feel God is telling me-Let me show you what I can do.
Our message last Sunday was "Seeing the Unseen" and wow, did I feel like that was a message meant for me! Pastor Chad Everett, visiting from a church in Illinois, challenged us to believe it before you see it. He said "You don't have to make it happen you just have to see it and believe it." I have to put my trust in Jehovah Jireh, my God who see and provides. He knows the desire of our heart to be parents again and he will be faithful.
Then yesterday, the words of a worship song we sang just really spoke to me:
"God I look to You, I won’t be overwhelmed
 Give me vision to see things like You do 
 God I look to You, You’re where my help comes from
 Give me wisdom; You know just what to do ..."
When I doubt and worry-about whether it will happen, will it be soon, what if Camden gets older and there is a big difference in their ages, will we have another awesome experience, will the birthmom change her mind, can we afford it again and all the MANY other questions that come with adoption-I need to be still and believe. Believe that my God is big enough and will comfort my heart. Even as I type this, He is saying, "I've got this, Andrea. Just trust me..."
So, as we begin our second adoption, I will trust Him and believe!