REFERRAL!! OH, HAPPY DAY!!

Yes, that is right, the day I have only seen in my dreams became a reality for our family on January 23rd. WE RECEIVED OUR REFERRAL! Not just one son, but two!! God tells us that when we are doing His will we will be blessed beyond measure; we have been DOUBLY BLESSED!

It all started with a phone call from Julie on January 22nd....."Heather I would like to go over your parameters one more time with you!" Our first desire was an infant boy, but we had said we would be open to siblings, because we didn't know God's plan and thought well what if there are twins? I knew that the likelihood of twins was small, but I wanted to be ready. I never imagined we would be facing what came next....Julie says, "You're the next family in line open to siblings and the ages of these children work with your children. Would you like to hear about them?" I tell Julie that I need to call my husband, but would like to know the ages of the boys. The boys are 3 1/2 and 3 months! All at once I'm asking myself, Are you serious? Can we do this? The big fear was in that Amelia is 2, sandwiched right between the boys and I became fearful for Amelia! We decided to pray about it and touch base with Julie in the morning.

After the house was quiet I went to my prayer journal and started reading my prayers for this adoption from the last few months. I began to ask God to show me specific answers. I had written down so many of God's words, His truths, and His promises.

"I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-12

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9 God is the only one really in control in adoption; only God can create a family. God knows the dynamics of our family and God knows the personalities of these two boys! Only God really knows!

"Faith is: being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 Every question John and I were asking had no answers. They were questions that couldn't be answered; all the "what ifs".

My Prayer Journal on 12/15/2007: "In the adoption I ask for patience Lord, it's like the end of a pregnancy: I really desire to see the child or children you have chosen." I'm not sure why I prayed that prayer, but I did! Maybe it was because it was early in the morning;)

12/20/2007 I write: "What will his name be? I am praying a specific prayer Lord: It is my prayer for a referral on Elaina's B-Day (1/21) or my Mom's B-Day (1/23). Thank you Lord for adoption." (I gave Him a little window in there; and He hit it!)

I could go on and on....But the morning of January 23rd Julie called me back and we decided to get the written information on the boys without pictures. When she told me their names I knew God was speaking. We have the whole E and A thing going with the girls names; well the boys names are an E and an A as well. Needless to say, we then requested the pictures as well and it became our official referral on my Mom's B-Day. I received 28 beautiful pictures at 3pm and had to wait to open them until 8:15pm when the whole family could be together! Yes, major self control!! When I requested the pictures Julie told me I had better be ready for them, there were lots of them and these boys were cute! It was a long 5 hours and 15 minutes:)

I can't tell you how I feel when I look at my husband admiring his sons or how I felt when he told me he has been showered with blessings! These two boys are perfect! I can't stop staring into their big brown eyes and crying. I just keep crying! I look at their mother and I cry for the pain that must be in her heart, yet she looks so peaceful; it is crazy! They are so beautiful. I am feeling so honored today; honored that in all the world I have been chosen to mother these boys. I really can't put it into words, but as I answered an e-mail I found these: overwhelmed with joy, honored, undeserving, amazed, crazy in love, heart-broken for a mother I don't know, but seem to be able to feel in my heart! I'm a grateful woman who is not sure what she did to deserve the life given to her. I am just so thankful to my Maker and thankful that He knows my heart.

UGG...Another Week and NOTHING...

I think I can say this verse in my sleep...

"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day." Habakkuk 2:3

Remembering that God is telling me it will surely take place and won't be late by a single day! I am praising God for this promise.

BLOG THERAPY!

Well, here I am in need of some therapy. So blog therapy it is, not to mention a little shopping therapy. My patience are running low; I am getting really antsy! It has been very quiet these last few weeks and I am feeling it. It's been a while since I updated the blog, because there is really not a lot to say. We have been busy working on the girls' bedrooms; there is some moving going on in the house to make room for "little man." We created a bedroom out of an extra room we had in the front of the house, so Elaina moved into that room. Erica then moved into Elaina's old bedroom and Erica's bedroom turned into Amelia's. Amelia has always been in our bedroom, so we are starting the transition into her own room. "Little man" will then take Amelia's place in our bedroom:) So really we have had a lot going on. . . .but NO referrals or even moving up the latter for that matter:/ Well, I thought I would share some of the things that have been providing me some therapy over the last few weeks.....

Here is my "Ultimate Diaper Bag" from Pottery Barn (a gift from my in-laws), but mine is in chocolate. My mom then sewed on my Ethiopian Flag. I LOVE IT!

I also received the baby sling I had my eye on (also from the in-laws) from MetroBaby. Yes, I LOVE IT! I love the pattern and colors; I can just see our little man's face peeking out of it. Yes, I tried it on and did a little pretending:)

Ok, so here is where the real therapy comes in. . . .SHOPPING! I was treated by my Mom this time :-D Yes, I know I'm blessed!

I would like to add that nothing was more than $5.97

Just a cute little outfit I couldn't past up. If for some reason our little man can't wear any of these items then I guess they turn into donations at Hannah's Hope Ethiopia.

I am sure that God will grant me the patience I need. When I tell my husband I'm getting a bit antsy he replies, " In good time hun, in good time." I'm pretty sure that's what God is telling me too! "In good time my dear children, in good time!

"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day." Habakkuk 2:3

# 6.....Could it be?

Well, it looks like we are #6! It is so exciting to watch the families ahead of us receive their referrals. The excitement is awesome and only God given! A baby boy and a baby girl have been given their forever families and for this we praise God. Many blessings to these families has they enjoy this precious time. And, a big thank you for moving me along on this waiting list:) Praising God for His many blessings!

Dossier on it's way to Ethiopia!!

Julie just e-mailed me to tell us that our dossier was sent off to Ethiopia yesterday! One more step completed in this amazing journey we call adoption. Our son is getting closer everyday; for this we rejoice!

It's beginning to look (and feel) a lot like Christmas at the Needles' Home!

We absolutely love the season of Christmas in this house! There are so many traditions that we look forward to. From the decorating, the gingerbread houses, baking for days on end, Christmas programs, Christmas concert (this year it is Third Day and Jars of Clay~Christmas Offerings Tour), to the seafood dinner on Christmas Eve! I drive the family crazy with my 24/7 Christmas music; I really just can't get enough! We are doing something new this year by each of us finding a way that we can honor (by doing or giving something up) Christ each day the month of December. We are hoping to keep the reason for the season in the forefront. I won't share what everyone is doing because that is between them and Christ, but I will tell you what I have decided to do. I am horrible at finding a good block of time each day to spend with Christ. It can be any time of day, and I'm almost sure to be interrupted. Christ can definitely not count on me in this area. It is my hope to honor Christ by setting my alarm, getting up early and spending quiet time with Him. It is also my hope that it will become a habit for me and carry throughout 2008.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! Thank you for all your love, support, and prayers during our adoption. It is a wonderful thought that next Christmas our "little man" will be celebrating Christmas with us. Celebrating with peace and anticipation in our hearts of God's amazing grace!

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Merry Christmas!I love a cracklin' fire!
One of many sights of Christmas!
Our wild Christmas tree!

We're # 8....Yay!

Today was an exciting day for the Needles Family; we found out that we are #8 on the boys list! I sent the dossier FedEx yesterday. The women helping with my package looked at me and said, "It's not worth more than $100 is it?" I kind of stuttered and said, "umm well, I guess monetarily NO, but that is my son in there! So, actually it would be priceless! Funny how that question caught me by surprise; you can tell how much of ourselves we invest into those dossiers:) Julie (All God's Children Intl) received it today and called us with the good news! We are so happy to just be a number at this point. She said the dossier looked perfect and she would be sending it off for authentication today; now that's what I call same day service! She also said we could expect referral in 2 to 4 months. I say "Praise God" to that. Feeling a little closer to holding our precious son and being thankful for God allowing us this journey!

Some Family Pics!

Amelia Raye

All the Needles Girls!

Erica, Alison, and Elaina~Sisterly Love!

Alison and her Daddy

Alison and Amelia

Our Ballerina, Elaina, and Amelia

Our Journey to Adoption

I want to tell you a little about our journey to adoption. Adoption has been a quiet desire in my heart for years; when Amelia was 5 months old John and I began conversation about adoption. I didn’t feel like it was what we were supposed to do or even that we’d actually do it one day. It was what I call a little seed planted that would grow a bit later. A year later John and I decided to have another baby; I love being pregnant, I love being a mom. I was so excited! That is when the seed planted months earlier began to grow. God was definitely pulling on my heart. I heard him saying, “Heather, I have given you four beautiful daughters, but never the son you desire for a reason.” I felt God telling me we had a son out there, but we needed to go for him. I told John of this desire, although I must say I wasn’t so sure that I wanted to give up on the idea of possibly having a biological son and the pregnancy that would go along with it. I felt so confident that God was telling me to give up on those things and take the biggest leap of faith that I could ever imagine, and just trust him. It was very soon that John and I realized through prayer and the prayer of some dear friends in our lives that God has chosen a son for us in a far off land; we now know to be called Ethiopia. The biggest leap of faith would be the financial burden that would soon rest upon our family. Which I have to add that God had already thought of this also, when a couple years earlier He put a desire in the heart’s of John and I to change our lifestyle. Selling our newly built home, going back to one income, and driving used vehicles all brought us to a place of contentment I would not exchange for anything. This change of lifestyle would also allow us to jump right into an international adoption. Thank goodness God knows our future- the journey only He foresees and the journey we are SO thankful to be on.