Elias!

After a very long wait and almost giving up, the mystery child is now here and part of our family.  He was born April 27th and that very day he became a part of our family forever!  As with Josiah, we had very little time to prepare as we got the call from the social worker the very day he was born.  We were asked to get to him as quickly as we could, we had to gather our things and go two hours away from home.  We talked about names on the way.  Josiah was smiling from ear to ear!  We were all so excited.  When we arrived, he was in the care of the social worker at her office as his birth mother had left the hospital already.  He was beautiful and of course brought this mom to tears.

Now, all we had to do was wait, that's right, wait with the little cutie with us in the hotel.  At this point, the birth parent's had 72 hours to change their minds.  We were told that that was unlikely but there is always a chance.  So, we went home and rested and got to know this little guy.  We went swimming with Josiah and enjoyed the hot tubs (taking turns of course).  The next day we went to a children's museum in the area, went out to lunch and got used to having a baby again.  

We talked over the next days and hours of our feelings...feelings about having a Hispanic little boy and how we would handle it if his birth parent's changed their minds.  We were trying to hold him loosely, wanting the very best for him and not for ourselves.

We were in contact with the social worker during this time.  After two days we decided on Elias as it is a derivative of Elijah and yet has a Spanish ring to it as well to honor his heritage too.  The two boys share the same middle name as a way to connect the two of them further.

On the morning of the third day, the social worker was to meet with the birth parent's and have them sign the paperwork to relinquish this child from their care.  We of course were anxious and wondering what the final outcome would be.  We went to a music store and bought a smaller guitar for Josiah (that I could play at the campfires when we go camping).  While we were there the SW texted us and said, "Congratulations, Elias has found his forever family".  It gives me chills even as I write this twenty months later!  His birth parent's really liked his name and were grateful that we loved their boy.  We expressed gratitude that they chose life for this boy!

After a five year wait, he has now been with us for twenty months and what a precious little boy he is!  How can anyone thank someone for a gift like this?  Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gifts!