Baby Strokes

I knew this journey to our little miracle would be incredible.

The story that has unfolded this past week has literally taken our breath away, brought us to our knees and flooded our hearts.  On Wednesday, we were told that a couple from Alabama had chosen us to be the adoptive parents of their baby boy, due on November 22nd....4 years since I began sharing this story.

The details of that story will remain with us...in our hearts...forever.  You can imagine the joy that filled our hearts and home that night.  It is just as beautiful and joyful and loving as you are picturing.  More so, I'm sure.

We are still basking in the joy of God's goodness....we know angels were involved in the making of that miracle.  There are pieces of this story that confirm that, even in the adoption world, this story is special.  

I knew I'd be in love with our baby the moment we were matched.  I predicted that Patrick and I would cry our eyes out in joy when we heard about our precious miracle.  I had a feeling that the moment we learned about our child we would never look back.  All of that came true.

But...what I didn't expect...was to fall in love with 2 other people in those moments....and, we have.

That is a part of this story I never saw coming.  I never dreamed that our adoption story would connect us with two beautiful birth parents, as well as our precious little miracle.  I never predicted that I'd fall in love with a young little southern couple who seem as genuine as they come.   I never thought my heart would be filled with love for a teenage boy and young waitress with thick southern accents.  I didn't know I'd melt when I heard them call us "ma'am" and "sir".  (I do.)  :)  No, I never saw it coming.  We cried after speaking with them.

Yes, we fell in love with 3 of God's miracles this week.  I never predicted that one.

So, now we know that we get to raise our adopted son and share with him just how amazingly beautiful his birth parents are...(and, we will...every day).  In addition to all that we know we can give our son, we now see how much he will be blessed with from his birth parents, too.  We hope that our son inherits his birth dad's genuine heart.  We hope he has his birth mom's strength and courage.

You see, now we understand the beauty of our adoption story on a whole different level.  This precious, beautiful couple will give our son roots....and, we will give him wings.  ...and, I'm certain, given both of these things, our precious boy will move mountains.  

***

There are two lasting bequests we can give our children.  

One is roots.  The other is wings.  

~Hodding Carter, Jr.

Low and behold, our little precious miracle decided to come into the world 7 weeks early:  Keaton Patrick Van Osdel was born on Friday, October 5 at 5am.  We met his birth parents and him on Saturday the 6th.  He is as precious as they come.  We are so in love.

As of Thursday, October 10 11am, he is legally ours forever.  We are so blessed!  We are staying in Tuscaloosa Alabama while he is in the nicu eating, sleeping and growing. We hope to come home soon - but are so blessed that he is in such great care and that we are able to be with him.