2 in the books

I'm ending this day much the same way as I began it 13 hours ago.

Sipping hot tea and having Honey Nut Cheerios fed to me one by one from the chubby fingers of a certain little prince. 

I am beat and sleep in till nearly 9am this morning. Jase has been up with Gabe since 7:15 and I just am unaware of what time it is. But something startles me and I roll over to see two of my three men {the two that sleep in the same room with me}, missing. Opening the bedroom door to step into the living room, I hear Jase say,

"Well, you've done it now! You woke up mama!"

And barely visible from the sofa is a little head with tiny eyes and a face bearing a huge grin. He scurries over to me, not at all heeding his daddy's warning that he had just awoken me on a Saturday morning.

Feet moving.

Arms up.

Teeth showing.

And then complete bliss.

My son is in my arms again. And I'm still not over that yet.

I sit on the sofa to enjoy some Fox News and the hot tea Jase has gotten all ready for me. Gabe is eating his third course of breakfast...this time, Honey Nut Cheerios, dry, in a sandwich bag. He shares them with me. One by one. And each time I gobble it up, his adorable face sports that signature smile...cheeks high, eyes disappearing and mouth wide open.

I simply cannot get enough of this boy.

As of today, we've been with Gabe for two months. Two months already? September 3rd was that long ago? It doesn't seem real. A lifetime and a single minute are married together and form two entire months with this baby boy? I just can't believe it. Eventually, you stop counting months. Eventually, it all just melts into normalcy.

I'm not there yet. Still completely enamored with the fact that Gabe is home and that we are a complete team of SIX. Still, in my heart, I know there's work to be done. There are countless Gabes and Joels and Seths out there.

It's November {Yay!} and November is National Adoption Month. Which means many churches will be placing a special emphasis on the fatherless tomorrow in recognition of Orphan Sunday. Ours will be next week...and I've been asked to speak about Gabe's story and how the Lord stepped in to his circumstances in that cold local park in Henan, China. I'm anxious and excited at the same time.

I can't help but open my mouth. I can't NOT speak out for these children who want and desperately need forever families. I'm having coffee with a friend next week to share with her about their process to China that they've recently begun...one of my dearest friends, who came to Jase and I in February about adoption, is boarding a plane next Wednesday for China to bring home her son...my brother in law and sister in law are awaiting travel approval to come any day now so that they may travel to China for our new nephew, River, in a few weeks...one of my best "Thailand" adoption buddies, that I've never met but utterly adore, is leaving in 8 days to bring home their daughter...My brother and sister in law are praying fervently about hosting an orphan for several weeks next summer...I'm participating in a fundraising event for One Less Orphan in a few weeks to hopefully raise funds {lots of them!} for families who are trying so hard to handle the finances of an expensive adoption process...I was asked by our agency to write a contributing post to their blog this month to help raise awareness for  National Adoption Month.

Adoption is everywhere in my life.

It's in my home, my family and my theology. It has become a driving force of the Gospel for me. In so many ways, it IS the Gospel. And tonight, with Gabe  in my lap, once again sharing Cheerios with his mama, my cup runneth over with joy unspeakable.

This little boy is mine.

Two months ago, he was scared and shocked and so very brave.

But today?

He is home.

He is safe.

He is desperately wanted and completely loved.

Our first two months are in the books. What a difference two months makes. What a difference family and security and unconditional love makes. What a beautiful, wonderful difference. To God alone be the glory.