Wednesday, November 3, 2010

waiting with expectation


so as i've mentioned a hundred plus times before, ryan and i have pretty much concluded that the last couple of years in our lives could be characterized with the words "waiting" and "expecting"...

for over 3 months we were waiting to receive a foster care placement. we were expecting a call "any day now". after finally getting the call for R & P in october 2009, we then went into a new cycle of waiting and expecting. we moved on to waiting to find out what was expected to happen with their case...would they join our family forever or be returned to their mom's custody? after waiting for several more months, we then learned to expect the boys to be reunited with their mom, as they were last month. we were heartbroken but we knew the Lord was still in control.

in the meantime, we were also waiting to hear a clear answer from the Lord on when and how we should pursue adoption. after A LOT of praying, discerning, and seeking His will, we began our ethiopian adoption last march. from the get-go, the wait was on. we learned all about the expected time frames and pushed through all our paperwork as quickly as possible. we then got on the waiting list for a referral and began to focus on our fundraising. waiting on the Lord and expecting Him to act in a mighty way for His glory and to provide yet again for His children. we are so blessed to say that He exceeded our highest expectations!! not only did He call people into our lives that made it financially possible for us to adopt but He blessed us with a wonderful referral of our sweet nathanel boy.

from the moment we saw nathanel's face, we knew he was the one we'd lovingly been calling "greer" for months. he was the child God called us into this crazy waiting game of adoption for! seeing pictures of him has drawn us closer to him than we ever expected! i never knew i could already love a child so much that i've never even met. after finally seeing greer's face, we began waiting to hear when we were expected to be in ethiopia for our first court date. we were hoping and praying for an early court date so we could bring him home sooner than later, and were once again blessed to know that we'll be traveling around christmas to finally meet the little boy we've been waiting on!!!

so, now the wait and the expectation continues. we are waiting to meet our future son, hoping and praying that we'll pass court the first time, and expecting to receive an embassy appointment shortly after. however, we are also seemingly entering another cycle of waiting and expectation as well...

what is it, you ask?? what else could you be waiting for or expecting?











well, we are overjoyed to get to ethiopia so we can finally tell our sweet baby greer that he won't have to wait long to become a proud big brother because we're also expecting in a whole new way!!!!



introducing baby sweeney #2:



:) cheers to 2 more blessings from the Lord!

11 comments:

Jana said...

Congratulations!! Just when you thought things couldn't get more exciting, huh?

Megan said...

Oh my gosh! Congratulations! So happy for you all!

Brooke said...

I can't tell you how excited I am for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an amazing blessing!!!!! In so many ways!!! I'm hoping that I will become a momma to TWO within ONE year as well.....maybe in 2011...

Barry and Amy said...

Congratulations and Praise the Lord!!! What tremendous blessings!

because HE first loved us said...

that is so wonderful and exciting!!! God is just great!

Amber said...

I think I just fainted. LOL!!!!!

My heart is over-joyed for you...I don't even know if that's a word but that's ok!!!

Sweetest congratulations to you both and to Greer!!!!

Hugs,
AmberK

Lord, you crack me up. You're the greatest!!

Trish said...

Loved reading the waiting and expecting entry! Truly states how we feel when we want to expand our family either way thru adoption or biologically!
God has truly blessed two very special people to become wonderful parents to Greer and Baby Sweeney #2! We are so very happy for you all! Your story to become a forever family will be a testimony to your faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ! :-) Congrats!

Danielle said...

Every time i see this i get chills! I love it. Can't wait to have some Baise Sweeney Family get togethers!!

my life: said...

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!
Congratulations!
That is about all I have...wow!
Super excited for you guys!!

jody said...

Lesli, I love you and I am so excited for you and Ryan! Much love from here. I can't wait to see you face to face!

Meliski said...

AHHHHHHHH! Congrats!