Mother's Day (Exciting News and Notes of Thanks!)

First, I have to share some exciting news that I have been trying to hold back!

We are going to be...

 Yes! We have a son!

Here is the story of how we found our son:

We first found out about M. on our agency's waiting child photo listing at the beginning of  March and inquired for more information. We received a few page description and 1 rather blurry photo taken 2 years ago. We found out M. was 10 years old and physically healthy. We  wondered if M. might be our son. We asked for updated information, photos, and videos.

After a month, we finally received the update with 5 video clips, and recent photos, and another page of updated information about him. We were scheduled for a homestudy update. (My thinking is Perfect Timing! Is this meant to be?) In our meeting with our social worker, we discussed the possibility of adopting M. with her. What would it be like to adopt a 10 year old? Our previous homestudy had approved us to adopt up to age 6, so this is an age adjustment. Did we feel like we could meet all of M.'s physical, emotional, social, academic needs? What support system could we have in place to support us as we parent an older child?

After thinking and praying and discussing it with each other and adoption professionals, we have decided to pursue adopting M. instead of waiting for the Bulgarian government to issue us a referral for a child. (I have always advocated for waiting kids and older child adoption for those who feel capable of parenting an older and or waiting child! Now I am taking my own advice!) On April 15, Andrew and I signed and had notarized a letter to the Bulgarian government requesting that we be matched with M.! On April 30, we received the news that the Bulgarian government had accepted our letter and placed M. on hold for our family while we update our homestudy and immigration to be approved to adopt a 10 year old! Now we are working as quickly as possible to get updated. We hope to have the official copies of the updated homestudy in our hand this week and file for immigration update!

I know you probably want to see his handsome face, and I would love to share. But Andrew and I are still deciding if we want to share M.'s picture online publicly. Come up to me in person and ask! I will be happy to share his picture with you!

This year I can't help but hope that by next Mother's day, there will be a son in my home. I little boy whose laughter will be the most beautiful sound, will be in my arms. He is already in my heart!

Now, after that exciting news, the other important part of my blog post! Today is Mother's Day. I must celebrate the Mothers for which I am thankful!

My Mother: Thank you for being a wonderful mother! You gave me life and a beautiful childhood! Thank you for dyeing Easter eggs with us, baking and decorating birthday cakes for me, and for so much more! Thank you for being the good friend you are now!

My Grandmothers:

My Mother's Mother: I barely remember you, you died when I was quite young. But I am thankful for you!

My Father's Mother: Thank you for the hugs, and laughs, and funny stories!

My Husband's Mother: I have you to thank for my wonderful husband! You raised your son into a strong and gentle, loving man!

My Son's First Mother: (I am choosing to use the name "First Mother" but some people say Birth Mother or Biological Mother) I know so very little about you. I have never met you and probably never will. I will probably never even get to see a photo of you. But I appreciate you this Mother's Day! How I want to thank you! I wish I could tell you "thank you" forgiving life to this child to whom we are both a mother.

My Son's Foster Mother: Thank you for being "mommy" to my son until I can come to him and bring him home and be his mommy. Thank you for your time and energy, for opening your home and heart, for giving of yourself when he needs someone to love and care for him. (We originally though M. was in an orphanage, but found out he has been in a foster home for the past year. He was in an orphanage for several years before being in a foster home.)