She added a new post today, that I wanted to share with you as it is full of surprises and coming joy! You can read all of her and her husband, Jack's, posts here, but below is the newest one for those who have been so kindly asking how they are doing.
"Jack and I typically do not write a Christmas letter, but this holiday season has been so unusual in so many ways that we felt compelled to send out an update. We have been on the world's wildest mountain climb - lots of peaks, lots of valleys. There have been so many things to celebrate in the midst of our grief. It's been a very surreal experience, but one that I wouldn't trade for the world on a silver platter.
As I sat with Jack in our Christmas Eve worship service, I was so overcome with emotion. (I scared the girl next to me.) But the emotion I feel most now, in place of the overwhelming sadness of the past two months, is gratitude. We are so grateful for our lives, our family, our marriage, our careers, and our son. I am so grateful for the sacrifice God made to send his son to the world and watch the world send him back, all so that we could understand how high and deep and wide His love is for us. We miss LJ. He is singing with the angels at the most incredible birthday party! We were able to celebrate him yesterday in so many special ways and it was such a comforting, peace-bringing day.
Here is a little story we shared with our families around the Christmas tree. We gave them each a part of the story to read in order. There is a surprise at the end!
A week and a half ago, Jack was approached by a good friend who asked to meet him to talk about something important. He was curious. When they met, the friend told Jack a story about a family she works with. One of the daughters of the family is looking for an adoptive family for her child. Our friend instantly thought of us but wasn't sure if it was appropriate to approach us. She prayed about the news for about a week, and after seeing Jack's emotion over LJ at an event, decided to tell him about the family. Our friend explained the story to Jack, and handed him a card with some contact information on it.
Jack ran home to tell me the news. We both sat shell-shocked, trying to absorb it. We talked about it, thought about it, and prayed hard about it. The next day Jack made a call to the family. He told them we had heard they were looking for an adoptive family and I think they were as shocked as we were! They decided that we would all meet to get to know one another. We were so nervous before the meeting, not knowing what to expect.
We sat and talked with the mom-to-be and her mother for about two hours, sharing stories about our families, a little about LJ, and discussing the possibility of adoption. We left our meeting knowing in our hearts that this woman and the baby were a gift from God and that we needed to pursue the adoption. We emailed her back and forth all night, and she asked to meet with us again in a few days. We met for coffee on Wednesday, December 23. As soon as we sat down, she said, "I am so excited and wanted to tell you in person: you are the parents of my baby!" Jack and I could have melted into our chairs! There is so much love in our home and more than anything in the world we want to share it with a child. As broken-hearted as we have felt the past two months, this is the most incredible gift we could possibly receive.
We will adopt our baby girl when she is born, which should be around January 22nd. We have lots of details to coordinate between now and then, primarily through a private adoption agency here in Houston. There is SO much to get done but we know it will happen!
We have decided to name our little girl Grace Caroline. She is already loved beyond measure and prayed for by so many people. One day we will have the most incredible story to tell her, about her big brother LJ and how he brought her to us, and how her birth mom loved her so much that she entrusted her to a family that could provide the life she dreamed for her. There have been so many signs that God is at work here... but that is another story for another day!
We hope this Christmas has brought you peace, comfort, and gratitude. Our hearts are so full.
Then let us all in one accord
Sing praises to our Heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and Earth of nought
And with His blood mankind hath bought
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!"
Please join me in praying for sweet Grace Caroline, her mother as she goes through the process of adoption and for Jessica and Jack as they prepare for their new baby girl in less than a month!
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