Referral Day - February 27, 2009

I am already running behind on updating this site, and I just created it! I received a call the afternoon of Friday, February 27 from the Waiting Child program coordinator with our adoption agency, Holt International. She asked me several specific questions about the little boy we had officially requested to adopt, and we talked for about 30 minutes. At the end of the conversation, she said the words we had been waiting to hear: "We can make this an official match today--Congratulations!!!" I was at work, so it was difficult for me to contain myself. When we hung up the phone, I immediately praised God, thanking him for this precious gift He has given to us! I called Jeff on his mobile phone and interrupted his 4th Block class to tell him that we have a little boy! Of course, he was ecstatic and we planned to tell Alex and Aerin on Saturday (I had to work late that night and we wanted to tell them together).

I sent out an email to many of our family and friends thanking everyone for their support, prayers, and encouragement throughout this extensive process and announcing our Yard Sale on March 7th to raise money for our adoption expenses. I was overwhelmed at the loving responses and continued promises for prayer that we received. My heart is filled with gratefulness, hopefulness, and love for this little one. He was born in my heart so long ago, and it is so amazing to me that I will be holding him in my arms very soon. Every child is a precious gift from God, and we know that our Lord and Father is holding Anderson Kae Tatum in HIS strong, loving arms as he waits for us to come and get him.