Pssst...I have a story to tell

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

I have a story to tell you. This is a story of uncertainty and hope, a story of trust, and a story of faith. On June 7, 2003 a baby boy was born in Guatemala City. His future was unclear. Through a series of miracles this baby found himself traveling to the United States on December 18, 2003 to join his forever family. Sitting on an airplane, on his new mama's lap and beside his new daddy, he was headed home to meet his brothers and sister and the rest of his family.

Shortly before this little baby's homecoming I made a vow to acknowledge God's hand in this adoption journey. To honor this vow I tell a bit of Gustavo's story every year on his birthday and on the anniversary of his homecoming.

My dear sister made a scrapbook for us documenting the emails I sent out during Gustavo's adoption. It is a treasure which captures the intense emotion during the adventure of bringing him home. I will share a few tidbits to help paint the picture of our lives from June through December, 2003.

*June 21, 2003 "It is with excitement that we annouce we have accepted the referral of a little boy from Guatemala...adoptions in Guatemala are going through a period of transition...we do not know when we will be able to bring Gustavo home...because we believe in the power of prayer, we invite you to join us in prayer...we are trusting God to allow us to bring Gustavo home..."

*July 28, 2003 "We continue to be held in the difficult position of being caught between old procedures being changed and new procedures not yet in place...There is a chance the Guatemalan government could deny our referral of Gustavo under the new guidelines...Our desire is for Gustavo to have a mami and papi, we hope it is us...We have accepted the challenge, but understand we must be ready to accept God's will for the outcome."

*September 10, 2003 "I am going to visist our little Gustavo...The adoption process is in the best shape it has been in since February...there lies a long road yet to travel...we will certainly have a story to tell regarding getting this little guy home...planning a trip to Guatemala before the presidential elections to avoid any political unrest...traveling to a third-world country in a time frame to avoid political upheaval to visit my baby, who said God doesn't have a sense of humor!"

*September 12, 2003 "It is official - no more adoption shutdown...God is at work in the adoption system in Guatemala...I wish Marco could remember when he is older that he has gone through each and every step of bringing Gustavo home. He has accompanied me on every trip to retrieve and file paperwork, get fingerprinted, go to FedEx again and again and again. He has watched me cry, scream with despair, and shout for joy..."

*September 27, 2003 "One week from today I will be on a jet plane bound for Gustavo Adolfo..."

*October 6, 2003 "Gustavo arrived at 4pm, he is the most precious little guy...he came right to me and we have been falling hopelessly in love ever since..."

*October 10, 2003 "God has blessed us with a wonderful foster family to care for Gustavo...he has the cutest laugh and is very ticklish...he is full of personality and melted my heart...I thought I was going to throw up when I had to leave him..."

*October 16, 2003 "It is very difficult to explain the plight of Guatemalan adoptions this year...we still have far to go...I recently read the quote: I will pray my child through this process. I will trust God's will. I will trust that he will finish what he has begun. I haven't come this far only to give up because it is a little scary!"

*October 25, 2003 "I am waiting on word to find out about our Family Court status...the answer could potentially make a difference of MONTHS in getting Gustavo home...on pins and needles..."

*October 31, 2003 "It is with much excitement that I share our case has exited Family Court...please continue to pray, not only for our journey, but for the many others who are also involved in Guatemalan adoption...there are many birth mothers, children and waiting families going through an emotional time..."

*November 20, 2003 "Received an email from Gustavo's foster mother today...she wrote that she hopes the rest of the process goes fast so Gustavo can be home in Ohio with the family that God has put in his path...as the holidays approach my heart is a little empty because part of our family is not home..."

*December 1, 2003 "It is with incredible joy that we announce our Gustavo Adolfo is coming home...I was Christmas shopping at Target when our attorney called on my cell phone. After hearing the news, I stopped breathing, asked her if she was certain it was our case that was out of PGN, then broke down in an ugly cry right there in the electronics department...when I think of all the times this summer that we were unsure of whether the adoption would be able to move forward, I am filled with gratitude at God's mercy and power..."

*December 8, 2003 "The flights are booked...if all goes well we are headed to Guatemala this Sunday...If you hear a rumble tonight, it is Mark and I trying to put Gustavo's baby bed together. I actually tried to buy the floor model from the store...In all of the excitement this week, I ask that you also pray for Gustavo's birth mother and foster mother. For Gustavo's birth mother, I pray for her peace now that she is finished with this adoption process. For Gustavo's foster mother, I pray for her comfort as she says goodbye to the baby she has parented for nearly six months. Two courageous women who each, in their own way, will hand over to me the gift of motherhood once again..."

*December 15, 2003 "We are here...Gustavo arrived several hours ago and is currently taking his first nap with Daddy..."

*December 16, 2003 "We are officially done, done, done with this adoption...we can't wait to get home and share our little guy with everyone..."

On December 18, 2003 two tired and grateful parents walked down the hallway at the airport carrying a chubby, healthy, happy, incredibly loved baby boy ready to introduce him to his brothers, sister and grandparents waiting not-so-patiently!

There is an indescribable feeling of having your family united. Being all together in one place, no separation, no being patient, no painting a smile on your face to get through the day, no answering for the millionth time "no news yet". I have 5 children. Two of my children I met in an operating room as they were pulled from my body. Three children I met in a foreign country, their birth country. One I met in the lobby of a posh hotel, one I met poolside at a hotel with a volcano overlooking us, one I met in her foster home. The emotion of meeting your child for the first time is precious, and the feeling of welcoming a child home for good is the sweetest of all.

Each and every child is a miracle. I do not tell this story with the thought that Gustavo is any more special than his siblings or any child on Earth. I tell this story to acknowledge the fact there was no luck or favorable circumstances which made him our son. Each child has a story. Celebrate the story. Rejoice in the miracle of life.

On December 18, 2003 our son was welcomed into our home. It has been an amazing 6 years! On December 18, 2009 our son awoke excited for the day because it is Polar Express day in his first grade classroom and he gets to wear pajamas to school today! He carefully chose just the right pajamas and even his robe. As he tied his robe, with his famous twinkle in his eye, he exclaimed he felt he looked just like the boy in the Polar Express with his robe on. Oh, the joy he can extract from his daily life! I asked him if he knew why this day was special. "Yes, Mom, I know. I came home on an airplane from Guatemala on this day."

"For 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." Jeremiah 29:11

Amen

December 15, 2003 Daddy meets Gustavo

Six years of adventure with my son...looking forward to so many more!