REFERRAL!

My last post was to announce that we had been waiting 6 months for a referral for a child.  Well, after 6 months and three weeks the wait is OVER! (For a referral anyway...)  I was almost ready to use my number 7, which would have looked like this cute number...

BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO NEVER USE THE GOOD 'OLE NUMBER 7 WHEN IT HAS TO DO WITH WAITING!

We are so excited to end this phase of waiting and announce that we are pursuing a 17 month old baby boy from east Ethiopia!  He's got the biggest brown eyes and the sweetest face you've ever seen.  I can't wait until we pass court so we can officially post his picture and information to prove to all that he really is the most attractive, talented, and smart kid alive.  (Just kidding...sort of...)

One cool feature he has is a dimpled chin.  Can I just remind you that Jacob (Taylor Lautner) also has a dimpled chin?  Just saying.

We are amazed at God's timing and the beauty of receiving our referral during Holy Week!  God has been gracious!  He caused the death angel to "pass over" the Israelite boys two and under on Passover (which officially began at sunset on Monday, the day we received the call).  It was a great reminder that God is protecting our little one and that He is the King of Kings.  No matter what Kings and Presidents decree, God will trump all authority and defend the cause of the fatherless.  

It is no coincidence that God impressed on us the name, Zane, as it is Hebrew for John and means "God is gracious."  Grace is the unmerited favor of God, the unconditional love He gives expecting NOTHING in return.  That is what Easter is all about!  Jesus taking on the sins of the world, so we wouldn't have to.  Why?  Because we are indescribably loved by God.  Zane's Ethiopian name (which remains electronically confidential until we pass court) will be kept as his middle name because it means "the new one".  There are many implications of this.  First, he is literally new to all of us.  He is our first child and the first grandchild on both sides of the family.  Second, he will physically take on a new life as he moves from the transition home to a new family in a different culture.  Third, and most important, our prayer is that one day Zane will be made "new" in Christ as he chooses to have a relationship with Him and make Him the most important thing in His life.  When he gives his heart over to Jesus, God will make all things "new".

The situation Zane is in is still very foreign.  Pray that even now, Zane's heart will be refreshed with the new things God is doing in His life.  Pray that he will be comforted by the arms of Jesus and recognize His presence even now.  Pray that he will learn early that only God satisfies the deepest longings of his heart.  And pray that God will fill him with the peace that transcends human understanding.

Thank you for your prayers!  We are blessed to have wonderful support and encouragement through you!