Throughout the years we have collected a few clothing essentials along the way...we just had to share a picture!

We had our first home visit last night and all in all we think it went pretty well.  Lots of questions were answered and as those questions were answered more questions arose.  One big question we had was about adopting internationally or domestically (from the United States).  Starting on this journey we had heard that international adoption was probably the way our family would need to go because of the number of children we already had.  As we heard this and did some research we still felt a big pull in our hearts for children from the United States, but prepared our selves and our hearts for making a trip over seas.  We just prayed God would lead us in the right direction and bring us to the place He wanted our little guy to come from, no matter where that might be. Then our social worker asked us what we thought of North Carolina...she was kidding right?  North Carolina? The thought of bringing our own little Tarheel home was amazing!!  We felt like God answered so many prayers and questions with that idea, and even though we are bathing it in prayer we feel God may be leading us to bring home our very own little Tarheel in North Carolina.  

As we reflect on the visit last night we realize we have a lot of preparing to do and a lot of decisions to make as far as open or closed adoption, race of the child, what birth issues we will accept, and financially how we will support another child and this adoption.  Our social worker also suggested we make sure we have baby things ready to go and buy a little at a time so when we get the call we aren't overwhelmed with purchasing baby equipment.  The girls were particularly excited about buying stuff for their baby brother, although Taya just wants to save her clothes for him!!

We ask for your prayers now as our family prepares for our next home visit.  We feel a bit overwhelmed and ask more than anything that God will give us wisdom.  We want this journey to be completely blessed by Him and just pray for Him to guide us.

Psalm 48:14 says, For this God is our God for ever and ever; 

he will be our GUIDE even to the end.

May you be safe and sleep soundly through the night

and safe as you wake to the morning's light

May you feel our love from so far away

May it comfort and protect you throughout the day

We will pray for you our little one

until our time of waiting is done

We will pray the Lord will keep you from harm,

until you become the child in our arms.

Working through this journey I often wonder,"is our little guy born yet?" and "what will he look like?" and "where will he be from?" so many questions and so many what ifs. I pray again for guidance especially as we anticipate and get ready for our first home visit. I laugh as I think about explaining this home visit with our girls.  Taya excitedly exclaims, "we need to get the house ready mom, she will bring our baby brother!" As I explain that our social worker will not be actually bringing our baby boy to our house, Sydney and Nyiah let out a cranky sigh, "Augh, mom" they say, "how much longer do we have to wait for him?" I chuckle, wondering how many times they will ask us that question.  I sit and think about when I will ask God that same question along the way, and remind myself of God's perfect timing.