Sunday, February 22, 2015

Gideon's homecoming

On August 23rd, 2012 we got the phone call. I was really sick with a bad virus and I had called Matt to come home early from work so he'd be home when Jonah got up from his nap. I was feeling terrible and was lying in bed. Matt was lying beside me listening to me complain. My cell phone rang and I ignored it. Then it rang again, and I remember saying to Matt, "You better pick that up. It could be the social worker." 

Not sure if you guys remember but on that August 15th, I had written about the two toddler boys that we had been called about that we had had to say no to. It about broke my heart in half and I did not understand AT ALL why God had let us get the call about them just to make it so clear we couldn't take them. Knowing that I was grieving, our social worker had said she would give us a break before calling us again... a month or so she had said.

So that day when the phone rang, we weren't expecting a call about a placement. Matt answered my phone since it hurt for me to talk because of a sore throat. He picked up the phone and it was our social worker. He spoke with her for a bit, and when he got off the phone, I could tell it was something big. "What is it?" I asked. "It's a newborn. A baby boy," he said. "I want him," was my immediate response. 

So that's how it started. We had 17 hours notice. This was at 5pm on a Thursday night. We were to pick him up from the hospital the next day at 10am. I immediately called my mom and sister and had them come and start cleaning the baby things that we did have (which wasn't much). We did have a bassinet and an expired car seat and a few toys... but not much else. Matt and I went to Walmart at 11pm and threw our own baby shower.

I filled you in here on how God used the situation with the two boys to bring us our Gideon, so I won't repeat it here, but it's pretty amazing... as God typically is. 

That night, I called our friend MaryKay to come and stay with Jonah the next morning while we picked him up. And I called Jenn to be here to take pictures of our homecoming. It was beautiful and unbelievable and wonderful and completely overwhelming.

We came home and Jonah met us on the front porch. He was three and a half then. He bent down and looked in the car seat and kept saying, "Hey Baby. Hey Baby. Hey Baby. Oh hey Baby" over and over again. It was quite possibly the sweetest moment of my whole life. I really can't put it into words. 

And from that moment on, our life has never been the same... and I'm so so grateful.


















12 comments:

Scarlett said...

Oh my goodness. I need all the pictures from the last two years now! I can't wait! Congrats! Congrats! Congrats!

Galen said...

It's so exciting! Thanks for sharing, Patrice. Jonah is such a sweet and exuberant big brother, and, oh my, how Jonah has grown.

Lena Gough said...

What a precious story!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

Anonymous said...

When I have been down in the dumps, I have looked at the picture with the whole family, including the dog, on the front porch. It's just so perfect. The Gideons came to my campus and helped me confirm my faith in Christ. Your Gideon appears to have done the same for me.

Anonymous said...

I have been waiting for this post! So so so happy that you don't have to blur his face anymore! Congratulations on you're newest addition and I'm sure the two+ years of work and waiting were well worth the blessing he's been, and will continue to be, to your family.

Wildali @ These are the times... said...

CONGRATULATIONS! This is awesome! He is SUCH a HANDSOME little man!

LeeAnn said...

Joy! Joy! I am so excited for all of you!

Anonymous said...

I have continued to check your blog to one day see this post. So so happy for you guys!!!

Beth said...

I've been following you for so long and I am insanely happy for you guys! That picture of Gideon with his head on your shoulder makes me weepy. This is the most amazing news! GOD IS GOOD!

K said...

Congratulations on having Gideon's adoption final! It's wonderful to see your entire family and share your joy.

Toni :O) said...

I LOVE this story and the happy ending. It's just joy, happiness, love, faith, hope and blessings all rolled into one. I'm just SOOOOO darn happy and overjoyed for you all. Thank you for sharing all this wonderful news.

Emily said...

you both look positively giddy in these pictures!

I love your amazing story! You give us all hope.

thank you